Organic Fertilizer
A place that is full of plants is always pleasant in the eyes. A gardener always prefers plants that are green, full-grown and healthy. In order to make the plants fully-grown and healthy, gardeners and farmers put fertilizer to it. There are many artificial and synthetically-produced fertilizers that are widely available in the market. Although this particular type of fertilizer is highly effective, it has wide-ranging negative implications to the plants, people and soil.
Artificial fertilizers aid farmers and gardeners in producing plants that are healthy and promote plant growth since there is no adequate amount of nutrients in the soil to supply the needs of the plants. Most fertilizers contain the essential macro-nutrients needed by plants such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.
Fertilizers are divided into two main types which are the organic and inorganic. Fertilizers, both organic and inorganic, are being used for many years to produce healthy and marketable plants and vegetables.
What Is Organic Fertilizer?
Organic fertilizers are soil amendments that occur and produce naturally such as peat moss and green manure, guano, humic acid, worm castings and seaweed. The “organic” industry suddenly boomed due to the sudden awareness of people on their health and wellness.
The contemporary is currently overwhelmed with various unhealthy foods and an effective way of being healthier and stronger. However, non-organic matter, especially those that involve food production, handling and processing, proved to have detrimental effects to one’s health. Thus, the boost in the sales of organic products is remarkable.
Organic fertilizer is slowly gaining popularity and prevalence in the realm of farming and gardening. Organic fertilizers are beneficial to not only to the plants but as well as to the people and to the environment. Because organic fertilizers came from natural sources, natural chemicals are being added in the soil to make it more fertile and viable for plants’ growth.
Processed organic fertilizers are being marketed commercially. Some of the commercial organic fertilizers are bloodmeal, humic acid, bone meal and compost. Being natural and organic, organic fertilizers have many advantages such as it increases the storage systems in soils. It does not make the soil arid and acidic. It maintains the quality of the soil – fertile and viable living conditions. Thus, it prevents erosion of the top soil.
Organic fertilizers are natural and help in plants’ growth and development. It sustains the nutrients needed by the plants in order to grow. Because it is natural, lesser chemicals are being absorbed by the plants. The lesser the chemicals in the plants, especially in fruits and vegetables, the lesser the chemicals we ingested by eating those produce.
Organic vs. Non-organic Fertilizers
When organic fertilizers are not yet that popular; non-organic fertilizers are being widely used by farmers and gardeners in their produce. Non-organic fertilizers are being produced with ammonia as the main end product. In comparison with the organic fertilizer, the non-organic and synthetically-produced are typically higher in nutrients in terms of release rates.
Moreover, the nutrients contained in the organic fertilizers are in the form that is not readily available to the plants. The process of nitrification is still needed in order for the plants to obtain the necessary nutrients.
Organic fertilizers are still highly preferred due to the benefits that it can provide that outweigh its risks and disadvantages. Proper usage and application of organic fertilizers and reinforced with appropriate farming practices, you will surely produce crops and plants that are of high quality.
