fertilisers: Organic fertiliser Type
Home growers are recognizing the need for supplying the nutrients in a timely fashion in order to promote vigorous plant growth in landscapes and gardens. Application of nutrients may be done using either inorganic fertiliser type or organic fertiliser type.
Because of the increase in environmental concerns, many home growers have preference in using the organic fertiliser type over the inorganic fertiliser type. This is due to the fact that inorganic fertiliser types contain possibly harmful chemicals and a concentrated amount of nutrients that may leach into the soil.
However, a common misconception in using organic fertiliser types is that they are safer for plants. Inappropriate or improper application of organic fertiliser types can be as harmful to plants as chemicals are. Organic fertiliser types, if not properly applied, may contribute to ground water pollution, cause nutrient deficiency and toxicity, or induce salt burn.
Nutrient needs of plants vary according to soil conditions, previous inorganic or organic fertiliser types used, and the plant type grown. In order to find out what specific nutrients are needed in an organic fertiliser type, a soil test must be conducted.
Most nutrient deficiency in soil is Nitrogen-based so organic fertiliser types are specifically designed to contain high amounts of Nitrogen. Lawn and turf grass grow very slowly if soil is deficient in Nitrogen. The same thing can be said of vegetable and fruit gardens. To increase vigor in law grass and improve crop yield, seaweed extracts and fish emulsions are the organic fertiliser types to use. These organic fertiliser types are rich in soluble Nitrogen and trace elements.
The labels of organic fertiliser types have numbers in them that stand for the concentration of the three major nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). For instance, an organic fertiliser type with a formulation of 6-12-0 contains six percent Nitrogen, twelve percent Phosphorus, and zero percent Potassium.
Other ingredients found in organic fertiliser types are sulfur, iron, and zinc. Aside from supplying plants with the necessary nutrients for their growth, organic fertiliser types also contains organic matter (Inorganic fertiliser types do not have this in their formulations). The organic matter in organic fertiliser types augments the water retention of soil and also improves drainage and tilth.
If the result of the soil test indicates that some nutrients have high or excessive content levels, select an organic fertiliser type that has lower concentrations of these nutrients. An excess of nutrients in an organic fertiliser types can cause leaching and imbalance that reduces plant growth. However, if a soil test report indicates that Nitrogen is needed, then select an organic fertiliser type with high Nitrogen content like blood meal or kelp meal. If you find out that your soil is deficient in both Phosphorus and Nitrogen, then an organic fertiliser type rich in both nutrients is advisable. If none is available, then using two organic fertiliser types, each rich with either specific nutrient, can be done.
Many organic fertiliser types contain high levels of salt which could cause “burning” of plants. Organic fertiliser types may be broadcast on the surface or applied directly into the soil by tilling or watering. Using a spreader may be helpful in making sure that you do not over apply organic fertiliser types into your soil.
Spreaders for organic fertiliser types are adjustable to suit different fertilising needs. When broadcasting organic fertiliser types via a spreader, it is important to note the width of the spread path and the distance traveled.
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