Advantages and disadvantages of organic and mineral fertilizers

Gnojidba je agrotehnički zahvat neophodan za postizanje visokih i stabilnih prinosa te isplativosti ulaganja i rada u biljnoj proizvodnji. Povoljni efekt gnojidbe je povećanje plodnosti tla što se u konačnici odraţava i na visinu prinosa. Gnojiva prema načinu proizvodnje dijelimo na prirodna (organska) i sintetska (mineralna) te svako od njih ima svoje prednosti i nedostatke. Organska gnojiva poboljšavaju svojstva tla ujedno povećavajući i raspoloţivost svih hraniva te smanjujući eroziju na nagnutim površinama. Primjena organskih gnojiva u periodu bez vegetacije moţe izazvati ekološke probleme (npr. ispiranje nitrata). Intenzivna poljoprivreda ovisi o velikim količinama mineralnih gnojiva, što rezultira povećanjem produktivnosti hrane. Uporaba mineralnih gnojiva značajno poboljšava kakvoću i količinu hrane, iako njihova dugotrajna i nekontrolirana primjena moţe izazvati ekološke probleme (onečišćenje tla, voda i zraka) te se povezuje s degradacijom prirodnih resursa. Štetne posljedice primjene mineralnih gnojiva mogu se djelomično ublaţiti njihovom zamjenom organskim gnojivima koja pomaţu popravljanju strukture tla, boljem zadrţavanju vode i hranjivih tvari u tlu, većoj biogenosti (porast populacije korisnih mikroorganizama) i dulje djeluju u odnosu na mineralna.Fertilization is an agrotehnical procedure indispensable for achieving high and stable yields and the profitability of investments and work in plant production. Favorable effects of fertilizaion are an increase in soil fertility, which ultimately reflects on the height of yields. According to the method of production, fertilizers are divided into the natural (organic) ones and the syntetic (mineral) ones and either type has it's pros and cons. Organic fertilizers improve soil properties as well as increase availability of all nutrients and decrease erosion on sloping areas. The application of organic fertilizers during a period without vegetation can cause ecological problems (e.g. nitrate leaching). Intensive agriculture depends on large amounts of mineral fertilizers, which results in an increase in food production. The use of mineralfertilizers considerably improves food quality and quantity, although their long-term and uncontrolled usage can cause ecological problems (soil, water and air pollution) and has been linked to the degradation of natural resources. Adverse effets of the usage of mineral fertilizers can be partially alleviated by using organic fertilizers which help improve the structure of soil, better the retention of water and nutrients in the soil, bigger biogenity (an increase in the population of beneficial microorganisms) and act longer than mineral fertilizers