1. What are advantages and disadvantages of fertilizers? What is the substitute of chemical fertilizers?

Advantages of fertilizer:

• Artificial or chemical fertilizers have smaller bulk and are easy to apply, store and transport.
• They are nutrient specific.
• They are soluble in water and hence are easily absorbed by plants.
• Natural fertilizers have fewer chemicals and would not affect young plants.

Disadvantages of Fertilizers:

• Natural fertilizers are slow to break down into the nutrients the growing garden requires.
• The excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers concentrates nitrates in the soil and water.
• Excessive use of fertilizers may affect the nature of the soil.
• It may affect the crop production.