Organic Fertilizers

The title organic fertilizer refers to materials used as fertilizer that occur regularly in nature, usually as a byproduct or end product of a naturally occurring process. Inorganic or synthetic fertilizers are produced artificially in a chemical refinery. Organic fertilizers such as manure have been used in agriculture for thousands of years; ancient farmers did not understand the chemistry involved, but they did recognize the benefit of providing their crops with organic material.  Only within the past 100 years have fertilizers containing essential micro and macronutrients been synthesized in the laboratory. Mass production of synthetic fertilizers has greatly increased crop yields and made the green industry more cost efficient. However, within the past 10-20 years negative effects of fertilizer runoff on the environment have been identified, and there is a renewed interest in organic fertilizers as an environmentally friendly alternative to artificially synthesized chemicals.

What, exactly, goes into an organic fertilizer? Like any fertilizer, organic fertilizers typically provide the three major macronutrients required by plants: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Some fertilizers may also incorporate materials that do not derive from a living organism, but are still accepted for use in organic fertilizers. Examples include limestone, rock phosphate, and Chilean saltpeter. Organic fertilizers on the market in the U.S. are certified through the National Organics Program, which restricts the use of the word ‘organic’ to certified producers. Certification is handled by state and local agencies approved by the USDA. Certification may guarantee that a fertilizer on the market does not have any synthetic chemical input, but does it guarantee a benefit to the environment? 

Common Components of Organic Fertilizer

• Bone meal - slow release fertilizer high in phosphorus and calcium
• Bat guano - contains all three major macronutrients
• Poultry humus - waste products from the chicken industry contain all three macronutrients and are used locally in Arizona
• Fish emulsion - high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace elements
• Fish meal - traditionally used as fertilizer prior to advent of synthetic sources, provides high nitrogen and phosphorus
• Cotton seed meal - high in nitrogen
• Seaweed (kelp) meal - high in micronutrients

Organic fertilizers are more expensive to purchase than inorganic ones.

Or you can let Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance do all the work for you and take the burden off your shoulders all together.  Give us a call at 623-848-8277 and let’s talk about it.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net