Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Kills at Least 5, Injures 160

Apr 18, 2013

Massive Blast Could Be Heard Over 40 Miles Away

DEVELOPING: A Texas fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas has exploded and has killed between five and 15 people and injured at least 160 authorities say.

Emergency crews responded to two large explosions Wednesday night, which were reported around 7:50p.m. Reports say that the blast could be heard as far away as 70 kilometers (43 Miles) north and some even describing it as an earthquake.

Prior to the explosion, the town’s volunteer firefighters had responded to a fire call at the fertilizer plant around 6:00p.m - the blast followed about 50 minutes later. There are several firefighters who are unaccounted for.

Officials say that the fire was under control as of 11p.m. last night, but residence were told to remain indoors due to ammonia being released into the air and the potential threat of new explosions or leaks.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.