What happens to a plant when too much fertilizer is applied to it?

Answer 1

One of the reasons that synthetic fertilizer kills plants is because of the nitrogen content. The amount of available nitrogen in the soil has a direct effect on how much can be grown there. If you use too much fertilizer, you will be adding too much nitrogen to the soil and your plants will either not grow or grow to a certain stage and then die.

Answer 2

High amounts of fertiliser in the soil around the plant affects the pH, damaging root tissue. It also upsets the osmotic potential of the soil causing nutrients to move from the root to the soil and not the other way around

Answer 3

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, over-fertilizing your garden is as bad or worse for your plants than under-fertilizing. The severity of damage caused by over-fertilization is highly variable depending on the plants involved, but pests, diseases and even root damage can result from over-fertilization. Soil tests are vital tools in the gardener's arsenal and can help prevent plant injury.

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Promotes Rapid GrowthExcessive fertilization, especially with fertilizers high in nitrogen, encourage rapid plant growth. Although this sounds like a great thing, it actually stresses the plant considerably. Many plants suddenly grow lots of new leaves and branches that the slower-growing root system cannot supply adequately with water and nutrients. All the extra energy the plant diverted to producing leaves results in significantly reduced flower and fruit production. Encourages Diseases and Attracts PestsRapid growth induced by over-fertilization is appealing to sap-feeding insects, like aphids, scale and spider mites, who colonize and multiply quickly on these plants. The stressed plants, in turn, may become more susceptible to diseases that otherwise would be minor annoyances. Having spent their energy reserves on unchecked growth, over-fertilized plants decline rapidly in the face of the extra demand pests and diseases place upon them. Alters Soil Salinity and pHExcessive fertilizing can cause a build up of fertilizer salts, raising soil salinity and altering the pH of your garden. Plants in highly saline environments suffer significant root damage, which can lead to an inability to take up nutrients and water properly. Seed germination may slow or stop in the presence of excessive salt. Lower soil pH as a result of over-fertilization also makes nutrients less available, leading to a variety of nutritional deficiencies. Causes Nutritional ImbalancesNutritional imbalances are common in overly fertilized soils. Often a gardener will add too much of one element in hopes that it alone will correct whatever problem their plants suffer, but unless nutrition is balanced reasonably, some elements will not be able to be used properly. Fatal problems resulting from nutritional imbalances, such as iron chlorosis, sometimes are reversible if addressed quickly.

Answer 4

Over fertilization can kill a plant by preventing the water from being absorbed by the roots. A lack of water will cause the plant to wilt and die.

Answer 5

Because the fertilizer is a hypotonic solution, too much of it will cause the plant's plasma membrane to burst.