How to Choose the Right Organic Fertilizer

Are you thinking of going organic? Going organic is the way to go to protect yourself from harsh chemicals, to help the environment, and make a wonderland out of your backyard. But choosing the right organic fertilizer can be a real headache, especially for those who have just decided to take up organic gardening as a hobby. After reading this article, you will help be able to decide on what type of organic fertilizer you might want to use for your plants, whether vegetables or flowers.

There are several types of organic fertilizers available in the market, such as fish emulsions, seaweed extracts, bone meal, kelp extract, corn meal, etc. You can purchase them in a liquid or pelletized form. Some require being sprayed on, powdering the foliage, or spreading pellets around the base of the plant. These may come in different forms, e.g. liquid, powder, granular or pelleted organic fertilizers. The liquid organic fertilizer is basically applied via foliage spray while the powder form can be applied like tea. The liquid version gives your plants an instant feeding, while the pelleted is more of a slow release or longer lasting version.

Organic based pelleted fertilizers contain only a minor amount of chemicals and is mostly natural. The low chemical structure makes it ideal for a great nutrient-source for plants and for the soil. I usually use kelp meal and fish emulsion, which are both bi-products of the sea. This way I get a liquid and a pellet. Using both versions during the growing season has its advantages.

One of the best sources of organic fertilizers is Yardiac. Don't put that nasty chemical laden fertilizer on your garden even if you think you will save a penny or two. Stick with the organic fertilizers.

And now I would like to offer you a Free copy of my Gardeners Journal so that you can easily document your gardening experience and track what you do. Go to my blog at [http://www.mastergardenergirl.com] and click on "Subscribe to Master Gardener Girls' Gardening Blog by Email" and I will send you a copy of this file.

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Gardening With Organic Fertilizers

WHAT IS ORGANIC FERTILIZER?

Basically, inorganic fertilizers are made from synthetic, manufactured chemicals, and organic fertilizers are made from naturally occurring organic material. This is a bit of an oversimplification, however, and sometimes the line between organic and inorganic fertilizers can get a bit blurry. For example, naturally occurring minerals such as limestone, saltpeter, and mine rock phosphate, although technically inorganic (they come from rocks, after all), have been used as fertilizers for centuries and are just as safe as organic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers are generally created as other organic material that rots and decays. As plant and animal matter rots, the organic material breaks down into its component water and minerals. The resulting biomass is very high in nutrient quality.

The most common example of this is compost, which many backyard gardeners make themselves from organic waste, dead leaves, grass clippings, leftover food, etc. Another example is animal manure, which is also very high in nutrient content and has been used in agriculture as a fertilizer for thousands of years. Finally, some plants are used directly as fertilizers, like seaweed and peat moss.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH INORGANIC CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS?

Many inorganic fertilizers contain synthesized chemicals that do not occur naturally in nature, and thus can become harmful. The introduction of such chemicals, if used extensively over time, can throw off the local environment and ecosystem.

The most common form of chemical pollution occurs when it rains, and the synthetic chemical fertilizers get washed out of the soil into the rainwater runoff. This agricultural runoff flows into the ponds and streams, where they frequently kill the fish and other water life. These chemicals also eventually leech down into the groundwater that people and animals drink.

Finally, some crops will absorb these synthetic chemicals into their plant matter as they grow. When people buy such produce and eat it, these chemicals are introduced to their bodies. One meal of such produce may be harmless, but over a lifetime of eating such produce, these synthetic chemicals can build up in the body.

IS ORGANIC FERTILIZER REALLY BETTER?

Obviously, the introduction of unnatural chemicals into the local environment is not a problem with organic fertilizers, which are made from other naturally occurring organic plant and animal matter.

In terms of encouraging crop grow, however, organic fertilizers are just as good as synthetic fertilizers. Whereas synthetic fertilizers are concentrated, organic fertilizers are more diluted throughout a large amount of biomass. On the one hand, this means you have to use more organic fertilizer to achieve the same effect as a smaller amount of synthetic fertilizer. On the other hand, however, this means that the nutrients are released into the soil gradually, at a slower, more consistent rate over the course of the crops growth cycle. This prevents the boom-and-bust cycle that some synthetic fertilizers can create in crops.

