Enriching the Earth

In this book, Vaclav Smil discusses nitrogen's unique status in the biosphere, its role in crop production, and traditional means of supplying the nutrient.

The core of the book is a detailed narrative of the discovery of ammonia synthesis by Fritz Haber—a discovery scientists had sought for over one hundred years—and its commercialization by Carl Bosch and the chemical company BASF.

Smil examines the emergence of the large-scale nitrogen fertilizer industry, analyzes the extent of global dependence on the Haber-Bosch process, and discusses its biospheric consequences.

The book also looks at the role of nitrogen in civilization and describes the lives of Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch after the discovery of ammonia synthesis.