Organic Fertilizer An Overview

There is quite a lot of buzz among the farming community and the general public about organic products. When you visit the garden center or even some hyper-mart, you often see organic products with soils and compost, fertilizers, pesticides, and produce with organic tags.  You have some queries about organic fertilizer, like what exactly is it, and what is in it? How are they different from non-organic fertilizer? Anything tagged organic is more expensive than a non-organic product. Thus, it becomes essential that you be aware of what you are buying and its benefits, if any?

What is Organic Fertilizer?

Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials such as plants, mineral or animal sources. Since they occur naturally, they are very different from traditional chemical fertilizers. They vary according to the nutrition requirements of the plants. However, in most of the cases, they are composed of a single ingredient.

The nutritional ingredient value of organic fertilizers doesn’t provide an immediate fix compared to chemical fertilizers. Biological processes and the action of organisms slowly break them down. Consequently, the plants acquire the nutrients while at the same time conditioning and rejuvenation of soil takes place.

Organic fertilizers  include manure, ground bone, crushed shells, guano, dried and powdered blood, finely pulverized fish, phosphate rock, and wood. Although inorganic or synthetic, fertilizers may contain some organic ingredients. However, the main difference is that they act quickly to feed the plant, without enriching the soil and contributing to a toxic buildup of salts in the soil when overapplied.

Organic fertilizers are eco friendly. Hence, they get the preference for organic and healthy farming. The typical examples of organic fertilizers include fish extracts, plant waste from agriculture, animal waste, treated sewage sludge, bone meal and compost.

How is it different from Synthetic Fertilizers?

• Synthetic fertilizers only feed the plants and extract the nutrients from the soil. Consequently, there is a never-ending need for more chemicals for achieving soil fertility.
• Organic fertilizers are nevertheless easy to apply. They come in easy-to-use organic liquid fertilizers as well as slow-release granular types.

Different Types of Organic Fertilizer 

Organic fertilizers can be liquids, solids, or powders, with each applied differently. Here are a few of them.

1 Manure

It is one of the primary organic fertilizers used especially in the garden. You can use the waste of sheep, poultry, horses, and cattle to prepare it. Since it contains a lot of organic matter, it is termed as complete fertilizer. However, manure has a shallow nutrient concentration. Consequently, it makes it most valuable as an organic soil improvement element. 

2 Bone meal.

You can prepare it from finely ground bones of cattle and animals from the slaughter houses. It is a vital source of calcium and has 15% phosphate. You can use bone meal to fertilize bulbs, flowers and fruit trees.

3 Blood meal.

It refers to the dried and powdered blood of animals. You can use it used as organic fertilizer as it is richness in nitrogen. A blood meal is an excellent organic fertilizer for promoting green leafy growth. You should be use  and apply it sparingly, as over-application can contribute to burning the plant root.

4 Shellfish fertilizer.

You can use  crushed shells or bones of shellfish and crabs to prepare shellfish fertilizer. Like the bone meal, organic shellfish fertilizer is rich in calcium and has a large amount of phosphorous and other trace minerals. Consequently, it aids in the stimulation of flowering and the growth of strong roots.

5 Seabird and Bat guano.

Seabird guano is the accumulated excrement of seabirds. It accumulates around the rocky areas of arid islands. Bat Guano is to the accumulated excrement of cave-dwelling bats. Its nutrients are preserved and protected by the caves from leaching. Both of them have large amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other elements that are good for flowering plants.  Additionally, bat guano is in powder form and is often used throughout the year as a foliar spray.

How to Use Organic Fertilizer?

The usage of organic fertilizer depends on the type you are using, so you need to thoroughly read the package label and instructions. A few fertilizers act as a soil conditioner. You should apply them to the soil before planting. In contrast, the others work in the soil around the plants year-round. Additionally, you can spray few others on the leaves of the plant as a foliar fertilizer. Each has its specific use and benefit.

How to Identify and Verify Organic Fertilizer? 

The increase in popularity has led to a scenario where some businesses want to tag their product as organic. Just because some products include organic materials, the label will say “Made with organic materials”. However, in the true sense, it may not be truly organic or natural. Naturally, it feels frustrating. 