Finally, a 32-year study in Sweden between organic and synthetic fertilizers found that, although both greatly encouraged crop growth over unfertilized fields, organic fertilizers encouraged a higher yield than synthetic fertilizers (65% compared to 50%).

We hope this article has answered some of your questions about organic fertilizers. This article, however, is just the tip of the iceberg, there is much more to learn. If you want to try using organic fertilizers, we suggest doing more research so you can find just the right fertilizer for your garden.

Disclaimer:This article is intended for information about organic fertilizers, farming and gardening only. It should not be regarded as scientific or expert advice in its own right. The information has been taken from secondary sources and is given here in good faith. We recommend you conduct your own research with expert & scientific sources prior to making purchases or applying any technique mentioned here.

Visit Organic Farming Fertilizer [http://www.organicfarmingfertilizer.com] for more information on Organic Gardening, Organic Farming, Organic Lawn Care and Organic Fertilizers.

So Many Healthy Reasons to Use Organic Fertilizers on Your Garden

With the growing concern for healthy eating the use of organic fertilizer has gained its way. We all know the harmful effects of using chemical fertilizer both to the plants and the consumers as well. It is possible to maintain beautiful lawns, gardens and parks without the use of these harmful pesticides. These chemicals are also harmful to the environment.

In organic fertilizer the nutrients contained are derived solely from the remains or a by-product of an organism. Examples of organic fertilizers are cottonseed meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, manure and sewage sludge etc. Urea is a synthetic organic fertilizer which is an organic substance manufactured from inorganic materials.

Three major nutrients required in a good fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorous and potash. Some fertilizers have one of them but low in the other two and some are low in all three. When packed these fertilizers have the fertilizer ratio stated on the package label. So, when buying fertilizers for your lawn it is advisable to check this data. Some of the fertilizers particularly composted manures and sludges are available as soil conditioners but do not have a nutrient guarantee stated on the package, although small amounts of nutrients are present. For a higher nutrient analysis you can buy fortified organic products where an organic material such as rock phosphate is used to increase phosphorus, or greens and to increase potash.

Organic fertilizers can be most effective when the soil is moist and warm for the microorganisms as to act as these fertilizers depend on them to release nutrients. Nutrient release otherwise in general takes occurs after a long time and thus organic fertilizer may not release enough nutrients and may affect the plants growth.

The most common used organic fertilizer is manure. It is a complete fertilizer but the amount of nutrients it supplies is not sufficient. The nutrient content depends upon the animal source and thus may vary. A fertilizer ratio of 1-1-1 is typical. Manures of horse, cow, pig, chicken and sheep are mainly used. Best is to use the manure when it is fresh to get the highest nutritional concentration. When kept for sometime, exposed to weather, or composted, the nutrient content is reduced. Gardeners prefer to use composted forms of manure to ensure lesser amounts of salts, thereby reducing the chance of burning plant roots. Manure is popularly used as a soil conditioner instead of a fertilizer due to its low concentration of plant nutrients. A moderate rate of 70 pounds is used per 1000 square feet to as much as one ton per 1000 square feet.

Some of the advantages of using organic to chemical fertilizers are:

o Help in maintaining soil health and improving the soil structure

o Mobilizes existing soil nutrients, so that good growth is achieved with lower nutrient densities while wasting less

o Helps to release nutrients at a slower, more consistent rate

o Helps to retain soil moisture

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

Organic Fertilizer

Nowadays there is trend of organic gardening (sustainable gardening), creating confusion of using natural/organic fertilizers for home garden use. There is a range of natural and manufactured materials available in the market. People are with great misconceptions for selecting fertilizers.

To make a decision to buy the fertilizer one must first understand the basic plant nutritional concepts. Plants manufacture the complex structures they need to grow through photosynthesis and other metabolic activities. There is no need of vitamins, minerals or other complex compounds. There are four basic requirements for a plant to grow. They need water, air, sunlight basically and the rest is the thirteen essential elements. The basic requirement fulfilled of the plants is dependent on the environment and the growth media in which they live. The growth media for house gardening is soil. Soil is essential and living entity for life of plant. Soil is associated with microbial communities which provide all essential nutrients for healthy plant growth. It's a natural fertilizer. There are hundreds of fertilizers we can add to the soil to improve our soil and make our plants more healthy, vibrant, and productive.

