JSPM BHIVRABAI SAWANT POLYTECHNIC,

WAGHOLI

Academic year 2022-2023

MICROPROJECT ON

Effects of Agriculture Waste and Inorganic Fertilizer

on Soil

Submitted by:

SR NO. NAME OF MEMBERS ROLL NO. ENROLLMENT

1. 2107100

2. 2107100

3. 2107100

4. 2107100

5. 2107100

Signature of guide Signature of HOD

Mrs.Sayali
 BHIVRABAI SAWANT POLYTECHNIC,
WAGHOLI, PUNE
ANEEXURE II

Evaluation Sheet for the Micro Project

Academic Year: 2022-23 Name of the Faculty:

Course: Course code : Semester:

Title of the project:…………………………………………………………………………………………

addressed by Micro Project:

A:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

B:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

C:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

D:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Major learning outcomes achieved by students by doing the project

(a) Practical outcome:……………………………………………………………………………...............

(b) Unit outcomes in Cognitive domain:…………………………………………………………………..

(c) Outcomes in Affective domain:………………………………………………………………..............

Comments/suggestions about team work /leadership/inter-personal communication (if any)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Marks out of 6
for performance Marks out of 4for
in group activity performance in Total
Roll No. Student Name
(D5 Col.8) oral/ presentation out of 10
(D5 Col.9)
 BHIVRABAI SAWANT POLYTECHNIC,
WAGHOLI, PUNE
Micro Project Plan
Week Duration Sign of
Date Work or activity Performed
No. in Hours the Guid

1 One Hour

2 One Hour

3 One Hour

4 One Hour

5 One Hour

6 One Hour

7 One Hour

8 One Hour

9 One Hour

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 Introduction

Agriculture is the backbone of human civilization, providing sustenance and resources for
societies around the world. However, the intensification of agricultural practices in the modern era has
introduced new challenges related to soil health and environmental sustainability.

Two critical components of contemporary agriculture are agriculture waste and inorganic
fertilizers, both of which can exert significant impacts on the soil ecosystem. This report aims to delve into
the effects of agriculture waste and inorganic fertilizers on soil, exploring the intricate interplay between
these factors and the consequences for soil quality and long-term agricultural viability.

As global population growth continues to drive the demand for increased food production, the
use of agriculture waste and inorganic fertilizers has surged. While these inputs are essential for meeting
food security goals, their management and utilization warrant careful consideration to ensure that they
enhance rather than degrade soil health.
Agriculture waste, encompassing crop residues, organic matter, and manure, can be a valuable resource
when appropriately managed, contributing to soil fertility and ecosystem resilience. Conversely, the
indiscriminate disposal or misuse of these materials can lead to soil degradation and contamination.

Inorganic fertilizers, on the other hand, are chemical formulations designed to provide
essential nutrients to crops. They have played a pivotal role in boosting agricultural productivity. However,
their overuse or improper application can result in adverse effects such as soil acidification, nutrient
imbalances, and environmental pollution. This report will comprehensively assess the dual nature of
inorganic fertilizers, exploring both their benefits and potential harm to soil ecosystems.

Understanding the intricate relationship between agriculture waste, inorganic fertilizers, and
soil is essential for implementing sustainable agricultural practices that support both food production and
environmental conservation. By examining the positive and negative impacts of these inputs on soil, we
can develop strategies to maximize agricultural productivity while minimizing the ecological footprint of
farming practices.

This report will delve into these critical aspects, providing insights into the complex
dynamics between agriculture waste, inorganic fertilizers, and soil health.
 Abstract

The impact of agriculture on soil health and productivity is a critical area of research due to its significance
in sustaining global food production. This review aims to comprehensively analyze and synthesize the
effects of agriculture waste and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties, microbial communities, nutrient
dynamics, and overall soil sustainability. Agriculture waste, including crop residues and organic matter,
plays a fundamental role in enhancing soil structure, water retention, and nutrient cycling. Conversely,
inorganic fertilizers are essential for supplementing specific nutrients required for plant growth, but their
excessive use can lead to soil degradation and environmental pollution.

