Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer:
Organic fertilizers are made entirely of plant and animal-based components. Examples of organic fertilizers include compost, bone meal, animal manures and wood ash. Organic fertilizers naturally contain all of the required nutrients for healthy plants, without the danger of chemical burns. Organic fertilizers break down slower than chemical fertilizers, so it is recommended that they be applied two to three months before planting to optimize the nutrients.
Advantages:
In nature, decomposition of organic matter creates a natural fertilizer. Applying organic compost or well-aged herbivore manure adds nutrient-rich organic material to the soil, improving quality and texture. Adding organic material to the soil increases its ability to hold water, reduces erosion from water and wind, decreases compaction and crusting of the soil, and raises the soil's pH.
Disadvantages:
Natural fertilizers are slow to break down into the nutrients the growing garden requires. Many natural fertilizers, such as manure, seaweed or fish oil, are quite smelly and are too offensive to use on indoor plants. Gathering natural materials, such as seaweed, grass clippings and leaves to add to the compost pile is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Distribution of nutrients in organic fertilizer varies. Organic materials break down at different rates, so the composition and content of organic fertilizer is never consistent. It is a misconception to believe that just because a fertilizer is organic, it is automatically safer. Organic fertilizer, if applied incorrectly, can contribute to surface and groundwater contamination, create a nutritional imbalance in the soil, and cause salt burns.
Organic fertilizers are made entirely of plant and animal-based components. Examples of organic fertilizers include compost, bone meal, animal manures and wood ash. Organic fertilizers naturally contain all of the required nutrients for healthy plants, without the danger of chemical burns. Organic fertilizers break down slower than chemical fertilizers, so it is recommended that they be applied two to three months before planting to optimize the nutrients.
Advantages:
In nature, decomposition of organic matter creates a natural fertilizer. Applying organic compost or well-aged herbivore manure adds nutrient-rich organic material to the soil, improving quality and texture. Adding organic material to the soil increases its ability to hold water, reduces erosion from water and wind, decreases compaction and crusting of the soil, and raises the soil's pH.
Disadvantages:
Natural fertilizers are slow to break down into the nutrients the growing garden requires. Many natural fertilizers, such as manure, seaweed or fish oil, are quite smelly and are too offensive to use on indoor plants. Gathering natural materials, such as seaweed, grass clippings and leaves to add to the compost pile is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Distribution of nutrients in organic fertilizer varies. Organic materials break down at different rates, so the composition and content of organic fertilizer is never consistent. It is a misconception to believe that just because a fertilizer is organic, it is automatically safer. Organic fertilizer, if applied incorrectly, can contribute to surface and groundwater contamination, create a nutritional imbalance in the soil, and cause salt burns.
Bio Fertilizers
Bio fertilizers are being studied as an alternative source of fertilizers which fall in the organic category, due to their components and the very accessible price. The term itself is pretty self-explanatory; a bio fertilizer is is used to increase the fertility of the soil, and is composed of biological waste (do not contain chemicals). This means it is not detrimental to the soil, the environment, nor to human health. These fertilizers also contain a wider range of nutrients, especially micronutrients, which are very beneficial for the growth of the plants and for the health of those consuming the plant. It is the enhanced absorption of certain minerals, such as, Fe, Mn, and Mg that make the crops, especially lettuce, grow significantly, even a 20-30% increase in size and crop yield may be achieved. Moreover, bio fertilizers are ready to use live formulates of such beneficial microorganisms which, when applied to seed, root or soil, mobilizes the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular, and help build up the micro-flora and in turn the soil health in general. One example of a bio fertilizer, which is yielding very promising results, is Azotobacter, a fertilizer that develops the growth of plants in a healthy and ecologically friendly way. It fixates the atmospheric Nitrogen (78%), and it is applied on the roots and the soil, providing a more biological soil as well as the needed nutrients, along with Nitrogen, essential for the growth of lettuces and other plants. Furthermore, Azotobacter, in combination with the lowest rate of mineral-N reduces NO3 content in lettuce leaves, which can be otherwise dangerous to human beings if absorbed in significant proportions. Therefore, Bio fertilizers are getting more space within the agricultural business since more ecologic preservation notion has been spread, and everybody wants to get the most out of their crops by having a lower net harm to humans and the environment.
Inorganic fertilizers:
Inorganic fertilizers are a strong chemical combination of various nutrients that plants require. They are typically mixed with water and absorbed instantly into a plant's root system. While inorganic fertilizers provide an excellent, fast source of nutrients, it typically cannot be used on young plants, as the chemicals can burn the root system due to it’s strong chemical components.
Advantages:
Chemical fertilizers are made with synthetic ingredients designed to stimulate plant growth. Fertilizers promote green color, foilage growth, and root development. Also, some even contain anti-fungal and disease components to further benefit the plants. In addition, commercial chemical fertilizers have the advantage of being predictable and more reliable to their outcomes. Commercial chemical fertilizers contain a balanced distribution of the three main essential nutrients needed for optimum plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Many formulas also contain Iron, Sulfur and Copper, which are necessary, but only in small amounts. The amount of the three main ingredients are listed in that order, by percentage, on commercial fertilizer labels as the NPK ratio. Commercial formulated fertilizers allow you to know exactly which nutrients you're giving your plants, rather than guessing at the composition of organic formulas. Furthermore, there is a wide range of nutrient formulations which are blended with accuracy affording the market different blends for different types of plants.
