Final answer:
Farmers add fertilizer to the soil where their plants grow to provide essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which promote plant growth. Nitrogen is often a limiting factor in plant growth, so adding it through fertilizers can increase crop yield. Phosphorus is limited in soil, so adding it allows for more plant growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Farmers add fertilizer to the soil where their plants grow because it provides essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that plants need to grow. Nitrogen is often a limiting factor in plant growth, so adding it through fertilizers can increase plant growth and crop yield. Phosphorus is also limited in soil, so adding it allows for more plant growth. However, it's important for farmers to use fertilizers responsibly to avoid negative impacts on the environment, such as eutrophication caused by excessive runoff.