This review discusses the benefits of incorporating agriculture waste into soil, such as improving soil
organic matter content, enhancing microbial diversity, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Additionally, the study explores the potential drawbacks associated with the excessive use of inorganic
fertilizers, including soil compaction, nutrient imbalances, salinity, and groundwater contamination. The
interaction between these two factors is evaluated to elucidate their combined effects on soil fertility and
sustainability.

Furthermore, the review highlights sustainable agricultural practices that aim to optimize the utilization of
agriculture waste and inorganic fertilizers while minimizing their adverse impacts on soil and the
environment. Techniques such as composting, crop rotation, and precision nutrient management are
discussed as effective strategies to balance the use of organic matter and inorganic fertilizers for
maintaining soil health and promoting sustainable agriculture.

In conclusion, this review provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between agriculture waste,
inorganic fertilizers, and soil health. It underscores the importance of adopting sustainable practices that
harness the benefits of agriculture waste while mitigating the potential negative effects of inorganic
fertilizers, ultimately fostering soil sustainability and securing future food production.
What is Agricultural Waste :-
Agricultural waste refers to any waste generated from various
agricultural activities and processes. It encompasses a broad range of materials and by-products that are
produced during the cultivation, harvesting, processing, storage, and transportation of agricultural
products. These wastes can be classified into different categories based on their origin, composition, and
potential environmental impacts.

Here is a detailed overview of agricultural waste:

 Types of Agricultural Waste:

1. Crop Residues: Stems, leaves, husks, and other parts of plants left in the field after harvest.

Animal Manure and Bedding: Animal waste and bedding materials from livestock and poultry operations.

2. Food Processing Waste: Waste generated during the processing of agricultural products, such as
peels, shells, and leftover food.
3. Agro-Industrial Waste: Waste from agro-industrial processes, such as bagasse from sugarcane
processing, or rice husks.
4. Aquaculture Waste: Waste generated from fish and other aquatic farming activities.
5. Composition of Agricultural Waste:

The composition of agricultural waste varies depending on the type of waste. It can include organic matter
(e.g., cellulose, lignin), inorganic matter (e.g., minerals), water, and other components specific to the type
of waste.

 Environmental Impacts:

Agricultural waste can have both positive and negative environmental impacts: Positive Impacts:
Agricultural waste can be used for beneficial purposes like soil enrichment through composting or organic
matter incorporation, which improves soil structure, fertility, and water retention.

Negative Impacts: Improper disposal or mismanagement of agricultural waste can lead to environmental
pollution, soil degradation, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat destruction.

 Management and Utilization:

Composting: Converting agricultural waste into compost, which is a valuable organic fertilizer and soil
conditioner.

Bioenergy Production: Using agricultural waste to produce biogas, biofuels, or biomass for energy
generation.

Animal Feed: Utilizing certain agricultural waste as animal feed, providing a sustainable feed source and
reducing waste.
Impact on Soil and Water Resources :
Inorganic and organic fertilizers are crop food considered as indispensable sources of nutrients to
the agriculture ecosystem. These crop food, besides supplying essential nutrients and acting as soil
conditioners, pose potential pollution risk in agriculture and might contain significant amount of
contaminants1. Indiscriminate use of fertilizer and manures, improper handling and storage facilities, etc.
often result in degradation of natural resources, releasing contaminants into soil, air, and water which
directly impact human health1.

Inorganic fertilizers are subjected to easy breakdown in soil compared to organic manures and,
therefore, easily contaminate soil, water, and air1. Major source of contamination is from nitrogenous and
phosphatic fertilizers, which affect soil properties, runoff cause water contamination, or sometime escape
to atmosphere affecting air quality thereby enhanced contribution to greenhouse gases contributing to
climate change1. In addition, contaminants from both inorganic and organic fertilizers rich in nutrient lost
via runoff and soil erosion result in eutrophication of aquatic bodies1.

