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Organic Fertilizer For Your Organic Garden

Organic fertilizer refers to fertilizers that are created organically in nature, such as manure or peat. Organic fertilizer can also be man made from compost. Organic fertilizers are carbon based compounds that increase the productivity of plants and have many benefits that chemical fertilizers do not provide. Organic fertilizer will help improve your soil by adding important nutrients for your plants which is a key to organic garden success. Without fertile soil and nutrients your plants cannot thrive.

The main benefit of synthetic chemical fertilizers is that they offer a higher density of nutrients than organic fertilizer do, however this can sometimes cause plants to dehydrate due to excessive fertilizer salt. Another draw back from chemical fertilizer is that they can pollute your soil and water, as well as contaminate your food. On the other hand organic fertilizer is made from natural materials and is safe for both you and the environment.

Organic fertilizer also differs from chemical fertilizer in the way they feed your plants and build up your soil. Soils the contain a lot of of organic material will remain loose and airy and hold more moisture and nutrients. This helps to foster growth of soil organisms and promote healthier plant root development. By using only chemical fertilizer, the soil gradually loses its organic matter and microbiotic activity. As organic material is used up by your plants, the soil structure deteriorates, becoming compact, lifeless and less able to hold water and nutrients.

Organic fertilizer is generally made up of mostly water insoluble organic materials that break down and release their nutrients slowly. Organic fertilizers can be more expensive than chemical fertilizers, but they offer many more benefits and you can even make your own with backyard composting. Organic fertilizers tends to last longer as well, since they are mostly water insoluble, they tend to remain where they are applied and help hold soil moisture in and break down hard soils.

A good soil, enriched by an organic fertilizer is also a key to avoiding many disease problems that can effect your garden. Some disease organisms live in the soil but can be killed by adding organic compost or fertilizer. Organic compost heats up considerably as it forms and is naturally free of most soil-borne diseases leaving nutrient rich plant food for your garden.

Benefits Of Organic Fertilizer

Choosing to use an organic fertilizer will provide your garden with many advantages over chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers offer long term benefits to your soil and the environment and are much healthier choice. And the best benefit of all may be the fact that you can create organic fertilizer for free with backyard composting.

Non-toxic: Using organic fertilizer ensures that your food will be free of harmful chemicals that are found in chemical fertilizers. Eat organic produce can lessen your risk for diseases such as cancer, heart stroke and skin disorders, as compared to those who consume food items produced using chemical fertilizers.

Make Your Own: Organic fertilizers can be easily made in your backyard by composting, making the cost of organic fertilizer much less than the cost of chemical fertilizers.

Nutrients: Organic fertilizer can help maintain the soil structure and increase its nutrient holding capacity which requires far less quantities of fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers on the other hand make the soil infertile, forcing increased use of chemical fertilizer.

Environment: Organic fertilizer is easily bio-degradable and does not cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, chemical fertilizers contaminate both the soil and water, which can cause disease for you and your plants, as well as animal and insects.

Choosing The Right Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer is available in different forms and choosing the right one for your needs depends on how and where you use the fertilizer.

Plant-based organic fertilizer: Most plant-based fertilizers contain large quantities of nutrients like nitrogen. They are often considered renewable resources but may need other non-renewable resources for growing and processing them.

Animal-based organic fertilizer: These use the waste materials that are generated by industries such as fish processing, meat processing or dairy farming. The waste products are dried or very minimally processed to convert them into usable organic fertilizers.

Mineral-based organic fertilizer: These are natural occurring minerals that are not artificially manufactured or processed.

Compost: Composts are made from different raw materials and are very effective in fertilizing the soil because they are an excellent source of humus and contain a wide but well-balanced variety of nutrients. The greatest advantage of composting over other organic fertilizers is that it can be made easily at home. Making compost at home is an excellent way of recycling your yard and food waste and generating organic fertilizer at the same time.

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