Editing Fertilizer (section)

==Production==
The production of synthetic, or inorganic, fertilizers require prepared chemicals, whereas organic fertilizers are derived from the organic processes of plants and animals in [[biological process]]es using biochemicals.

===Nitrogen fertilizers===
[[File:Nitrogen fertilizer consumption, OWID.svg|thumb|left|Total nitrogenous fertilizer consumption per region, measured in tonnes of total nutrient per year.]]
Nitrogen fertilizers are made from [[ammonia]] (NH<sub>3</sub>) [[ammonia production|produced]] by the [[Haber process|Haber–Bosch process]].<ref name="ETE"/> In this energy-intensive process, [[natural gas]] (CH<sub>4</sub>) [[Hydrogen production|usually]] [[Steam reforming|supplies the hydrogen]], and the nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) is [[Nitrogen#Production|derived from the air]]. This ammonia is used as a [[feedstock]] for all other nitrogen fertilizers, such as [[ammonium nitrate|anhydrous ammonium nitrate]] (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>) and [[urea]] (CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>).

Deposits of [[sodium nitrate]] (NaNO<sub>3</sub>) ([[Chilean saltpeter]]) are also found in the [[Atacama Desert]] in [[Chile]] and was one of the original (1830) nitrogen-rich fertilizers used.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supplemental technical report for sodium nitrate (crops)|url=http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090064|website=ams.usda.gov|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165048/http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090064|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is still mined for fertilizer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Caliche Ore|url=http://www.sqm.com/ACERCADESQM/RecursosNaturales/Caliche.aspx|website=sqm.com|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152959/http://www.sqm.com/ACERCADESQM/RecursosNaturales/Caliche.aspx|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nitrates are also produced from ammonia by the [[Ostwald Process|Ostwald process]].

===Phosphate fertilizers===
[[File:Siilinjärvi Särkijärvi pit.jpg|thumb|left|An apatite mine for phosphates in [[Siilinjärvi carbonatite|Siilinjärvi]], Finland]]
Phosphate fertilizers are obtained by extraction from [[phosphate rock]], which contains two principal phosphorus-containing minerals, [[fluorapatite]] Ca<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>F (CFA) and [[hydroxyapatite]] Ca<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>OH. Billions of kg of phosphate rock are mined annually, but the size and quality of the remaining ore is decreasing. These minerals are converted into water-soluble phosphate salts by treatment with [[acid]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.009 |title=The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought |date=2009 |last1=Cordell |first1=Dana |last2=Drangert |first2=Jan-Olof |last3=White |first3=Stuart |journal=Global Environmental Change |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=292–305 |bibcode=2009GEC....19..292C |s2cid=1450932 }}</ref> The large production of [[sulfuric acid]] is primarily motivated by this application.<ref>{{Greenwood&Earnshaw2nd}}</ref> In the [[nitrophosphate process]] or Odda process (invented in 1927), phosphate rock with up to a 20% phosphorus (P) content is dissolved with [[nitric acid]] (HNO<sub>3</sub>) to produce a mixture of phosphoric acid (H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) and [[calcium nitrate]] (Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>). This mixture can be combined with a potassium fertilizer to produce a ''compound fertilizer'' with the three macronutrients N, P and K in easily dissolved form.<ref name=EFMA2000>{{cite web|last1=EFMA|title=Best available techniques for pollution prevention and control in the European fertilizer industry. Booklet No. 7 of 8: Production of NPK fertilizers by the nitrophosphate route.|url=http://www.fertilizerseurope.com/fileadmin/user_upload/publications/tecnical_publications/guidence_techn_documentation/EFMABATNPKN.pdf|website=fertilizerseurope.com|publisher=European Fertilizer Manufacturers' Association|access-date=28 June 2014|date=2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729004328/http://www.fertilizerseurope.com/fileadmin/user_upload/publications/tecnical_publications/guidence_techn_documentation/EFMABATNPKN.pdf|archive-date=29 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Potassium fertilizers===
[[Potash]] is a mixture of potassium minerals used to make potassium (chemical symbol: K) fertilizers. Potash is soluble in water, so the main effort in producing this nutrient from the ore involves some purification steps, e.g., to remove [[sodium chloride]] (NaCl) (common [[salt]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Potassium chloride (PIM 430) |url=https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/potasscl.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.inchem.org}}</ref> Sometimes potash is referred to as K<sub>2</sub>O, as a matter of convenience to those describing the potassium content. In fact, potash fertilizers are usually [[potassium chloride]], [[potassium sulfate]], [[potassium carbonate]], or [[potassium nitrate]].<ref name="FertEncyl">Vasant Gowariker, V. N. Krishnamurthy, Sudha Gowariker, Manik Dhanorkar, Kalyani Paranjape "The Fertilizer Encyclopedia" 2009, John Wiley & Sons. {{ISBN|978-0-470-41034-9}}. Online {{ISBN|978-0-470-43177-1}}.  {{doi|10.1002/9780470431771}}</ref>

