Fertilization
Fertilization is supplementing additional nutrients in soil. There are two types of
fertilizers. One is organic fertilizers that comes from plants or animals, and the other is artificial
fertilizers. The use of artificial fertilizer increased rapidly from around 1930s. Main three
micronutrients are potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. They maintain balance in
photosynthesis, contain protein, and support growth of plants, therefore increasing the overall
crop yield.
There are advantages and disadvantages of fertilizers. Advantages are more resistant
plants, greater water holding capacity, and deeper roots of the plants. Better growth and quality
of the plants can feed more people, and bring economic profits. However, disadvantages are
that the fertilizers can be toxic, they can damage plants by increasing (or decreasing) pH, and
decreasing soil fertility. Also, fertilizers can harm the environment through run off such as
eutrophication. I believe that fertilizers are important tool that farmers use to increase crop
yield and feed more population. However, excess use of fertilizers may have negative effects
on our health and environment, so it should be controlled.
Mechanization
Mechanization is use of machines in agricultural practices. The start of mechanization
was from the use of gasoline engines. Then, as advertising and competition got more intense,
more people began using machines for farming. The peak of sales was in 1950s.
Advantages of machinery use in agriculture is increased crop yield
(commercialization), better productivity, economic profit, and less labor, time, and land usage.
According to statistics, there was 15-20% increase in productivity since mechanization.
Disadvantages are high cost, unemployment, soil erosion, gas emission, and pollution. I believe
that mechanization is necessary for the world population to survive. Even though there are
some negative consequences on environment, we cannot ignore the benefit of greater crop yield.