The Historical Process of Fertilizer Application in Agriculture: An Evaluation from the Perspective of Field Crops

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 2, 72 - 84, 31.12.2025

Şerife Akkeçeci

Öz

This compilation study examines the historical development of fertilizer use in agriculture in a multifaceted manner in the context of field crop production; and comprehensively examines the transformation process extending from traditional practices to modern and technology-based strategies. The concept of fertilization, which has been shaped by natural materials such as animal waste, plant residues and ash since ancient times, was established on scientific foundations in the 19th century, and evolved into a production-oriented structure in the 20th century with the widespread use of industrial-type chemical fertilizers. Especially during the Green Revolution, with the widespread use of high-yield varieties, intensive input use provided significant increases in field crop productivity. However, these developments also brought environmental, economic and social costs. With the increasing environmental awareness in the post-1980 period, sustainable fertilization practices, integrated nutrient management and organic farming approaches have gained importance; in recent years, precision agriculture technologies, biotechnological fertilization systems and circular economy principles have been effective in reshaping fertilization policies. In Turkey, the current situation has been evaluated by taking into account the historical development line, transformation trends in practices have been analyzed and future suggestions have been included in line with sustainable agriculture targets.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Fertilization history , Field crops , Sustainable agriculture , Precision agriculture , Circular economy

Tarımda Gübre Uygulamasının Tarihsel Süreci: Tarla Bitkileri Perspektifiyle Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Bu derleme çalışması, tarımda gübre kullanımının tarihsel gelişimini tarla bitkileri üretimi bağlamında çok yönlü bir şekilde ele almakta; geleneksel uygulamalardan modern ve teknoloji temelli stratejilere uzanan dönüşüm sürecini kapsamlı biçimde incelemektedir. İlk çağlardan itibaren kullanılan hayvansal atıklar, bitki kalıntıları ve kül gibi doğal materyallerle şekillenen gübreleme anlayışı, 19. yüzyılda bilimsel temellere oturmuş, 20. yüzyılda ise sanayi tipi kimyasal gübrelerin yaygınlaşmasıyla üretim odaklı bir yapıya evrilmiştir. Özellikle Yeşil Devrim döneminde yüksek verimli çeşitlerin yaygınlaştırılmasıyla birlikte, yoğun girdi kullanımı tarla bitkileri verimliliğinde belirgin artışlar sağlamıştır. Ancak bu gelişmeler, beraberinde çevresel, ekonomik ve sosyal maliyetleri de getirmiştir. 1980 sonrası dönemde artan çevresel duyarlılıkla birlikte sürdürülebilir gübreleme uygulamaları, entegre besin yönetimi ve organik tarım yaklaşımları önem kazanmış; son yıllarda ise hassas tarım teknolojileri, biyoteknolojik gübreleme sistemleri ve döngüsel ekonomi ilkeleri gübreleme politikalarının yeniden şekillenmesinde etkili olmuştur. Türkiye özelinde ise tarihsel gelişim çizgisi dikkate alınarak mevcut durum değerlendirilmiş, uygulamalardaki dönüşüm eğilimleri analiz edilmiş ve sürdürülebilir tarım hedefleri doğrultusunda geleceğe yönelik önerilere yer verilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Gübreleme tarihi , Tarla bitkileri , Sürdürülebilir tarım , Hassas tarım , Döngüsel ekonomi

