(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(By: Imran Ahmad R&D Desk- Agronomy EFERT)
Pakistan’s agriculture is facing a convergence of pressures that threaten both farm productivity and national food security. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and sudden floods are now regular features of our climate. At the same time, farmers are struggling with increasing input costs and declining soil health. In this changing environment, fertilizer use efficiency has emerged as a critical factor in sustaining crop yields and farm profitability.
Fertilizers play a central role in modern agriculture, yet their efficiency depends heavily on weather and soil conditions. Climate change is disrupting this balance. Higher temperatures accelerate nitrogen losses through volatilization, particularly when urea is applied on dry or warm soils. Intense and unseasonal rainfall increases nutrient leaching and runoff, washing away valuable nitrogen and potassium before crops can absorb them. Drought stress, on the other hand, limits root growth and nutrient uptake, meaning that even applied fertilizers may not translate into yield gains.
Another challenge lies beneath the surface: soil health. Years of imbalanced fertilizer use, low organic matter, and limited soil testing have weakened Pakistan’s soils. Climate stress further aggravates these problems by reducing microbial activity and nutrient availability. In many areas, farmers apply higher fertilizer doses to compensate for yield losses, but this approach often leads to diminishing returns, higher costs, and greater environmental losses rather than improved productivity.
Under these conditions, traditional fertilizer practices are no longer sufficient. Blanket recommendations and a heavy focus on nitrogen alone fail to address the complex interactions between climate, soil, and crops. Improving fertilizer use efficiency means shifting from “more fertilizer” to “smarter fertilizer” use. This requires adopting the principles of right source, right rate, right time, and right place of nutrient application. Proper timing of nitrogen application, for example, can significantly reduce losses during heat waves or heavy rainfall events.
Balanced nutrition is equally important. Adequate use of phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients strengthens root systems, improves water use efficiency, and enhances crop resilience to climate stress. Soil testing and site-specific nutrient management help ensure that fertilizers match actual crop and soil needs. Incorporating organic matter through crop residues or manures can further improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient retention under extreme weather conditions.
Research and innovation have a vital role to play in this transition. Field-based research, adaptive fertilizer formulations, and improved advisory services can help farmers respond to climate variability. Collaboration between research institutions, the fertilizer industry, and extension services is essential to translate scientific knowledge into practical, field-level solutions.
In a changing climate, fertilizer use efficiency is no longer just an agronomic concern; it is an economic and environmental necessity. Efficient fertilizer practices can help farmers achieve stable yields, reduce input costs, and minimize nutrient losses, while also contributing to climate-smart and sustainable agriculture. Addressing this challenge today will determine the resilience of Pakistan’s agriculture and its ability to feed a growing population tomorrow.