===NPK fertilizers===
{{main|NPK fertilizer}}
There are three major routes for manufacturing NPK fertilizers (named for their main ingredients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)):
# bulk blending. The individual fertilizers are combined in the desired nutrient ratio. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Bulk blending. Ingredient kg/ton
|-
! Blend ingredient  !! NPK 17-17-17 !! NPK 19-19-19 !! NPK 9-23-30 !! NPK 8-32-16
|-
| ammonium nitrate || 310 ||  || ||
|-
| urea ||  || 256 || ||
|-
| diammonium phosphate (DAP) ||376  ||421  || 500||462
|-
| triple superphosphate ||  ||  || ||261
|-
| potassium chloride || 288 || 323 || 500  || 277
|-
| filler || 26||  ||    ||
|}
# The wet process is based on chemical reactions between liquid raw materials [[phosphoric acid]], [[sulfuric acid]], [[ammonia]]) and solid raw materials (such as [[potassium chloride]]).
*The Nitrophosphate Process. Step 1. Nitrophosphates are made by acidiculating [[phosphate rock]] with [[nitric acid]]. 
*Nitric acid + Phosphate rock → [[Phosphoric acid]] + [[Calcium sulfate|Calcium sulphate]] + [[hexafluorosilicic acid]].
*Ca<sub>5</sub>F(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> + 10 HNO<sub>3</sub> →6 H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> + 5 Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + HF      
*6 HF + SiO<sub>2</sub> →H<sub>2</sub>SiF<sub>6</sub> + 2 H<sub>2</sub>O

Step 2. Removal of Calcium Nitrate. It is important to remove the [[calcium nitrate]] because calcium nitrate is extremely [[Hygroscopy|hygroscopic]]. 
*Method 1.(Odda process) Calcium nitrate crystals are removed by centrifugation. 
*Method 2. Sulfonitric Process Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + 2NH<sub>3</sub> → CaSO<sub>4</sub> + 2NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>
*Method 3.Phosphonitric Process Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> + 2NH<sub>3</sub> → CaHPO<sub>4</sub> + 2NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>
*Method 4.Carbonitric Process Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + CO<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O + 2NH<sub>3</sub> → CaCO<sub>3</sub> + 2NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>

===Organic fertilizers===
{{Main|Organic fertilizer}}
[[File:HomeComposting Roubaix Fr59.JPG|thumb|Compost bin for small-scale production of organic fertilizer]]
[[File:Krechty kompostarna.jpg|thumb|A large commercial compost operation]]

"[[Organic fertilizer]]s" can describe those fertilizers with a biologic origin—derived from living or formerly living materials. Organic fertilizers can also describe commercially available and frequently packaged products that strive to follow the expectations and restrictions adopted by "[[organic agriculture]]" and "[[environmentally friendly]]" gardening – related systems of food and plant production that significantly limit or strictly avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The "organic fertilizer" ''products'' typically contain both some organic materials as well as acceptable additives such as nutritive rock powders, ground seashells (crab, oyster, etc.), other prepared products such as seed meal or kelp, and cultivated microorganisms and derivatives.

Fertilizers of an organic origin (the first definition) include [[manure|animal wastes]], plant wastes from agriculture, [[Seaweed fertilizer|seaweed]], [[compost]], and treated [[sewage sludge]] ([[biosolid]]s). Beyond manures, animal sources can include products from the slaughter of animals – [[bloodmeal]], [[bone meal]], [[feather meal]], hides, hoofs, and horns all are typical components.<ref name=Ull>{{Ullmann|doi= 10.1002/14356007.n10_n01 |title= Fertilizers, 2. Types |year=2009 |last1=Dittmar |first1=Heinrich |last2=Drach |first2=Manfred |last3=Vosskamp |first3=Ralf |last4=Trenkel |first4=Martin E. |last5=Gutser |first5=Reinhold |last6=Steffens |first6=Günter}}</ref> Organically derived materials available to industry such as sewage sludge may not be acceptable components of organic farming and gardening, because of factors ranging from residual contaminants to public perception. On the other hand, marketed "organic fertilizers" may include, and promote, processed organics ''because'' the materials have consumer appeal. No matter the definition nor composition, most of these products contain less-concentrated nutrients, and the nutrients are not as easily quantified. They can offer soil-building advantages as well as be appealing to those who are trying to farm / garden more "naturally".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Haynes, R.J|first=R. Naidu|date=1998|title=Influence of lime, fertilizer and manure applications on soil organic matter content and soil physical conditions: a review.|journal=Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems|volume=51|issue=2|pages=123–137|via=Springer Link|doi=10.1023/A:1009738307837|s2cid=20113235}}</ref>

In terms of volume, [[peat]] is the most widely used packaged organic soil amendment. It is an immature form of coal and improves the soil by aeration and absorbing water but confers no nutritional value to the plants. It is therefore not a fertilizer as defined in the beginning of the article, but rather an amendment. [[Coir]], (derived from coconut husks), bark, and sawdust when added to soil all act similarly (but not identically) to peat and are also considered organic soil amendments – or texturizers – because of their limited nutritive inputs. Some organic additives can have a reverse effect on nutrients – fresh sawdust can consume soil nutrients as it breaks down and may lower soil pH – but these same organic texturizers (as well as compost, etc.) may increase the availability of nutrients through improved cation exchange, or through increased growth of microorganisms that in turn increase availability of certain plant nutrients. Organic fertilizers such as composts and manures may be distributed locally without going into industry production, making actual consumption more difficult to quantify.