Thus, you should look for words like “slow-release,” “natural organic,” and “low analysis.” You need to think twice about labelled organic products. Any product that displays the N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio that adds up to more than 15 is not an organic fertilizer.

Advantages of Using Organic Fertilizer

As mentioned earlier, that overuse of non organic or chemical fertilizers contributes to the  toxic buildup in the soil. Hence, more farmers are now opting for organic fertilizers due to their benefits instead of synthetic or chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers improve and condition the soil. Additionally, they also enhance the yield and health of the plants.

Here we present the key benefits associated with the use of organic fertilizers.

1 On-farm preparation of organic fertilizer

You do not require an intensive industrial process to prepare or produce organic fertilizers. The production and preparation process is very simple as you can locally prepare it on the farm itself. For example, The process of composting involves some basic steps to create the compost manure. 

Preparation and production of organic fertilizer locally are beneficial because it lowers the overall costs of fertilizer manufacture. Additionally, it helps in the reduction of emissions by eliminating the need for industrially processed fertilizers. Moreover, you also save on transportation costs.

2 Organic fertilizer provide enhanced soil fertility and texture

When you use organic fertilizers, the soil is constantly conditioned and rejuvenated. Consequently, it enhances soil texture, drainage and aeration. Organic fertilizers’ mineral and nutrient breakdown take time, and more than half still rests on the soil after the first year, slowly breaking down to feed and nourish the soil. Thus, organic fertilizers ensure that the soil stays fertile for hundreds of years.

The places which heavily practiced organic farming thousands of years ago, the farms are still fertile. For example, The ancient farmlands of China and the Indian subcontinent have remained fertile even after a thousand years. Nonetheless, the soil fertility of such areas is currently getting reduced due to the use of chemical fertilizers.

3 Organic fertilizers lead to non-toxic food products

The products that are fertilized with organic materials are free of harmful chemicals. The food products made from such products promote a healthy society. The individuals consuming organic food products are free of health risks. Risks such as skin disorders, brain disorders, stroke and cancers. In summary, organic fertilizers ensure the consumption of non-toxic food products.

4 Low investment capital required for organic fertilizer

The use of organic fertilizer in farming means the usage of local plant and animal products or waste. The materials required for preparing and producing fertilizer are locally available on the farm itself. Consequently, the farmer does not have to invest in expensive fertilizer. Additionally, the plant and animal waste are getting utilized. At the same the farmer can save on the money required for disposing of the waste.

Moreover, organic fertilizers maintain soil fertility for an extended period. This reduces the need for fertilizer since the soil will be rich in nutrients. Additionally, the farmer does not need to invest in expensive farm machinery. In order to improve crop productivity and soil fertility.

5 Organic fertilizer promotes safe environment

Organic fertilizers are in line with the natural requirements for environmental stability and continuity. The biodegradable nature of organic fertilizers continues the nutrient cycle and supports natural biochemical activities. Moreover, they do not have any harmful chemicals that contribute to pollution. Neither do they contaminate land nor water. Their usage can prevent the extinction of many plant and animal species that are highly affected by the use of chemical-based fertilizers.

6 Employment opportunity with organic fertilizer 

The chemical fertilizers are produced and processed by large plants in automated settings using sophisticated machinery. The annual output of these plants are more than millions of tons. On the other hand, organic fertilizers are processed and produced locally on a small-scale basis. Thus, the processing and production of organic fertilizers can create employment opportunities. Particularly for those residing in rural areas.

7 Organic fertilizer for competitive economy

The ecofriendly way of organic fertilizer production leads to a resource-efficient, sustainable and low-carbon economy, promoting economic competitiveness. The organic fertilizer industry incorporates localized resource-efficient food production initiatives which generate regional economic development.

Why Choose Our Products

Al Ardh Al-Khadra is a soil conditioners manufacturer in UAE. The company primarily focuses on organic agricultural products ideal for organic farming in UAE. They process their products under hygienic conditions. Their products like organic pesticides and organic soil conditioners are very effective in controlling a wide range of plant diseases.  So what are you waiting for,  shop online today!