The inadequacies in plant nutrition and fertilizer application (dosage not according to the requirements; improper N‐P‐K ratio; lack of Ca, Mg and micronutrient supply; limited variety of fertilizers; problems related to storage, time of application, means of distribution; etc.) lead to serious environmental problems (e.g.soil acidification ‐> mobilization of potentially toxic elements: “chemical time‐bomb effect” P load of surface waters ‐> eutrophisation ‐> unfavourable changes in aquatic ecosystems, rapid silting‐up of canals and reservoires; nitrate pollution of drinking water resources ‐> human health problems; accumulation of toxic compounds from fertilizers; etc.) in many parts of the World, both in developed and developing countries.