Fertilisers’ Importance To Farming Described

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 15

Fertilisers’ Importance To Farming Described

Aspects of fertiliser manufacturing technology were related by Mr D. JI Higgins, chief production manager for Kempthorne Prosser (N.Z.) Ltd., to the first meeting in 1964 of the Canterbury Junior Chemical Society last night.

Mr Higgins said the fertiliser industry was one of the most important chemical process industries and from New Zealand’s standpoint on that was indispensable to agricultural efficiency. He said that in the Soviet Union and the breaking-in of vast areas of virgin territory had not succeeded in providing greater agricultural production.

He said it was not just a question of extra land but the fertility of it. Russia had learned this and recently had announced plans to increase fertiliser production so that 45 million tons a year would be available by 1970. In many countries, particularly in South-east Asia, the greater use of fertiliser was

the only hope of raising soil fertility. In New Zealand the population was expected to reach the 3m total in eight years. K the existing high standard of living was to be maintained then agricultural production had to increase, said Mr Higgins. As it was, about 45 million acres, or 40 per cent of the area of the country, was used for agricultural production. Many persons advocated bringing in more virgin lands. Yet the total land in production in the Dominion had not increased significantly since 1922, nor was it expected to increase significantly in the future. Mr Higgins said increased production had to come from the improved productivity of the land. “Fertilisers are the only weapons in the compulsory search for farm productivity. There is no other way.” he said. Mr Higgins then went on to outline the various chemical processes involved in the production of fertilisers.