To minimize environmental impacts, fertilizers should ideally be applied when?

Applying fertilizers when rainfall is not imminent is the best practice to minimize environmental impacts. This timing helps to prevent runoff, which can wash fertilizers away into nearby water bodies, leading to nutrient pollution and other environmental issues such as algal blooms. When fertilizers are applied before a rainfall event, the nutrients may not have enough time to be absorbed by the soil or plants, thereby increasing the risk of these harmful outcomes.

In contrast, applying fertilizers when plants are actively growing is also important because plants can utilize the nutrients effectively, though this timing doesn’t negate the risk of runoff if rain is expected soon. Low soil temperatures typically slow down plant metabolism and nutrient uptake; therefore, applying fertilizers in such conditions does not maximize their effectiveness. Lastly, applying fertilizers when rain is anticipated can lead to a significant loss of nutrients, which is why avoiding imminent rainfall is crucial for both agricultural efficiency and environmental protection.