THE CHALLENGE OF AGRONOMISTS WORKING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (SSA): THE USE OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Indiscriminate use of fertilizers has created a great menace because these products find their ways into the food chain therefore having direct implication on human health. The pollution of the lithosphere due to fertilizers is so widespread in rural areas that in an agricultural country like Nigeria, is almost impossible to control it. It has other ramification thanother kinds of pollution. Therefore, attention needs to be paid considerable to mitigate this soil pollution, in the quest to increase the yield of crops and food production. Understanding the effect of modern agricultural technologies on the increase yield of crops and food production is important because it belies the primary justification of these technologies. Under natural conditions, low levels of nitrogen limit aquatic algae growth, especially in salty and blackish water, which inhibits N- fixation algae. Increase human input of nitrogen can remove this constraint. The resulting degradation of the aquatic ecosystem; particularly estuaries and coastalwaters is undoubtedly the most widespread water quality problem induced by nitrogen pollution.

Keywords:

Fertilizer , Eutrophication , Runoff , Ecosystem , Pollution , Nutrients