Integrated Nutrients Management for Future Production: A Review

Abstract

  As per the estimate by the United Nations, the world population will increase to 11 billion, by 2050. This rapid increase in the population is of global concern, creating responsibilities on the shoulders of the scientists to fetch the rapidly increasing population along with the problem of reduced land holding, sudden climatic challenges, and imbalanced nutrition coupled with deficiencies of nutrients. It is necessary to continuously review and modify agricultural practices and technologies in order to meet human demands while respecting the ecological boundaries of our planet. Among these technologies application of fertilizers has been crucial for raising crop yield, agricultural productivity and food security. However, the application of fertilizer has an environmental cost and they haven't been a very productive factor in helping many poor farmers to escape poverty economically, especially in the areas where the fertilizer application has an imbalance and inappropriate fertilizer has been applied on the lower fertile soils which have little or no desirable effect on the crop yield. The efficient use of fertilizers can be increased by using agronomic practices to apply existing mineral fertilizers, which generally contain N, P, and K, at the proper time, place, amount, and composition. However, the overall progress made to minimize the negative consequences is insufficient to bring about the necessary change toward sustainable agriculture in underdeveloped nations. Farmers must integrate the management of nutrients and soil fertility into their farming practices in order to meet the increasing population's demand for food. This paper reviews the concepts of integrated nutrient management in the context of its eco-friendly nature and sustainability.