Organic Fertilizers
green manure through nitrogen fixation from
Organic fertilizers are fertilizers that are
naturally produced. Fertilizers are materials that
can be added to soil or plants, in order to
provide nutrients and sustain growth. Typical
organic fertilizers include all animal waste
including meat processing waste, manure,
slurry, and guano; plus plant based fertilizers
such as compost; and biosolids. Inorganic
"organic fertilizers" include minerals and ash.
The organic-ness refers to the Principles of
Organic Agriculture, which determines whether
a fertilizer can be used for commercial organic
agriculture, not whether the fertilizer consists
of organic compounds.
Organic fertilizers are made from mined rock
minerals, and natural plant and animal
materials. They include ingredients like manure,
guano, dried and powdered blood, ground
bone, crushed shells, finely pulverized fish,
phosphate rock, and wood.
Examples: The main organic fertilizers are, peat,
animal wastes, plant wastes from agriculture,
and treated sewage sludge.
Uses: The use of organic fertilizers has
advantage of being cheap, improving soil
structure, texture and aeration increasingthe
soils water retention abilities and stimulating
healthy root development. Organic fertilizer has
many sources such as minerals, animal source,
sewage sludge and plant.
Farming application: In non-organic farming, a
compromise between the use of artificial and
organic fertilizers is common[citation needed],
often using inorganic fertilizers supplemented
with the application of organics that are readily
available such as the return of crop residues or
the application of manure.
Cover crops are also grown to enrich soil as a
the atmosphere as well as phosphorus (through
nutrient mobilization) content of soils.
Fertilizer trees aid organic farming by bringing
nutrients from the depths of the soil, and by
assisting in the regulation of water usage.
Leguminous cover crops or fertilizer trees are
also grown to enrich soil as a green manure
through nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere
as well as phosphorus (through nutrient
mobilization) content of soils.
Nutrient density
In general, the nutrients in organic fertilizer are
both more diluted and also much less readily
available to plants. This may be however
desired as a form of slow-release fertilizer
containing insoluble nitrogen. By their nature,
organic fertilizers increase physical and
biological nutrient storage mechanisms in soils,
mitigating risks of over-fertilization. Organic
fertilizer nutrient content, solubility, and
nutrient release rates are typically much lower
than mineral (inorganic) fertilizers. A University
of North Carolina study found that potential
mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in the soil was
182–285% higher in organic mulched systems
than in the synthetics control.
There do exist 'fast-release' organic fertilizers
with a risk of fertilizer burn. These include
uncomposted animal manures, fish emulsion,
blood meal, and urine. Composting converts
nitrogen in these sources into more stable
forms (with some loss).
Soil biology
Organic fertilizers have been known to improve
biodiversity (soil life) and long-term productivity
of soil, and may prove a large depository for
excess carbon dioxide.
Organic nutrients increase the abundance of
soil organisms by providing organic matter and
micronutrients for organismal relationships
such as fungal mycorrhiza, (which aid plants in
absorbing nutrients), and can drastically reduce
external inputs of pesticides, energy and
fertilizer, at the cost of decreased yield.
Consistency
Organic fertilizers from composts and other
sources can be quite variable from one batch to
the next.Without batch testing, amounts of
applied nutrient cannot be precisely known.
Nevertheless, one or more studies have shown
they are at least as effective as chemical
fertilizers over longer periods of use.
In organic fertilizer
Inorganic fertilizers exclude carbon-containing
materials except ureas. Organic fertilizers are
usually (recycled) plant- or animal-derived
matter. Inorganic are sometimes called
synthetic fertilizers since various chemical
treatments are required for their manufacture.
Examples of manufactured or chemically-
synthesized inorganic fertilizers include
ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and
superphosphate, or triple superphosphate.
ORGANIC FERTILIZER VS. INORGANIC: THE END
RESULT
While the decision is ultimately yours, there is a
lot to consider carefully with organic fertilizer
vs. inorganic.Your plant’s needs are a large
factor that shouldn’t be ignored. If they need
food fast, inorganic might be the way to go. If
you’re more interested in a long-term solution
to nutrients, you’ll probably prefer organic. In
bag form, organic fertilizer is significantly more
expensive than inorganic, but there are cheaper
alternatives to bags. And the environmental
factor is important to consider. If you want
healthier plants, a healthier you, and a healthier
environment, organic is your best bet.
ORGANIC FERTILIZER VS. INORGANIC:
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LAWN CARE
If you’re interested in environmentally friendly
lawn care, switching from your current
traditional commercial lawn care company to a
full-service company like Mowbot is a perfect
option. Traditional companies use gas-based
cars and equipment and create cross-
contamination situations. If you’re strictly using
organic fertilizers, your neighbor might not, and
a lawn mower that serviced your neighbor
carries those contaminants on its wheels and
blades. Mowbot uses a robotic mower that lives
and stays in your yard. The Robot Wranglers
only used battery-powered cars and equipment,
and the threat of noxious fumes and
contamination is eliminated.
Usman Amjad
19-arid-5112