Question

a) How was fertilisation achieved before the introduction of chemicals? Hence, How are furrows produced and what effect do they have on agriculture?

b)What was the global impact of the Haber-Bosch process? Hence, if you can, please draw an Archimedes screw showing how it works and the direction of movement & flow.

thanks

Answer 1

Through centuries of ancient and medieval times, men have been deeply interested in improving crop yields by the addition of various mineral or organic substances. Until the last 200–300 years, however, the approach to the subject was highly empirical; it was found by accident or by trial and error that applications of various organic wastes or mineral substances to the soil dramatically improved plant growth. Illustrations are manure, ground bones, wood ashes, saltpeter, and gypsum.

Furrows are small, parallel channels, made to carry water in order to irrigate the crop. The crop is usually grown on the ridges between the furrows.

Furrow irrigation is suitable for many crops, especially row crops. Crops that would be damaged if water covered their stem or crown should be irrigated by furrows.

2.As a result of the Haber-Bosch process for synthesizing ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen, billions of people have been fed, millions have died in armed conflict, and a cascade of environmental changes has been set in motion.

The major impact, however, has been the large-scale production of fertilizers supporting almost half of the world's population through increased food production.

While the use of nitrogen as a fertilizer has brought enormous benefits, the loss of fertilizer nitrogen to the environment also has many side effects, including reduced biodiversity and the formation of marine algal blooms. Nitrogen compounds endanger the quality of drinking water and contribute to air pollution as well as climate change, affecting life quality and the health of large parts of the population.