The crop's growth is influenced by a variety of factors. A significant part of these are plant nutrients. The primary function of fertilizers is to increase the plant's nutrient content. It can be difficult to choose between organic and inorganic fertilizers when determining the best fertilizer for your plants. In this article, you will read all the information about organic and inorganic fertilizers.
The origin of fertilizer is the primary difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers are made from manufactured chemicals and minerals from the soil, while organic fertilizers are made from living things like plants, animals, and manures. Let’s have an overview of both fertilizers.
What is Organic Fertilizer?
Organic fertilizers have been in use for so long, they are the oldest type of fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are produced using natural materials like compost, worm castings, or seaweed. Generally, it refers to compost produced from animal manure or residues from plants and animals that are abundant in natural by-products. A healthy growth environment is created over a longer length of time with the help of organic fertilizers. No chemicals are present in it. As a result, it not only protects your family and the environment but also makes it possible for your plants to grow more healthily. Organic fertilizers come in powder, liquid, or solid form, with each having a unique application method. Some benefits are below:
- nutrient release is slow
- soil improvement by using organic material
- the soil's capacity to hold onto moisture
- carbon absorption in soil
- the ability to create your own through composting
What is Inorganic Fertilizer?
One type of fertilizer used to enhance quick plant growth is inorganic fertilizer. They are manufactured to have a particular subset of plant nutrients and are ready to use in plants, are defined as inorganic fertilizers, and also referred to as synthetic fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers give our plant nutrients much more quickly and they do not improve the fertility of our soil. Usually, nitrates, phosphates, and potash are combined to form these nutrients. Due to the increased risk of plant burning from excessive nutrient levels, it is crucial to take the quantity into mind while applying inorganic fertilizers. The following are some benefits:
- rich in nutrients and more efficient
- rapid release leads to quicker absorption and growth
- Nutrient requirements can be measured and used in specific amounts
Simple Comparison
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Organic Fertilizer |
Inorganic Fertilizer |
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Derived from natural materials |
Manufactured by Chemicals |
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Less expensive |
Expensive than organic |
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Improves soil structure and texture |
Can’t improves soil structure and texture |
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It can’t easy to control amount of nutrients added |
Easy to control amounts of specific nutrients added |
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Can help to check soil erosion |
Don’t help to check soil erosion |
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Not best for those plants need a lot of nitrogen and phosphates |
Best for plants that need a lot of nitrogen and phosphates |
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Can be more difficult to store and may go bad |
Have a lengthy shelf life and are typically simple to store |
Elements in Both
All plants require the three macronutrients NPK; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as a healthy serving of micronutrients. Inorganic nitrogen primarily comes from petroleum, while organic nitrogen is primarily generated from animal waste. Inorganic phosphorus comes from rock phosphate treated with sulphuric acid, which then transforms into other substances and ultimately superphosphate through other processes, while organic phosphorus is derived from mineral sources such as rock dust, colloidal phosphate, bone, or fish meal. Inorganic potassium comes from potash ores such as kainit and sylvanite, while organic potassium is produced from wood ash, kelp, greensand, and compost. Sulphur is frequently included in inorganic NPK fertilizers while a variety of other nutrients are used in organic fertilizers.
NPK Ratio in Inorganic Fertilizer
Inorganic fertilizers contain very precise amounts of nutrients. Since the nutrient dosage is exact, you can develop several blends to respond to the different needs of your plants. You may quickly address any nutritional deficits because the nutrients are available in a form that your plants can utilize right away. The proportion of each macronutrient in the fertilizer is indicated by the NPK values. An equal distribution of each element is shown by a balanced set of numbers, such as 2-2-2 or 10-10-10.
NPK Ratio in Organic Fertilizer
You cannot precisely predict the ratio of nutrients delivered to the soil when using organic fertilizers since the environment must provide the correct circumstances for the organic material to break down. Let's say there is now a deficiency affecting your plants. In that situation, organic fertilizer may take too long or may not offer your plant the precise nutrition it needs at the time. NPK values from organic sources are often lower than those from inorganic fertilizers.
Take Away
Long-term benefits for your plants and soil are greater with organic fertilizers. They give your plants a nutrient, boost soil fertility, and increase biodiversity. Inorganic fertilizers give proper nutrients to plants for healthy growth. You can easily and quickly fix the problem of nutrient deficiency in plants by using inorganic fertilizer. There is no reason that you cannot mix synthetic and organic materials in your yard.
If you are a garden lover and want to plant vegetables in the garden. You may try our best organic fertilizer for vegetable gardens.