Evaluating Fertilizer Use and Environmental Impacts in Bangladesh: A Review of Challenges and Sustainable Alternatives

Abstract

Soil health degradation and groundwater contamination pose significant threats to food security and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh, driven by intensive agricultural practices, industrialization, and mining activities. This review synthesizes global and regional evidence on the impacts of chemical fertilizers, potentially toxic elements (PTEs), and coal mining on soil and water quality, with a focus on Bangladesh’s vulnerable regions, including Jashore, Barapukuria, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, critical for boosting crop yields by 30–50%, contribute to soil acidification and nutrient imbalance when overused. Population growth, projected to reach 9 billion globally by 2050, is expected to escalate fertilizer demand, exacerbating contamination risks. The study employs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and other analytical tools to identify contamination sources and proposes sustainable practices, such as balanced fertilizer management and organic amendments, to mitigate degradation. Findings highlight the urgent need for robust soil governance and legislation to ensure long-term environmental and human health sustainability in Bangladesh and similar contexts.