Natural Organic Fertilizers are made from waste products like chicken feathers and manures. These materials are with very slow release rates. It requires soil bacterial action to convert the organic matter into forms usable by plants. A nutrient released is excessively slow when cool soil temperatures reduce bacterial activity. Higher application rates applied the fertilizer last for a longer period of time. Natural organic fertilizers, comparatively with less nutrient content and weight per volume, will require significantly larger volumes in application. The problems associated with use of natural organic fertilizer include slow response, particularly in cool soils, and homeowners misjudge application rates due to the larger volume of material needed. The cost is comparatively high.

In case of manufactured organic fertilizers, carbon is the main building block containing other plant nutrients. They vary in release rate depending on the product. The most common manufactured organic fertilizer is urea. Its fast in release rate, but sulphur coated urea is with slow release rate. The cost is moderate.

Climate change has brought about many variations in the level of minerals and nutrients present in the soil.This increase the need of getting good quality Organic Fertilizer which can full-fill the decency of Nitrogen,phosphorous, Humic Acid, potassium,etc necessary for the healthy growth of crops.

Organic Fertilizers - What's the Big Stink?

Here's a list of some organic fertilizers you can encounter:

Manures for the garden come from cow, sheep, poultry and horses. Pretty self-explanatory. Manure is known as a "complete" fertilizer; it has a lot of organic matter, but is low in nutrients. Manures are most valuable as organic soil amendments and mulches. Note: Beware of using fresh manure as a fertilizer because it can burn plants.

Bat guano is protected by caves from leaching, so nutrients are conserved. It is rich in soluble nitrogen, phosphorous and trace elements. Usually powdery, bat guano may be used any time of year as a top dressing or diluted in a tea and used as a foliar spray.

South American seabird guano is among the world's best. It is gathered off the rocks of arid sea islands, where rainfall and decomposition is minimal. As a result, seabird guano is very high in nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients. At Planet Natural, we offer all kinds of garden supplies, including guanos, which provide plant nutrients in a natural form.

Bone meal is finely ground bone. A by-product from animal slaughterhouses, it is a great source of calcium and contains up to 15% phosphate. Bone meal promotes strong root systems and flowering. It is often used when growing flowers, bulbs and fruit trees.

Shellfish fertilizer or shell meal is made from crushed bones or shells from crab or other shellfish. It is a great source of calcium in addition to phosphorus and many trace minerals. One benefit of shellfish fertilizer: it contains chitin which encourages the growth of organisms that inhibit harmful pest nematodes.

Blood meal is dried, powdered blood collected from cattle slaughterhouses. It's such a rich source of nitrogen that gardeners have to be careful not to over-apply and burn the roots of their plants. Apply just before planting to stimulate green leafy growth.

Rock phosphate is a calcium or lime-based phosphate rock that is usually ground to the consistency of small crumbs. This rock powder contains over 30% phosphate and a large number of trace elements. Rock phosphate does not leach out of the soil, remaining unchanged until taken up by the roots.

Greensand is an iron potassium silicate that gives the minerals in which it occurs a green tint. Mined from an ancient New Jersey sea bed deposit of shells, it is rich in iron, potassium and numerous micronutrients.

Fish emulsion is a partially decomposed blend of finely pulverized fish. It can smell, although some deodorized versions have been developed. Like blood meal, it should be used sparingly in order not to burn plant roots.

Sewer sludge are the solids that remain after sewage treatment. The treated sewage is inoculated with microorganisms and aerated. Then it is filtered, dried, ground, and screened. It is often used as both a soil amendment and a fertilizer on ornamentals and lawns. Note: Sludge is no longer allowed for use in organic crop production due to concerns about heavy metals.