High build up of heavy metals like Cr, Cd, Ni, Hg in soil are often associated with excess
application rate of manures and fertilizers in agriculture1. Various contaminants have direct effect on soil
properties, such as reduction in soil organic carbon, high accumulation of salts, compaction, surface
crusting, imbalance of essential nutrients, which deteriorates normal soil functions1.

So, maintaining and upkeeping soil health hasparamount importance for sustainability of
ecosystem. Soil health is assessed by measuring a wide variety of physical, chemical, andbiological
properties, processes, or characteristics. Biological properties are more sensitive to changes than chemical
and physical onesand could describe soil health innately. Soil microbial biomass C and N, mineralizable C
and N, soil extracellular enzymes and soilmicroorganism are the properties which describe biological soil
health. Wide disparities in NPK ratio along with inability of integrateduse of all sources of plant nutrients
deteriorate soil health and thus nutrition of plants in India.

The effect of long-term application of inorganicfertilizers on soil biological properties is thus of

topical importance for upkeeping soil health.Soil microorganisms are living, active and first response part
of soil. Application of fertilizers thus may have a preliminary influenceonto the soil biological activities
and recycling of nutrients. Moreover, soil contains microorganism which are very versatile in
species,quantity, and also vary from soil to soil and season to season.

Use of inorganic fertilizers and changes of cropping systems play asignificant role on such
biological attributes and activities mostly unknown to us.Microbial, biochemical and metabolic activities
of soil have been suggested as early and sensitive indicators of changes in soil health asthey manifest
themselves over shorter timescales and are central to the ecological function of a soil.
 What is Inorganic Fertilezer:-

Inorganic fertilizers, also known as synthetic or chemical fertilizers, are manufactured from mineral
compounds or chemical synthesis processes. They are composed of essential plant nutrients in the form of
chemical compounds, typically containing varying combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and
potassium (K) as primary components, along with secondary and trace elements such as calcium,
magnesium, sulfur, and micronutrients like zinc, iron, copper, etc. These nutrients are crucial for plant
growth, development, and overall health.

Common types of inorganic fertilizers include:

1. Nitrogen-based fertilizers (N-fertilizers):

 Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)

 Urea (CO(NH2)2)
 Ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4)
2. Phosphorus-based fertilizers (P-fertilizers):

 Diammonium phosphate (DAP) ((NH4)2HPO4)

 Monocalcium phosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2)
 Triple superphosphate (TSP)
3. Potassium-based fertilizers (K-fertilizers):

 Potassium chloride (KCl)

 Potassium sulfate (K2SO4)

In addition to these primary nutrients, inorganic fertilizers may also contain secondary nutrients
like calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S), as well as micronutrients such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn),
manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), and chlorine (Cl), depending on the specific
formulation and intended crop requirements.

Inorganic fertilizers are known for their rapid nutrient availability and can be easily applied to
crops to address nutrient deficiencies in the soil, promoting plant growth and increasing agricultural yields.
However, excessive and improper use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to environmental issues, such as soil
and water pollution, and can negatively impact ecosystems. Sustainable and responsible use of fertilizers is
important to minimize adverse effects on the environment and human health.
 What are the Effects of Agriculture Waste On Soil :

Agricultural waste, also known as crop residues or agricultural byproducts, can have both positive
and negative effects on soil health and fertility, depending on how it is managed and utilized. Here are
some effects of agricultural waste on soil:

Positive Effects:

1. Organic Matter and Nutrient Enrichment: Incorporating agricultural waste into the soil as
organic matter can improve soil structure, increase water-holding capacity, and enhance nutrient levels.
Crop residues break down over time, releasing essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
into the soil, which benefit plant growth.

2. Soil Fertility Enhancement: Organic matter from agricultural waste can improve soil fertility by
providing a source of nutrients and creating a favorable environment for soil microorganisms that aid in
nutrient cycling and availability.

