How Do Fertilizers Cause Ozone Depletion?

Fertilizer Use

• Chlorofluorocarbon gases were formerly the leading cause of ozone depletion but have been reduced significantly through international agreements. Nitrous oxide fertilizer emissions are now the leading cause of destruction of the protective layer around the Earth's atmosphere, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These dangerous levels of man-made nitrous oxide have come under research investigation since the dramatic reduction in other ozone-depleting gases. Nitrous oxide is also emitted from sewage treatment, livestock manure, combustion and industrial processes. One billion tons of synthetic chemical fertilizer are used worldwide yearly.

Fertilizer in the Atmosphere

• Synthetic chemical fertilizer is predominantly nitrogen made from ammonium nitrate. Potassium and phosphorus are added to create three nutrients to make plants grow. All plant life needs a balance of 17 nutrients. Synthetic fertilizer imbalances the presence of nitrogen in the soil, plants and environment, causing a cascade of ecological problems, including ozone depletion. Synthetic fertilizer also depletes the soil of other essential nutrients.

Natural Systems

• Nitrogen naturally occurs in amounts that are easily utilized by plants, animals and people. Excessive nitrogen causes excessive growth of some species at the expense of others. Excessive nitrogen in soil kills the microorganism populations that create nutrients in food. Chemical fertilizer creates dead soil that has no natural nutrient content for food production. Further use of chemicals on dead soil increases its detrimental effect on the ozone layer and further reduces its capability to grow healthy food.

Strengthening the Ozone Layer

• The 1987 Montreal Protocol was an international agreement for improving the health of the global atmosphere by phasing out the production of ozone-destroying substances. It successfully reduced the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons but did not include the nitrous oxide created by the fertilizer industry. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizer is now a focus of global warming discussion and research. Home gardeners can strengthen the protective ozone layer by choosing all-natural lawn care products and by making backyard compost to use as fertilizer.