If all of those are organic fertilizer, you're probably wondering what makes for an inorganic fertilizer. Non-organic fertilizers are synthetic chemicals.Organic Fertilizers vs. Inorganic


There are advantages and disadvantages to organic and inorganic fertilizers. The major benefit of organic fertilizers is that they work slowly. They need to be broken down by soil organisms in order for their nutrients to be released and that takes time. Because they work slowly, nothing is wasted. They are consumed as they are released, unlike chemical fertilizers, which are released immediately into the soil.Organic fertilizers carry some other perks. Because they contain organic material, they improve the soil's structure or its "workability." Soil that's been fertilized with organic matter is easier to work and allows more air to get to plant roots. The organic material also permits soil to hold water longer. Finally, the addition of organic substances used in fertilizer increases the bacterial and fungal activity in the soil. Overall, organic fertilizer not only helps your plants, it improves your soil.

Organic fertilizers' biggest strengths are also their weakness. Because organic fertilizer's nutrients are slowly released into the soil, they are not immediately available to plants. If there is an immediate need for nutrients, you may want to consider liquid fertilizers or foliar applications.Inorganic fertilizers work fast, which can be a boon or a bane depending on your garden's needs. Another disadvantage of inorganic fertilizer is that over watering or rain can push the chemicals beneath roots where they won't do any good. Inorganic fertilizers, because they are so rich, can easily "burn" roots or create a toxic concentration of salts if over-applied.

Although organic fertilizers do carry many benefits, especially over time, plants often do not know the difference. Your zucchini plant doesn't care if the nitrogen it's feeding on came from a compost pile or a test tube.Proper Use

To ensure proper use, first figure out what your plants' nutrient needs are. This is based on soil conditions, previous fertilizers used and the type of plants that you are growing. The best way to find out what you need to add to the soil is to test and determine what's in your soil. A soil test can cost anywhere from $10 to $40 per sample and should be done every two to three years. (Any time you encounter problems is also a good time to have the soil retested.) At Planet Natural we offer a simple, yet accurate soil test kit that uses a "color comparator" and capsule system for under $20.00.A soil test report will present findings such as the pH being "normal," the amount of iron being "adequate" and the amount of potassium being low. It will include nutrient recommendations for material that needs to be added. For example, if the report says your soil is low on potassium, it will recommend that you add two pounds of potassium per 1,000 square feet.Also, know the labeling system that the industry has standardized on. Each label will list N-P-K numbers and in that order. The N stands for nitrogen, the P for phosphorus and the K for potassium. An organic fertilizer will generally have an NPK ratio that adds up to less than 15 and with no individual number greater than thirteen. If you see big numbers on the label, chances are it's chemical rather than organic. A "6-12-0" fertilizer contains 6 percent nitrogen, 12 percent phosphate and 0 percent potash. A hundred pound bag of this material would contain six pounds of nitrogen (100 x .96), 12 pounds of phosphate (11 x .12) and no potash.Lower numbers do not mean low grade. In the case of organic fertilizers it just means that the nutrients aren't immediately available, but are released slowly over time. Note: It is our opinion that some fertilizer companies use high NPK ratios purely for marketing purposes. The "more must be better" philosophy is alive and well in the industry...but does a lawn really require a fertilizer that consists of 60% nitrogen?

Fertilizers with ingredient lines that include words like ammonium, muriate, urea, nitrate, phosphoric, or super phosphate usually are chemical-based rather than an organic fertilizer.

Also be wary of fertilizers that contain cottonseed meal and leather tankage. These aren't bad in and of themselves, but they are frequently contaminated with harmful residues.Using Fertilizers


Whatever fertilizer you buy, follow the application instructions including how much to apply, when and where.

When using organic fertilizers, which are mostly slow-release materials, the timing of fertilizing is not as critical as it is when using fast-release chemical fertilizers. Plan to work fertilizers into garden beds every spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Highly productive plants, including vegetables, should have regular monthly applications of organic fertilizer.

Proper use of organic fertilizers can give you a bumper crop of vegetables or flowers that will be the envy of your neighbors.

This article was written by Eric Vinje of Planet Natural.

Get the most out of your garden with organic fertilizer available at Planet Natural.

Organic Fertilizers Are More Environmentally Safe Than Petroleum Based Fertilizers

Natural Liquid Fertilizers are better for the environment and can provide nitrogen, phosphorus potassium and at the same time regulate soil and plant PH levels.

These essential nutrients promote vigorous growth, increased root development and improved disease and stress tolerance.

