Nutrient application has long been appreciated by farmers: manure application, for example, has featured in agrarian societies, providing a natural source of primary nutrients. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that more concentrated chemical products started to be manufactured and traded globally, eventually leading to the “green revolution” of the 1970s.

One key component, nitrogen, is often extracted from nitrogen via the Haber-Bosch process, which transformed fertilizer production into a true industry. This process involves the reaction of nitrogen gas from the atmosphere with hydrogen, typically derived from natural gas, under high temperatures and pressures to produce ammonia, which is used in the production of urea, nitrates, and most complex fertilizers such as ammoniated phosphates, NPKs, ammonium sulfate, or potassium nitrate.

Phosphates are produced through the mining and processing of phosphate rock, often through reacting it with a strong industrial acid (typically sulfuric acid) to obtain phosphoric acid, which is then further processed into various downstream products such as diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), or triple superphosphate (TSP).

Potash, primarily consisting of potassium, is obtained from ancient sea and lake beds that formed millions of years ago. The extraction process involves mining and refining these deposits, mostly producing potassium chloride, from which a variety of further downstream products are made.

The absence of any of the essential nutrients — nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K) — can lead to deficiencies in plants, resulting in stunted growth, diminished crop quality, and reduced resilience against drought and diseases.