Kaynakça

• Angelakis, A., Zaccaria, D., Krasilnikoff, J., Salgot, M., Bazza, M., Roccaro, P., Jiménez, B., Kumar, A., Wang, Y., Baba, A., Harrison, J., Garduno-Jimenez, A., & Fereres, E., 2020. Irrigation of World Agricultural Lands: Evolution through the Millennia. Water. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051285 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025).
• Çakmak, E. H. (2010). Agricultural policy reforms and their implications on rural development: Turkey case. New Medit, 9(4), 19–26.
• Çiftçi, V., & Kara, M. (2020). Tarımsal üretimde gübre kullanımı ve çevresel etkileri. Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 26(2), 89–98.
• Çiftçi, V., & Kara, M. (2020). Tarımsal üretimde gübrelemenin önemi ve güncel yaklaşımlar. Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 26(3), 415–426.
• Dawson, N., Martin, A., & Sikor, T., 2016. Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural Smallholders. World Development, 78: 204–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2015.10.008 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025).
• D’Agostini, F., Lucarini, G., & Radini, A. (2022). Phytoliths as indicators of plant water availability: The case of millet cultivation in the Indus Valley Civilization. Journal of Archaeological Science, 139, 105581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105581
• Erisman, J. W., Sutton, M. A., Galloway, J. N., Klimont, Z., & Winiwarter, W. (2008). How a century of ammonia synthesis changed the world. Nature Geoscience, 1(10), 636–639.
• Evenson, R. E., & Gollin, D. (2003). Assessing the impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000. Science, 300(5620), 758–762.
• FAO (2019). The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• Gollin, D., Hansen, C., & Wingender, A. (2016). Two Blades of Grass: The Impact of the Green Revolution. Journal of Political Economy, 129, 2344 - 2384. https://doi.org/10.1086/714444.
• Güneş, A., İnal, A., & Alpaslan, M., 2015. Bitki Besleme ve Gübreleme. Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Yayınları, Ankara.
• Güneş, A., İnal, A., & Alpaslan, M., 2015. Gübreleme ve Toprak Verimliliği. Kalite Matbaacılık, Ankara.
• Güneş, A., İnal, A., & Alpaslan, M. (2015). Toprak verimliliği ve gübreleme stratejileri. Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Dergisi, 4(1), 45–59.
• Harwood, J. (2019). Was the Green Revolution intended to maximise food production. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 17(4), 312–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2019.1637236
• Haverstock, N., & Schroeder, R., 1970. Green Revolution. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446247501.n1767 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• James, N., Decaix, A., Villasana, I., Kenoyer, J. M., Meadow, R. H., & d’Alpoim Guedes, J. (2024). Taphonomy and labour at the Indus Valley site of Harappa (3700–1300 BC). Antiquity, 98(403), 83–100. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.196.
• John, D., & Babu, G., 2021. Lessons From the Aftermaths of Green Revolution on Food System and Health. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.644559 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025).
• Khush, G. S. (2001). Green revolution: the way forward. Nature Reviews Genetics, 2(10), 815–822.
• Küçük, T. (2017). Türkiye’de tarım tarihi: Gübreleme uygulamaları. Ziraat Tarihi Araştırmaları, 12(1), 55–72.
• Lin, S., Wang, Q., Wei, K., Zhao, X., Tao, W., Sun, Y., Su, L., & Deng, M. (2024). Comprehensive assessment of combined inorganic and organic fertilization strategies on cotton cultivation: implications for sustainable agriculture. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13673
• Manimozhi, K., & Gayathri, D. (2012). Eco Friendly Approaches for Sustaınable Agriculture.
• Marschner, P., 2012. Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants (3rd ed.). Academic Press, London.
• Mehta, D., 2018. The Green Revolution did not increase poverty and hunger for millions. Nature Plants, 4: 736. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-018-0240-8 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• Murthy, R., Nagaraju, B., Govinda, K., Kumar, S., et al. (2024). Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1439523
• Öztürk, M., & Yılmaz, D. (2021). Hassas tarımda gübreleme teknolojileri. Tarımda Dijitalleşme Sempozyumu Bildirileri, 141–148.
• Pingali, P., 2012. Green Revolution: Impacts, limits, and the path ahead. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109: 12302 12308. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912953109 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• Pinstrup‐Andersen, P., & Hazell, P., 1985. The impact of the green revolution and prospects for the future. Food Reviews International, 1: 1/25. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559128509540765 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• Poznyak, S., & Ivaniuk, H. (2022). Knowledge About Soils in the Civilizations of the Ancient World. The Scientific Issues of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. Series: Geography. https://doi.org/10.25128/2519-4577.22.1.1
• Radočaj, D., Jurišić, M., & Gašparović, M. (2022). The Role of Remote Sensing Data and Methods in a Modern Approach to Fertilization in Precision Agriculture. Remote Sensing, 14(3), 778. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030778
• Smil, V., 2001. Enriching the Earth: Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production. MIT Press, Cambridge.
• Stepha, G. (2022). Impact of Green Revolution in India. International Journal of Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6ns4.10077.
• Stewart, W. M., Dibb, D. W., Johnston, A. E., & Smyth, T. J. (2005). The contribution of commercial fertilizer nutrients to food production. Agronomy Journal, 97(1), 1–6.
• Styring, A. K., Charles, M., Fantone, F., Hald, M. M., McMahon, A., Meadow, R., et al. (2017). Isotope evidence for agricultural extensification reveals how the world's first cities were fed. Nature Plants, 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2017.76
• Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, 2022. Bitkisel Üretim Genel Müdürlüğü 2022 Faaliyet Raporu. T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı Yayınları, Ankara.
• Teclaff, L. A. (1967). The river basin as the basis of water control for agriculture in antiquity. In The River Basin in History and Law (ss. 15–25). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-1025-7_3
• Tilman, D., Cassman, K. G., Matson, P. A., Naylor, R., & Polasky, S. (2002). Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature, 418(6898), 671–677.
• Toselli, M., Baldi, E., Ferro, F., Rossi, S., & Cillis, D. (2023). Smart Farming Tool for Monitoring Nutrients in Soil and Plants for Precise Fertilization. Horticulturae, 9(9), 1011. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091011
• Tyagi, A., 2016. Towards a Second Green Revolution. Irrigation and Drainage, 65: 388–389. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.207 (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• TÜİK, 2023. Gübre Kullanım İstatistikleri 2000-2022. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. https://tuik.gov.tr (Erişim tarihi: 30.04.2025)
• Wu, P., Wu, Q., Huang, H., Xie, L., An, H., Zhao, X., et al. (2024). Global meta-analysis and three-year field experiment shows that deep placement of fertilizer can enhance crop productivity and decrease gaseous nitrogen losses. Field Crops Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109263
• Yanardağ, A. (2022). Heavy Metal Evaluation of Overused Commercial Fertilizers and Their Interactions with Soil Properties. Journal of Agricultural Production. https://doi.org/10.56430/japro.1148305.
• Xing, Y., & Wang, X. (2024). Precise application of water and fertilizer to crops: challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1444560
• Zhao, K., Zhao, X., He, L., Wang, N., Bai, M., Zhang, X., Chen, G., Chen, A., Luo, L., & Zhang, J. (2024). Comprehensive assessment of straw returning with organic fertilizer on paddy ecosystems: a study based on greenhouse gas emissions, C/N sequestration, and risk health. Environmental Research, 120519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120519
• Zhang, X., Davidson, E. A., Mauzerall, D. L., Searchinger, T. D., Dumas, P., & Shen, Y. (2021). Managing nitrogen for sustainable development. Nature, 594(7863), 74–83.
• Zhang, X., Davidson, E. A., Mauzerall, D. L., Searchinger, T. D., Dumas, P., & Shen, Y. (2021). Managing nitrogen for sustainable development. Nature, 618(7954), 305–313.