Natural liquid ingredients are released slowly so there is less chance of environmental impact. Adding natural ingredients to the soil increases microbial activity. Soil microbes fix the nutrients needed for plant growth and release them slowly as plants need them. On the other hand petrochemical fertilizers are often high in soluble salts that are detrimental to soil microbes and plants alike: They decrease microbial activity and plant nutrient uptake. Although these fertilizers are high analysis N-P-K, the plant-use efficiency is very low.

Some Natural Fertilizers utilize kelp concentrate from the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Kelp accumulates high levels of plant growth hormones and nutrients. When used as a fertilizer, kelp makes plants more robust and healthy by enhancing their heat, drought and cold tolerance. It also supplies N-P-K, sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (B), sodium (Na), carbohydrates and numerous amino acids.

Natural Fertilizers can also use hydrolyzed fish solubles.

Fish solubles are extracted through low temperature processes from Menhaden fish which were used by Native Americans for centuries to grow their crops. Menhaden comes from the word "munna whaleaug" which means "that which manures." Menhaden ocean fish feed on mineral rich plankton, which makes them full of essential nutrients. The fish are steamed slowly at 190° F, which preserves the amino acids, minerals and vitamins. The fish is then broken down into smaller components with enzymes (hydrolysis). The fish component in Natural Fertilizer supplies N-P-K and 10 micronutrients, as well as a number of vitamins and amino acids.

Bloodmeal and sulfate of potash combined with the fish can boost the nutrient levels in Natural Fertilizer. Together, the kelp, fish, bloodmeal and sulfate of potash provide all of the elements needed to grow healthy, vigorous plants. In addition to these ingredients, a number of other natural additives will condition the soil, reduce transplant shock and chelate the nutrients. Chelated nutrients are protected against leaching into the groundwater and are readily available for plant uptake.

Natural Fertilizer applied in liquid form is easily applied and safe fore the environment providing beautiful, healthy plants and super yields of high quality, nutritious vegetables, fruits and field crops.

For the best Liquid Organic Fertlizers.

Call 254 666-2641 or 254 275-0033 for ordering information or go online at

http://www.lubedealer.com/saveonoil/home.aspx

email schollhort@gmail.com detail crop information
Proper applications of liquid organic fertilizers requires simple soil testing to determine soil and cropneeds. Soil testing is available.
These products are available in most states.

Organic Fertilizers

When bringing up the topic of organic fertilizer the fist thought that comes to mind for most is compost and manures. A natural by-product from a living organism. Generally compost and manures are the two most common organic fertilizers that a home gardener thinks of.

Organic fertilizers are a much larger category than most realize. It includes blood-meal, compost, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, manures and a list of other minerals. It even includes sludge that has been processed from sewage treatment facilities. Along with these are synthetic organic fertilizers like urea that is processed from inorganic material.

When choosing organic fertilizer it is best that you read label to make sure that you know and understand the proper application, there intended use and if and precautionary measures are needed when handling the product. Most organic fertilizers are not as high in there nutrient values as a chemical fertilizer and release nutrients at a slower and longer rate.

Organic fertilizers are both healthier for you and the environment. Fertilizing with organic material also creates a healthier and happy plant and planet.There are no chemicals in organic fertilizers that get passed on to the fruits and vegetables that we eat. It also stops from polluting our air and ground water supplies.

Organic fertilizers that are made by the home gardener are commonly made up of organic matter such as cow manure, chicken manure, green manure and/or compost. Mixing cow or chicken manure to your compost will greatly increase the benefits of the compost and by adding to the structure of your garden soil when used. It also helps to activate the enzymes that naturally occur in the soil so the nutrients from your compost can be absorbed more easily for your plants to benefit from.

The one thing about making your own compost blend of fertilizer is that you wont know the nutrient value that it contains. Testing your compost can be done the same way you test you garden soil with a soil testing kit.This will let you know what the ph level is in the compost along with the nitrogen, phosphorous and potash values. If there are any amendments that are needed they can be directly mixed into the compost and adjusted before they are applied.

Compost mix can also be blended for indoor plants and is also beneficial when added to your potting soil mix. It will add nutrients to the soil that are beneficial to indoor plants. The adding of organic matter to improve the soil structure to your potting soil and will also add the nutrients that plants need over a longer period of time than using commercial fertilizers.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

[http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com]