Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer refers to the fertilizer, resulting from organic nature, such as manure or peat. Organic fertilizer can also be a man-made . Organic fertilizers are carbon-based compounds that increase the productivity of plants and has many benefits that chemical fertilizers do not offer. Organic fertilizers help improve soil with the addition of essential nutrients for plants, which is the key to successful organic gardening. Without fertile soil and nutrients plants can not flourish. The main advantage of synthetic chemical fertilizers is that they provide more nutrients than organic fertilizer can do, but this can sometimes cause plants to dry up due to excessive use of fertilizers. Another draw back is that of artificial fertilizers can contaminate soil and water which in turn contaminates our food. On the other hand organic fertilizer made from natural materials is safe for you and the environment.
Organic fertilizers also differs from chemical fertilizers in a way to feed their plants and build soil. Soils containing a large amount of organic matter remain loose and airy and contain more moisture and nutrients. This helps promote the growth of soil organisms and promote the healthy development of plant roots. The only use of chemical fertilizers, soil loses its organic matter and the microbial activity . As organic matter is used by plants, soil structure deteriorates, becoming compact, lifeless and less able to retain water and nutrients. Organic fertilizer is usually made mostly of water-insoluble organic materials which decompose and release nutrients slowly. Organic fertilizers can be more expensive than chemical fertilizers, but they offer more benefits and you can even make your own organic fertilizers with a home compost. Organic fertilizers usually takes longer as well, because they are mostly insoluble in water, tend to stay where they are used and helps keep moisture in the soil and break the hard ground. Good soil enriched with organic fertilizers is essential to prevent many plant diseases, that can affect your garden. Some disease organisms living in soil, but can be killed by adding compost or manure. Organic compost heats up dramatically and is naturally free of most soil diseases .
Benefits of organic fertilizers
Choose to use an organic fertilizer will give your garden many advantages over chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers provide long-term benefits to soil and environment and is a much healthier choice. And the best benefit of all may be that you can create organic fertilizer for free with home composting.
Non-toxic: use of organic fertilizers to ensure that food is free from harmful chemicals found in fertilizers. Eating organic foods can reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular and skin disorders than those who consume food produced by chemical fertilizers.
Make your own: organic fertilizers can be done easily in your own backyard so their cost becomes much cheaper than chemical fertilizers.
Nutrients: Organic fertilizers can help maintain soil structure and increase nutrition, capacity, requiring much smaller amounts of fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers, on the other hand, makes the soil infertile, forcing increased use of fertilizer.
Environment: Organic fertilizer is readily biodegradable and does not cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, chemical fertilizers pollute soil and water, which can cause illness to you and the plants and animals and insects.
Choosing the right organic fertilizer
Organic fertilizers are available in various forms, and choosing the right dress your needs depends on how and where you use the fertilizer.
Herbal organic fertilizers: most plant-based fertilizer containing high amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen. They are often considered renewable resources, but may require other non-renewable resources for the cultivation and processing.
Animal organic fertilizers: These use waste generated by industries such as fish processing, processing of farming meat or dairy products. Waste products are dried or minimally processed to convert them into usable compost.
Mineral-based organic fertilizers: These are natural minerals that are not artificially manufactured or processed.