3. Erosion Control: Leaving crop residues on the soil surface or incorporating them into the soil can
help reduce soil erosion by providing ground cover and enhancing soil structure, preventing erosion caused
by wind and water.

4. Moisture Retention: Crop residues can act as a mulch, helping to retain soil moisture by reducing
evaporation and runoff. This is particularly important in arid or drought-prone regions.

5. Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration: Incorporating agricultural waste into the soil helps sequester
organic carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.

Negative Effects:

1. Nutrient Competition: If not properly managed, large amounts of agricultural waste can compete
with crops for essential nutrients during decomposition, potentially causing nutrient deficiencies in the
soil.

2. Microbial Imbalance: Excessive agricultural waste can disrupt the natural microbial balance in
the soil, affecting the composition and activity of soil microorganisms essential for nutrient cycling and
soil health.

3. Acidification: Rapid decomposition of some types of agricultural waste can lead to acidification
of the soil, which can negatively impact soil pH and nutrient availability.

4. Pest and Disease Infestations: Certain types of agricultural waste may harbor pests, diseases, or
weed seeds, leading to increased pest infestations and weed growth in the field.

5. Aesthetic and Practical Challenges: Accumulation of agricultural waste on the soil surface can
create aesthetic and practical challenges for farmers, making it difficult to perform field operations and
manage the land effectively.

To maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative impacts of agricultural waste on soil,
proper management practices are essential. This includes appropriate incorporation of crop residues into
the soil, managing composting processes, employing crop rotation, and practicing sustainable agricultural
techniques like no-till farming and cover cropping. These practices can help maintain soil health, improve
fertility, and contribute to sustainable and productive agricultural systems.
 What are the effects of Inorganic fertilizer In Soil :

Inorganic fertilizers can have both positive and negative effects on the environment, human health,
and ecosystems, depending on their use, application, and management. Here are some of the effects
associated with the use of inorganic fertilizers:

Positive Effects :

1. Increased Crop Yields: Inorganic fertilizers provide essential nutrients to plants, promoting faster
and healthier growth, resulting in increased agricultural productivity and higher crop yields.

2. Nutrient Supplementation: Inorganic fertilizers replenish soil nutrients that may be deficient,
ensuring that plants receive the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and development.

3. Improved Nutrient Use Efficiency: Inorganic fertilizers are formulated to release nutrients
gradually, enhancing nutrient absorption by plants and reducing nutrient waste.

Negative Effects :

1. Soil Degradation and Salinization: Overuse of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soil degradation,
reducing its ability to support plant growth. Accumulation of salts in the soil, known as
salinization, can occur due to excess application, rendering the soil infertile.

2. Water Pollution: Runoff from fields where inorganic fertilizers have been applied can
contaminate water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater, leading to nutrient pollution. This can
cause harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

3. Air Pollution: Inorganic fertilizers can release nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere,
contributing to air pollution. Nitrogen oxides can be harmful to human health and can contribute to smog
and acid rain.

4. Eutrophication: Excessive nutrient runoff from inorganic fertilizers can cause eutrophication in
water bodies, leading to the rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants. This can deplete oxygen levels in the
water, suffocating fish and other aquatic life.

5. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The production and use of inorganic fertilizers contribute to
greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a potent greenhouse gas that
contributes to climate change.

6. Health Risks: Direct exposure to inorganic fertilizers or their components can pose health risks
to farmers, agricultural workers, and individuals living near agricultural areas. Prolonged exposure or
ingestion of certain chemicals in fertilizers can have adverse health effects.

7. Disruption of Microbial Balance: Inorganic fertilizers can disrupt the natural microbial balance
in the soil, affecting soil health and its ability to support plant growth in the long term.

To mitigate these negative effects, proper and responsible use of inorganic fertilizers is essential.
This includes following recommended application rates, optimizing timing and placement of fertilizers,
and employing best management practices to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, sustainable
agricultural practices, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and organic farming, can help minimize the
reliance on inorganic fertilizers and their associated adverse effects.