In general, plants take 16 different nutrients from the soil, including Magnesium, Nitrogen, Potassium, Iron and Zinc. Certain plants, such as citrus, require higher amounts of specific elements. In the case of these plants, customized fertilizer formulas are available.
Disadvantages:
Commercial chemical fertilizers also present disadvantages. They are less economically viable, as they are more expensive than natural fertilizers. Also, chemical fertilizers risk the death of plants as they can build up in the soil, causing long-term imbalances in soil pH and fertility, as an excess of some nutrients can disrupt pH levels and lead to toxic accumulations of salts and other harmful elements. Furthermore, they cause severe environmental, habitat and health effects.
Inorganic fertilizers are a strong chemical combination of various nutrients that plants require. They are typically mixed with water and absorbed instantly into a plant's root system. While inorganic fertilizers provide an excellent, fast source of nutrients, it typically cannot be used on young plants, as the chemicals can burn the root system due to it’s strong chemical components.
Advantages:
Chemical fertilizers are made with synthetic ingredients designed to stimulate plant growth. Fertilizers promote green color, foilage growth, and root development. Also, some even contain anti-fungal and disease components to further benefit the plants. In addition, commercial chemical fertilizers have the advantage of being predictable and more reliable to their outcomes. Commercial chemical fertilizers contain a balanced distribution of the three main essential nutrients needed for optimum plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Many formulas also contain Iron, Sulfur and Copper, which are necessary, but only in small amounts. The amount of the three main ingredients are listed in that order, by percentage, on commercial fertilizer labels as the NPK ratio. Commercial formulated fertilizers allow you to know exactly which nutrients you're giving your plants, rather than guessing at the composition of organic formulas. Furthermore, there is a wide range of nutrient formulations which are blended with accuracy affording the market different blends for different types of plants.
In general, plants take 16 different nutrients from the soil, including Magnesium, Nitrogen, Potassium, Iron and Zinc. Certain plants, such as citrus, require higher amounts of specific elements. In the case of these plants, customized fertilizer formulas are available.
Disadvantages:
Commercial chemical fertilizers also present disadvantages. They are less economically viable, as they are more expensive than natural fertilizers. Also, chemical fertilizers risk the death of plants as they can build up in the soil, causing long-term imbalances in soil pH and fertility, as an excess of some nutrients can disrupt pH levels and lead to toxic accumulations of salts and other harmful elements. Furthermore, they cause severe environmental, habitat and health effects.
Environmental and Habitat effects/consequences of non- organic Fertilizers
Though fertilizers may be beneficial to the plants, they are not always as healthy for the rest of the environment. Many of the "quick-release" fertilizers involve long term and severe problems . The two most essential fertilizer nutrients are Nitrogen and Phosphorus, which are need in high quantity but are also the most damaging
• Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorus (nutrients)
•Increased Vegetation
•Reduced O2
•Reduced species diversity
Nitrogen from fertilizers and manures are eventually converted by bacteria in the soil to nitrates. These nitrates can be leached into the groundwater or be washed out of the soil surface into streams and rivers. This leads to high nitrate levels in drinking water, considered to be dangerous for humans.
Phosphorus cannot be readily washed out of the soil, but is bound to soil particles and moves together with them. Phosphorus can therefore be washed into surface water together with the soil that is being eroded. Phosphorus is not considered to be dangerous, but it stimulates the growth of algae in slow moving water. These algae eventually die and decompose, removing the oxygen from the water causing aquatic habitat destruction. This process is called Eutrophication.
• Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorus (nutrients)
•Increased Vegetation
•Reduced O2
•Reduced species diversity
Nitrogen from fertilizers and manures are eventually converted by bacteria in the soil to nitrates. These nitrates can be leached into the groundwater or be washed out of the soil surface into streams and rivers. This leads to high nitrate levels in drinking water, considered to be dangerous for humans.
Phosphorus cannot be readily washed out of the soil, but is bound to soil particles and moves together with them. Phosphorus can therefore be washed into surface water together with the soil that is being eroded. Phosphorus is not considered to be dangerous, but it stimulates the growth of algae in slow moving water. These algae eventually die and decompose, removing the oxygen from the water causing aquatic habitat destruction. This process is called Eutrophication.
Main habitat affect:
The main habitat problem today is the decrease of our aquatic habitat. The addition of nitrogen and Phosphorus sediment, sand or silt negatively infects fish and their habitat in a number of ways, including, but not limited to:
- Reduction in visibility, making it difficult for fish to locate and capture prey.
- Damage to fish gills causing injury, mortality and increased susceptibility to disease.
- Infilling of sediments in pools and riffles, which can smother eggs and reduce the quality of spawning and rearing habitat.
- Reduction in food supply by displacing or destroying insect larvae found in bottom areas.
- Reduction in visibility, making it difficult for fish to locate and capture prey.
- Damage to fish gills causing injury, mortality and increased susceptibility to disease.
- Infilling of sediments in pools and riffles, which can smother eggs and reduce the quality of spawning and rearing habitat.
- Reduction in food supply by displacing or destroying insect larvae found in bottom areas.
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