The Agricultural sector form the largest industry in Nigeria and employs about 70%of the Nigeria populace. It is form of generating income for the Nation as it contribute about 35%of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It also provide for food the populace, provide for raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Thus the agricultural sector play a significant role in the Nigeria economy. Nigeria has area of 98.5m hectares of Land space. Currently at about 36m hectares are under use for agricultural purpose. Therefore considering the vast portion of land, there are opportunities for agricultural practices in Nigeria.
Crop production, alongside animal husbandry, are important aspect of Agriculture, It can either be at a substantial scale or at a large scale for commercial purpose. It is substantial if it is for the farmer and his family with little for sale. Where it is for commercial purpose, it is when the farming is for large portion and basically for sale. Thus irrespective of the mode, whether substantial or commercial, the knowledge of fertilizer and the soil’s nature is important as it determine the farmers output.
The production of fertilizer is important in the agricultural sector as the makes the production of food and availability of raw material possible .The land for the purpose of agricultural practice has need for soil improvement and soil amendment and this is done by fertilization process.
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming material) that is added to soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. Fertilizer is a core requirement which the farmer has come to depend on for productive and increment of yield aside other factors such as quality of seed.
There are different types of fertilizer. There are organic fertilizer (such as cow manure, bat guano, bone meal, and organic compost and green manure crop) and also chemical fertilizer which are referred to s inorganic fertilizer which is made up with different formulations to suit variety of specified use. The most popular type of fertilizer in Nigeria is the in-organic type in different NPK composition.N.P.K means Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
Organic fertilizer are those fertilizers derived from human excreta, animal and plant matter such as compost and manure. One advantage of organic fertilizer is that it is easier to make by composting to meet immediate use. Also where an organic fertilizer is added in excess, it does no harm or burn plants. Also organic fertilizer is renewable, sustainable and environment friendly. Also when applied on the farmland, it has a lasting impact on the farmlands.
However one of the disadvantage of organic fertilizer is that it have lower nutrient concentration than inorganic fertilizer. Also impart of the organic fertilizer is not immediately seen as it break down according to nature’s rule.
The inorganic fertilizer are synthetic fertilizers that are produced from chemical material with defined proportion of desired chemicals that are beneficial to the crops. This form of fertilizer is of great advantage to farmers especially those involved in commercial farming. One advantage of inorganic fertilizer is that once it is applied on the farmland, impart is seen almost immediately within few days.Also they are inexpensive. Also they are highly analyzed to produce the exact ratio of the nutrient desired.
There are disadvantage of inorganic fertilizer and one of such is if they are excessively applied, they can harm the crops. Chemical Fertilizer tend to leach or filter away from the plants, requiring additional application. Also when the chemicals are use over a long period of time, it change the soil PH (that is Pondus de hydronium) and also affect beneficial microbial ecosystem and increase the activities of pest on the farmlands.
The major raw materials for fertilizer production include: Ammonia gas, Phosphoric acid, Potash, phosphate powder, calcium carbonate, clay and fillers. All these materials are available in Nigeria.
The fertilizer industry is a very large and complicate industry. The Market for fertilizer in Nigeria is second only to petroleum products. About 75% of the population (that is about 105 million people) are engaging in either small, medium or large scale farming or other agro¬ related business.t is important to note that over 80% of all the fertilizer consumed in the country is imported.
The demand for fertilizer has been affected by the shift of focus from Agriculture to petroleum. Prior to the discovery of crude oil in a commercial quantity (which is otherwise known as Black Gold), Agriculture in Nigeria was at the frontier as the country chief source of generating income. Since the relegation of Agriculture, agriculture has been practiced most especially by stakeholders at a substantial level.