What is Organic Fertilizer? Introduction of Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizer is composed of natural materials such as plant and animal remains. Organic fertilizer is important in soil fertility and health and is widely used in agriculture.
In this article from Barsava Sepehr, we introduce different types of organic fertilizers and explain when they are applied to fields and gardens.

What is organic fertilizer?

Soil fertility and increasing soil nutrients are among farmers’ constant concerns. Increasing soil nutrients makes plants grow better and produce more crops. To improve the condition of agricultural soils, fields are fertilized. Generally, the fertilizers used in the agricultural industry are divided into three categories: organic fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and biological fertilizers.

Depending on the conditions and needs of the soil, one or more of these fertilizers should be applied to agricultural land.

Organic fertilizers can largely meet the needs of plants. Organic fertilizer refers to fertilizers that have a natural origin. Microbes can decompose organic fertilizers. Among the most important and well-known organic fertilizers, we can mention the decayed remains of animals and plants and animal and human excrement.

Organic fertilizers are degradable. Chemical reactions reduce them to simpler materials and release the minerals in their structure.
Organic fertilizers not only feed the plant but also improve the condition of the soil. Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers do not have an immediate and fast effect. They need more time to be effective so that the materials in the fertilizer are slowly released into the soil and affect the plant.

Advantages of using organic fertilizer

• Organic fertilizer is produced from natural materials such as plant residues, animal waste, etc. It also includes natural processes such as microorganisms’ decomposition of organic materials. Therefore, organic fertilizers are the most suitable for producing organic and natural products.
• Organic fertilizers gradually apply nutrients to the soil. This provides sustainable nutrition for plants and trees.
• Organic fertilizers improve soil structure and texture.
• Organic fertilizers do not have a negative impact on the environment and groundwater.
• Organic fertilizers improve soil texture, drainage, and aeration, which in turn increases the soil’s ability to hold oxygen.
• Organic fertilizer promotes beneficial microbes. Maintaining beneficial microbes reduces the need for pesticides and spraying.
• Agricultural products grown with natural fertilizers have a very good taste.
• Organic fertilizers are a very good source of nitrogen. Of course, sometimes, the plant needs more nitrogen, and farmers use nitrogen fertilizers several times throughout the year to supply the plant with nitrogen.
• Organic fertilizers are rich in phosphorus, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and nutrients plants need.
• Organic fertilizers have the lowest price compared to other fertilizers.
• Organic fertilizers increase soil resistance to changes in acidity and salinity.
• Organic fertilizers maintain soil moisture well.
• Organic materials cause water storage (up to 6 times the net weight of fertilizer).

Disadvantages of organic fertilizer

• Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers do not release nutrients very quickly. In agriculture, one of the most important advantages of chemical fertilizers, including ammonium sulfate, is their quick effect. Organic fertilizers do this gradually; if you need immediate results, organic fertilizers are unsuitable.
• To fertilize the land with natural fertilizer, you will need a much larger volume than chemical fertilizers.
• Organic fertilizers must be processed well. These fertilizers may contain pathogens or weed seeds.
• Natural fertilizers alone are usually insufficient to meet all the plant’s needs, and chemical fertilizers must be used several times. Mixing organic fertilizers with chemical fertilizers nourishes the soil and improves its physical and chemical properties.

Introduction of organic fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are divided into several categories:

• manure (animal manure)
• green manure
• Composts and vermicomposts

In the following, we introduce each type of organic fertilizer.

Manure (animal manure)

Every year, millions of tons of livestock and poultry waste are collected. These wastes play an important role in providing the nutritional needs of plants and fertilizing the soil. Animal manures are rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are necessary for plant growth and development.

Organic fertilizers have a wide range of low-use and high-use plant elements. This issue is one of the most important differences between animal manure and chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers usually supply one or more of the basic elements needed by the plant and do not play a role in supplying the plant’s low-consumption elements.

 Animals such as cows, sheep, horses, and chickens are the main sources of animal manure. Manure is obtained from the urine and feces of these animals. The percentage of nutrients in manure and the quality of manure depend on factors such as the type of animal, the quality of bedding materials, the amount of insect activity around the manure, the rate of manure decay, livestock feeding, etc.

For use, manure must be dry and rotten. Fresh and fresh manure has many nitrogenous organic compounds. The rapid decomposition of these materials causes ammonia release, and this amount of ammonia near the roots causes plant poisoning. Decomposing animal manure solves this problem.

In addition to animal urine and feces, these items are also included in the category of organic animal fertilizers:

• Bone meal: prepared from crushed animal bones rich in phosphorus and calcium.
• Blood: dried blood of animals that contains nitrogen and is considered a natural pest repeller.
• Fish meal: This substance contains organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium.
• Fish emulsion: It is a soil softener and a good nitrogen source.
• Oysters and crabs: They are rich in calcium, phosphorus, and other rare minerals.

green manure

Green manure contains nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, etc., which play an essential role in the growth of new plants. First, a plant like alfalfa is planted in the soil to produce green manure. When the land is slightly green, the soil is plowed before harvesting. This work is called bedding using green manure.

Plants planted as green manure should require little water and grow quickly. Green manure should be plowed about a month before planting the main crop so proper rotting occurs. The most important types of organic vegetable fertilizers include cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, soybean meal, and seaweed.

compost

Compost is prepared from the breakdown of fruit peel residues, vegetable waste, leaves, and other organic matter. These materials can improve the soil structure and provide the nutritional needs of plants to a suitable extent. Composting is a good way to recycle municipal waste, such as food. Composts improve soil, help improve soil structure, increase plant rooting, prevent salinity in soil, and increase plant resistance to stress.

vermicompost

Compost vermicompost consists of compost and earthworms. Red earthworms named Aisinia futile, by interacting with and feeding organic matter in the soil, remove wastes and sticky secretions from their bodies, which contain a variety of nutrients useful for plants. Vermicompost contains many nutrients, hormones, and microorganisms. The holes created by earthworms’ movement cause better oxygen penetration in the soil.

Vermicompost is made from Aisinia futile worm and various organic fertilizers. This fertilizer can be cow or sheep manure, food waste, or compost from soil and leaves. To prepare this fertilizer, a certain amount of organic fertilizer is stored in a suitable place, and one kilogram of worm is added to each square meter of animal manure.

Fermentation and residues of garbage and food, wastewater, and mineral organic fertilizers such as green sand and rock phosphate are also classified as organic fertilizers. Each of the introduced organic fertilizers has its advantages and characteristics. The most suitable type of fertilizer is determined based on the specific conditions of the soil and the desired plant.

Method of using organic fertilizer

The best time to use organic fertilizer is before planting the crop and during the growing season. This fertilizer is usually applied to the soil every year when plowing the land. Organic fertilizers are spread on fields and gardens in the form of manure or by fertilizer spreaders. This fertilizer can be scattered on the soil’s surface and then mixed with the soil.

The amount of organic fertilizer consumed depends on the type of product, the quality and composition of the fertilizer, and the plant’s nutritional needs. Approximately 10-20 tons of organic fertilizer per hectare of land is suitable.

Organic fertilizers have a very good effect on soil quality and increase the amount of materials needed by the soil. However, their effect is long-term, and you cannot expect a quick effect from them. Usually, the combination of organic and chemical fertilizers is necessary to meet the needs of plants.

For example, organic fertilizer is a good source of nitrogen needed by plants, But if you need more nitrogen, you should use nitrogen fertilizers such as sulfate, urea, etc.