As an undergraduate-level Chemistry teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about fertilizers, types of fertilizers, the assessment of different types of fertilizers, the possible effect of fertilizer use on the environment due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and best practices to mitigate these effects.
The teaching tools in this lesson plan help students to understand the significance of GHG emissions from fertilizer use. Further, the lesson plan triggers a discussion on practices to mitigate such emissions because GHGs are possible contributors to climate change. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.
As an undergraduate-level Chemistry teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about fertilizers, types of fertilizers, the assessment of different types of fertilizers, the possible effect of fertilizer use on the environment due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and best practices to mitigate these effects.
The teaching tools in this lesson plan help students to understand the significance of GHG emissions from fertilizer use. Further, the lesson plan triggers a discussion on practices to mitigate such emissions because GHGs are possible contributors to climate change. Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
Teacher-submitted lesson plan, contributed by Dr. Shikha Gulati, Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), India.
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.
Teacher-submitted lesson plan, contributed by Dr. Shikha Gulati, Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), India.
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Biogeochemical Cycles, Greenhouse Gases, Fertilizers, Types of Fertilizers, Fertilizers in Agriculture, Effects of the Use of Fertilizers on the Environment, Management of Fertilizers |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 30 – 50 mins |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture(~6 min)
Play the micro-lecture (video) “Introduction to Fertilizer” by Dr. John Shields, interim director of the IFDC Research and Development Division. The tool will help you to introduce the topic of fertilizers, the different types of fertilizers and their compositions and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Use the video to explain how excess nutrients added to the soil are harmful to the environment and discuss what the consequences could be. Finally, discuss the need for using fertilizers in agriculture to feed the increasing global population.
Visualization (~10 min)
Explain the nitrogen cycle (with reference to agricultural practices) and supplement by using this simplified diagram “N Cycle”. Discuss how nitrogen fixation in the soil occurs through natural processes and how it can be carried out artificially through the usage of fertilizers. Discuss the role of microbes in the nitrogen cycle and how bacterial actions on N fertilizers added to the soil can cause the emission of nitrous oxide (N20) to the atmosphere.
Visualization and Data Set (~10 min)
Use the visualization and associated data set “Global warming potential of greenhouse gases over 100- year timescale” to explain the global warming potential (GWP), over a 100-year time-scale, of one-unit masses of various GHGs, and specifically of N20, relative to that of carbon dioxide. With a much higher GWP than carbon dioxide per unit mass, students will learn that the possible impact of N2O emissions from fertilizers on climate is more potent than that of carbon dioxide. Discuss why a small change in N2O emissions could have a significant impact on global warming.
Reading
Use this reading “Best Management Practices (BMPs) to Increase Fertilizer Efficiency and Reduce Runof” by University of Massachusetss Amherst-Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment to explore how BMPs promote the efficient use of fertilizer and reduce nutrient loss by maximizing the amount of nutrients used by the plant or retained in the plant container for potential use.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Visualization (30 min) | A visualization that allows students to explore data of GHG emissions across different sectors, thereby providing insights on the GHGs that are particularly significant in agriculture.
This can be accessed here . |
| 2 | Reading (10 min) | A reading that describes the impact of agriculture on climate change in Manitoba, Canada, by using a study spanning 25 years.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Micro-lecture/Video, “Introduction to fertilizers” | Narrated by Dr John Shields, published by International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) |
| 2 | Visualization, “Nitrogen Cycle” | International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) |
| 3 | Visualization, “Global warming potential of greenhouse gases over a 100-year timescale (GWP100)” | Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2018). Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: Click Here [Online Resource] |
| 4 | Reading, “Best Management Practices (BMPs) to Increase Fertilizer Efficiency and Reduce Runof” | University of Massachusetss Amherst-Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment |
| 5 |
Additional Resources |
Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2018). Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: Click Here [Online Resource] The Government of Manitoba, Canada |
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Fertilizers, Types of Fertilizers, Fertilizers in Agriculture, Effects of the Use of Fertilizers on the Environment, Management of Fertilizers |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, The Greenhouse Effect |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 30 – 50 mins |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture(~6 min)
Play the micro-lecture (video) “Introduction to Fertilizer” by Dr. John Shields, interim director of the IFDC Research and Development Division. The tool will help you to introduce the topic of fertilizers, the different types of fertilizers and their compositions and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Use the video to explain how excess nutrients added to the soil are harmful to the environment and discuss what the consequences could be. Finally, discuss the need for using fertilizers in agriculture to feed the increasing global population.
Visualization (~10 min)
Explain the nitrogen cycle (with reference to agricultural practices) and supplement by using this simplified diagram “N Cycle”. Discuss how nitrogen fixation in the soil occurs through natural processes and how it can be carried out artificially through the usage of fertilizers. Discuss the role of microbes in the nitrogen cycle and how bacterial actions on N fertilizers added to the soil can cause the emission of nitrous oxide (N20) to the atmosphere.
Visualization and Data Set (~10 min)
Use the visualization and associated data set “Global warming potential of greenhouse gases over 100- year timescale” to explain the global warming potential (GWP), over a 100-year time-scale, of one-unit masses of various GHGs, and specifically of N20, relative to that of carbon dioxide. With a much higher GWP than carbon dioxide per unit mass, students will learn that the possible impact of N2O emissions from fertilizers on climate is more potent than that of carbon dioxide. Discuss why a small change in N2O emissions could have a significant impact on global warming.
Video (~5 min)
Play the video “The Role of 4R Nutrient Stewardship in reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission” for an overview of the need to use fertilizers in agriculture and best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate the adverse effects of fertilizer use on global warming.
Video (~5 min)
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading (60 min) | A reading that describes, in detail, the different types of fertilizers and their usage.
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Visualization (30 min) | A visualization that allows students to explore data of GHG emissions across different sectors, thereby providing insights on the GHGs that are particularly significant in agriculture.
This can be accessed here . |
| 3 | Reading (10 min) | A reading that describes the impact of agriculture on climate change in Manitoba, Canada, by using a study spanning 25 years.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Micro-lecture/Video, “Introduction to fertilizers” | Narrated by Dr John Shields, published by International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) |
| 2 | Visualization, “Nitrogen Cycle” | International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) |
| 3 | Visualization, “Global warming potential of greenhouse gases over a 100-year timescale (GWP100)” | Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2018). Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: Click Here [Online Resource] |
| 4 | Video, “The Role of 4R Nutrient Stewardship in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission” | International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) |
| 5 |
Additional Resources |
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2018). Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: Click Here [Online Resource] The Government of Manitoba, Canada |
