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Important 5 advantages of organic fertilizers and their benefits you need to know
Organic fertilizers are made from the decomposition of organic waste i.e. plants and animals. Processed fertilizers that have a compost or manure base are also termed organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers deliver important nutrients to the soil, improve its fertility and help achieve quality yield. They have been a part of agriculture for ages. However, they were replaced (to a major extent) by inorganic and commercial fertilizers after the industrial boom in the 19th century.
As the advantages of organic fertilizers have become more obvious, the world is once again shifting towards the use of organic fertilizers. Let us take a look at the different benefits of organic fertilizers.
Benefits of Organic Fertilizers
Deliver Nutrients Slowly and Steadily
- Organic fertilizers break down slowly and steadily. They take time to leach in the soil, decompose and deliver the desired nutrients. This way, the plants are not overfed and they draw the nutrients according to their need. Contrary to this, inorganic nutrients behave artificially and decompose quite quickly. The overdose of nutrients can damage the plants and may burn them.
Because they decompose so fast, inorganic nutrients do not add much fertility to the soil either.
Improve The Health of The Soil
- Alluvial and loamy soils are naturally rich in nutrients and minerals. However, they lose some of their fertility due to over vegetation. The purpose of adding fertilizers is to replenish their depleted fertility. Organic fertilizers play a crucial role in improving the texture of the soil. They make the soil more porous which enables it to retain a greater volume of water and improves the bacterial and fungal activity in the soil. The overall health of the soil is improved.
The reason why inorganic fertilizers don’t contribute much to the health of the soil is because of the lack of carbon in their chemical composition. Carbon is needed for microbes and bacteria to derive energy and thrive. The chemical composition of organic fertilizers is similar to that of microbes. They contain all the important elements such as carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and nitrogen that are needed by microbes to exist in an environment.
They Are Safer For Human Consumption
- Organic fertilizers do not contain harmful chemicals. The plants that grow on these fertilizers are safer to consume. Inorganic fertilizers may contain certain harmful chemicals such as zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. Through a process known as bioaccumulation, these harmful substances can deposit in larger quantities inside our bodies and cause certain diseases.
They Are Environmentally Safe
- As mentioned before, organic fertilizers decompose slowly and do not leach out when water is applied. They don’t run off with water, hence they don’t pollute water bodies such as rivers and oceans. Some Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers (EEFs) take in carbon dioxide to produce organic matter. This way, they reduce the concentration of CO2 which is the most abundant greenhouse gas.
Organic fertilizers also increase species biodiversity by 30%, leading to a healthier ecosystem.
Offer Great Value For Money
- Even though organic fertilizers are costlier, compared to commercial fertilizers, they are needed in much less quantity. They can result in considerable cost savings as they contain important nutrients i.e. Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (NPK) in abundant quantities and there is no need for additional supplements. If you use organic fertilizers, you may not require pesticides, which will save money.
We specialize in nutrient management at American Tree. Call us at (973) 744-6091 to get customized organic and liquid injection fertilizers for your plants to meet all their nutrient requirements. We provide services in Montclair, New Jersey, and nearby areas.