Pro & Cons of Petrochemical Fertilizers

Cost

• Although the cost of producing petrochemical fertilizers is influenced by the fluctuating cost of natural gas, the average cost of chemical fertilizers usually compares favorably to that of organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers can be produced on a large scale in an industrial context, and the process is relatively simple chemically. The petrochemical industry is able to concentrate production of fertilizers in areas where natural gas is abundant and cheap, and when the price of gas has risen, some companies have been able to use alternative hydrocarbon fuels as an energy source in the manufacturing process.

Nutritional Availability

• Petrochemical fertilizers are a consistent source of nitrogen as compared to organic fertilizers, in which the nitrogen content can potentially vary unpredictably. The concentration of nitrogen in chemical fertilizers is high, and the nitrogen content of the fertilizer is easily quantifiable. The nitrogen in petrochemical fertilizers is also easily and immediately available to plants when it is applied; the nitrogen in some organic fertilizers is not available to plants until the fertilizer breaks down over time.

Greenhouse Gases and Pollutants

• The production of petrochemical fertilizers is a significant source of pollutants. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a byproduct of fertilizer production, and these gases are usually released directly into the atmosphere where they may have a negative effect on air quality and climate. Fertilizer production also creates a large volume of toxic chemicals, and these chemicals are sometimes released into the air and water around fertilizer production facilities.

Safety

• Some petrochemical fertilizers, such as anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate, are potentially explosive, and they create safety risks both in their production and in their final form. In 2013, an explosion in a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, killed 15 people and damaged 350 homes; the fuel for the explosion was ammonium nitrate. Because of their potential exploitation by terrorists and criminals, chemical fertilizers also pose a security risk.

Soil Impacts

• Some organic fertilizers and composts help to improve the structure of the soil and encourage the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Petrochemical fertilizers, in contrast, do nothing beyond supplying simple nutrients directly to plants and have no positive impact on the soil's structure or ecology.