Fertilization as a Strategic Practice

How aware are today’s farmers of the importance and potential of proper fertilization?
The professionalism of Italian farmers is steadily increasing, and generational turnover—although slower than in other industries—is underway. The entry of young people into agriculture is bringing higher levels of education. According to the 7th Census of Italian Agriculture, in 2020, young farmers (under the age of 40) accounted for 9.3% of the total, a 2% decrease from the previous census.

These younger farmers demonstrate significantly higher educational levels: around 50% hold a high school diploma (compared to 22.1% of farmers over 40), and 19.3% have a university degree (versus 8.7% among those over 40).

Despite this progress, a broader, deeper, and more critical understanding of fertilization practices among operators in the sector remains essential.

Agricultural technicians and consultants are still confronted with a widespread belief: that fertilization is a “dispensable” practice during times of economic hardship.

When production costs need to be cut, fertilizer purchases are often the first to go—based on the assumption that any cultivated soil can independently meet crop nutritional needs. As a result, fertilization is often reduced to “emergency” interventions meant to correct visible deficiencies during the growing season.

This approach is rarely applied to crop protection. In fact, where precision agriculture has not taken root, crop defense is still managed on a “calendar basis,” with frequent overuse of phytosanitary treatments—leading to unnecessary costs and environmental harm.

Another persistent myth is the idea that fertilization strategies have remained unchanged. Many farmers still rely heavily on commodity fertilizers, a fact confirmed by Assofertilizzanti data: commodities make up roughly 60% of the total volume of fertilizers sold in Italy, and over 70% in terms of turnover. The market share of “organic” fertilizers (soil improvers, organic and organo-mineral fertilizers) is significantly smaller, and even less so for specialty fertilizers.

Beyond the different uses and purposes of these products, what is often missing is a deeper understanding of their characteristics and the fate of nutrients once applied to the soil. Key decisions—such as timing of application, nutrient bioavailability, and risks of leaching, immobilization, or volatilization—depend on this knowledge.

Since the widespread adoption of synthetic fertilizers in the mid-19th century, both the variety of available products and agronomic knowledge have greatly expanded. Today, choosing the right fertilization strategy—in terms of timing, dosage, and type—is crucial for maximizing effectiveness while minimizing costs and nutrient losses.

Since the development of superphosphate in 1842—the first patented synthetic fertilizer—agricultural, economic, and social contexts have changed dramatically.

While the primary goal of agriculture remains to feed the global population, advanced economies increasingly demand crops destined for specific agro-industrial transformations, which require high and consistent quality standards.

In the fresh produce sector, products must meet not only aesthetic standards but—more importantly—nutraceutical value, shelf-life, and transport resistance.

All of these quality goals depend heavily on proper crop nutrition.

There is a growing demand for food products with low or zero chemical residues—most of which originate from pesticides and growth regulators.

What’s often overlooked is that well-fertilized crops are not just better nourished; they are also physiologically stronger. This improves their resilience to environmental stress and phytopathological threats, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

We must move beyond a plant-centric view of fertilization. It’s time to consider the soil–plant system as an integrated whole.

Soil and plants engage in complex, bidirectional interactions, especially within the rhizosphere. The soil supports plant life, and plants influence soil biology—through root exudates, for example, which promote beneficial microorganisms and suppress harmful ones by shaping the soil microbiome.

Every agronomic practice affects this delicate balance. Among them, organic and organo-mineral fertilization plays a critical role by enhancing soil porosity, microbial activity, and biological fertility.

This requires a broader, long-term vision of fertilization—not just as a crop input, but as a tool for regenerating soils impoverished by centuries of intensive farming.

Continuous professional development remains a priority.

As long as fertilization is perceived merely as a way to replenish what crops remove, or as a short-term nutrient fix, it will be difficult to establish the concept of fertilization as a pillar of advanced crop systems. These systems aim to integrate yield, quality, and soil health—and more broadly, agroecosystem sustainability.

Agribios Italiana’s R&D activities are committed to developing fertilization solutions that meet these ambitious and necessary goals.