The History and Evolution of Fertilizer & Weed Control

If you’ve ever wondered what people did to fertilize their lawns and control weeds before modern innovations, you’re not alone. In this blog post, you will learn about the history of fertilizer and weed control, modern fertilizer and weed control practices, and where technological advancement is taking the industry in the future. History of Fertilizer & Weed Control Despite your initial thoughts, farmers have long used fertilizer and weed control. Early methods included cultural controls, mechanical controls, and plant-derived compounds, which are not entirely different from today’s practices. Fertilizer History The history of fertilizer dates back to 8,000 years ago and was mainly manure use. It’s said that manure would have been the most logical choice at the time, and it has a higher concentration of the nitrogen-15 isotope (N15), which promotes quick growth and deters pests. However, farmers didn’t know this thousands of years ago. Research suggests that early farmers likely noticed enhanced crop growth in areas with high animal dung accumulation, and cropping and herding developed at the same time and were, therefore, integrated from the start. It’s also noted that Babylonians, Egyptians, Romans, and early Germans are recorded to have used minerals to increase crop yields, but manure was the primary source for thousands of years. Weed Control History The earliest weed control technology known is the plow, which was developed in 8,000 BCE. Plows and hand-pulling weeds were the only weed control methods for about 10,000 years. Weeds were not often written about despite the world’s history of growing crops, and they were first recorded in America in 1721. State weed laws at the time were directed toward controlling plant diseases instead of general weed control for about 200 years. Inorganic chemicals like arsenic, copper salts, kerosene, and others were used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but were largely ineffective. It wasn’t until the 1890s that organic chemical herbicides were researched and introduced, beginning in Europe and the United States. France developed the first major organic chemical herbicide, Sinox, in 1896. WWII introduced new herbicides, 4-D becoming the first selective chemical herbicide. In the late 1940s, 100 new chemicals were developed and introduced in 20 years, making chemical weed control more economically influential than plant disease and insect pest control. The Army tested herbicides and aerial delivery in the 1960s, but farmers today use much fewer herbicides than before. Modern Fertilizer & Weed Control Modern fertilizers have seen the development of new application equipment, chemistry, and nano-fertilizers. Precision agriculture technologies are gaining popularity in every landscaping sector. For fertilizer, this means GPS-guided equipment, making the application more accurate and matching crop needs and soil variability. New chemical makeups also slow nitrogen loss and prevent phosphorous from locking up in the soil. The introduction of nano-fertilizers encapsulates nutrients in nano-particles, which allows for a slow and controlled release. Nano-sensors can also be used to monitor and adjust nutrient release in real time based on plant needs. Weed control methods have not changed much. The four main methods are mowing to prevent seed spread, pulling the weeds to kill the roots, smothering them with landscaping fabric to block the sunlight, and chemically killing them with herbicide. Homeowners have gotten creative with natural methods like pouring boiling water on them, burning them, and creating mixtures with vinegar, dish soap, or baking soda. The Future of Fertilizer & Weed Control The future of fertilizer is similar to the future of other landscaping procedures. There’s an emphasis on sustainability and precision application, as well as the implementation of smart technology to allow homeowners and farmers to assess and control their plants’ conditions in real time for optimal performance. We’ll continue to see innovations in precision application, nutrient uptake, and smart technology. The future of weed control also emphasizes precision application, but considerations like sustainability and autonomous weeding are more important. Remote sensing and selective herbicide spraying support sustainability, but research has also shown that some compounds from plants and microorganisms have proven to be effective weed deterrents. There will also be more developments in mechanical weeders. For both fertilizer and weed control, we will see an influx of agricultural robots and AI. This will allow for more precise weeding and fertilization and give farmers and homeowners more time to focus on other, more complicated landscaping and lawn care aspects. Conclusion Overall, fertilizer and weed control have followed sensible evolutionary paths, and the development of agricultural technology will only increase the innovations. Focusing on precision applications and tracking the results in real time will help you make your landscaping more successful and autonomous.