Chemistry is present in all aspects of life, such as agriculture: from fertilisation to problems caused by livestock.

Chemistry in the Soil

Today, the mineral content of arable soils is fully exploited due to the constant and high food demand of mankind. The valuable elements in the soil are partly replaced by both organic and industrially produced fertilisers.

What is Fertiliser?

Soil is mainly depleted in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium com-pounds. If organic fertilisers are not available in sufficient quantities, chemical fertilisers are applied by specialists and absorbed by the plants in the form of an aqueous solution. Fertilisers are modern agrotechnical methods. Their professional and optimised use helps to achieve better yields.

Excessive Fertilisation

The environment is negatively affected by excessive, possibly inappropriate, fertilisation. Nitrogen leaching from the soil and migrating into groundwater causes algae growth in surface water and increases nitrate levels in drinking water. Some of the active ingredients of phosphorus and potassium fertilisers not taken up by plants are also leached and migrate with groundwater, contaminating wells and water bodies. Increasing the dissolution of calcium can lead to soil acidification, which adversely affects its micro-nutrient content.

The Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Approximately 78% of the atmosphere is elemental nitrogen. Oxygen, which is essential for our planet's oxygen-based life – including the survival of mankind – makes up 21% of the air and is entirely due to photosynthesising – autotrophic – life forms. The remaining 1% of air is made up of various components – noble gases, water vapour, carbon dioxide and pollutants.

Hazardous Gases

Have you heard the surprising claim that cattle are largely responsible for global warming? Ruminants emit large amounts of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Another cause of methane production in agriculture is rice cultivation. Methane is also produced as a by-product of the decomposition of organic matter in the oxygen-depleted environment of waterlogged rice paddies. In addition to methane, carbon dioxide is also a major environmental pollutant, contributing to global warming.