A lush garden that boasts a burst of color interspersed with verdant shrubs and lawns owes its existence to diligence on the part of the gardener and fertilizer that suits the soil. Today, demand for organic fertilizer is high especially among homeowners as it’s safer to use (if composted well) and soil productivity is increased.
Organic and inorganic are the two types of fertilizers. Which to use can be confirmed by consulting with your local horticultural department or conducting a simple soil test.
While organic fertilizers are desirable, some plants require more of certain nutrients which can only be provided by inorganic matter. As such, it’s necessary to evaluate the soil to find out what it needs.
Manure, compost, bone meal etc are examples of organic fertilizers. They’re naturally occurring and don’t include chemical additives or synthetic deposits. This system of recycling natural matter instead of confining it to landfills significantly reduces the load put on dump sites.
Organic fertilizers have been documented to improve soil productivity and soil life by encouraging the growth of microbial and faunal activity necessary for providing richness to earth. These organisms also protect soil and plants from certain pests at a low cost.
However, even if organic matter is properly composted and efforts made to increase nutrients there will always be mineral and nitrogen losses due to runoff and leaching. These losses make a big difference to how healthy soil is so combining it with inorganic fertilizer is necessary.
Another area where organic fertilizer scores low is fast action. It’s typically slow-acting and you require more of it to increase nutrient levels. If not processed well, pathogens may also be present – for example, animal faeces that isn’t broken down properly can have adverse health effects in humans – so the entire process from selecting what matter to compost, the composting period, application time etc is time-consuming.
With inorganic fertilizers, the matter is produced synthetically and sold as a liquid, as pellets or powders. It isn’t muddy or earthy like organic fertilizer. It has all the essential soil nutrients like zinc, iron, calcium, sulfur and magnesium, five chemicals that are vital to plant health.
Preference for inorganic fertilizer is based on the appropriate amounts of nutrients contained for different types of soil and plants. It’s manufactured quickly, can be found readily and works fast as nitrates are released quickly once applied. Flowering plants and fruit-yielding trees may also witness higher productivity.
However, despite these good points, overuse or extended use of inorganic fertilizers can have the opposite effect on soil. On occasion, cadmium poisoning can occur and natural fertility can be lost. During runoff or leaching, water contamination may occur which is why farmers practice catchment-sensitive farming to curb it. In addition, inorganic fertilizer is toxic to plants if it doesn’t contain the right dose of chemicals.
When purchasing fertilizer, it pays to know which to use on what plants. Every commercially sold product will have an NPK (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) labeling. The higher the nitrogen content, the more plant protein is generated, leaves take on a darker color and overall growth is enhanced. With more phosphate, root formation is increased and flowering plants are driven to maturity faster. With a higher potash content, plant tissue and resistance against disease are enhanced.
For best results, choose a fertilizer with even NPK numbers. However, if you aren’t sure of what your plants need, consult a seasoned gardener.
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