Fertilizers

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Fertilizers are available into 2 types; it is either organic or inorganic. The inorganic fertilizers are composed of natural materials; it includes animal manures, green manure as well as compost.

In a farm crop production, the use of animal manure is common. Well-rotted manure is better than fresh manure in many garden and farm crops while the green manure is good to use in the green growing plants that are plowed under.

The inorganic fertilizers are called as commercial fertilizers. These fertilizers are either complete or incomplete. It is a complete fertilizer if it contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. A fertilizer is incomplete if the fertilizer contains either one or two of those elements.

The plant needs a large quantity of nitrogen while some of its parts are still developing such as the roots, the leaves and the stems. Nitrogen is the one who is responsible for the formation of protein in plants.

When the plant changes its color from deep green to a lighter green or sometimes even yellow; it is an indication that the plant has a deficiency in nitrogen. Slowing down in growth also indicates low nitrogen level.

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Types of Fertilizers
Fertilizers are broadly classified into Organic and Inorganic/Chemical fertilizers.

Organic Fertilizers

Organic Fertilizers are the most convenient forms of fertilizers. They are safe and easily available. Things like manure, slurry, worm castings, peat moss, seaweed, sewage and guano are good examples of organic fertilizers. Vegetation material called mulch, such as hay, peat moss, leaves, grass, bark, wood chips, seed hulls, and corn husks all help to aerate the soil, insulate the ground against temperature change, and add needed nutrients.

Apart from these naturally occurring minerals like sulfate of potash, limestone and rock phosphate are also considered very good Organic Fertilizers.

Advantages of Organic Fertilizers

Improve the structure of the soil.
Retain soil moisture.
Release nitrogen slowly and consistently.
Mobilize existing soil nutrients.
Do not burn the plants like some chemical fertilizers
Less subject to leaching

Disadvantages of Organic Fertilizers

Often Organic fertilizers, especially those that contain animal and plant feces are contaminated with pathogens. Make sure they are properly composted to reduce the risk of pathogens.
The composition of organic fertilizers is variable thus it becomes a very dilute and inaccurate source of nutrients compared to Inorganic type of fertilizers. For profitable yields, significantly large amounts of fertilizers should be used to cope up with nutrient requirements.

Inorganic/Chemical Fertilizers

Inorganic or Chemical Fertilizers are primarily derived from chemical compounds such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphates and potassium chloride. Chilean sodium nitrate, mined rock phosphate and limestone are examples of Inorganic Fertilizers.

Advantages of Inorganic Fertilizers

Higher and accurate amount of nitrogen promotes protein and chlorophyll and encourages growth of stems and leaves.
Higher amount of phosphorus results more flowers, larger fruits, and healthier roots and tubers.
Potassium from potash fosters protein development and thickens stems and leaves.
Release of nitrogen rapid.
Accurate source of nutrients.

Disadvantages of Inorganic Fertilizers

Inorganic Fertilizers if used carelessly can burn your plants and distort the quality of your soil leading to cadmium poisoning.
Using Inorganic fertilizers would mean that strict watering schedules have to be adopted in order to retain the soil moisture.
Inorganic fertilizers are made up of elements like Potassium and phosphorus that come from mines or saline lakes thus from limited resources.