Organic fertilizer comes from animals, vegetables or fungi.
The concept of fertilizer has different uses, but on this occasion we are interested in sticking with its meaning as the substance that is used to fertilize the land . The adjective organic , for its part, also has several meanings: it can be something that has carbon as its main component.
An organic fertilizer , therefore, is a type of fertilizer that is produced from plants , animals or fungi . The case of inorganic fertilizers is different, which are derived from mining activities or fossil fuels and require an industrial process for their manufacture.
Organic fertilizer, environment and health
The use of organic fertilizers is friendlier with the environment compared to the rest of the fertilizers. They allow, for example, the reuse of organic waste, they contribute to fixing carbon in the soil, they require a smaller amount of energy for their production and they help to increase the soil's capacity for water absorption. On the negative side, organic fertilizers can encourage the appearance of pathogens if they are not properly treated.
Many people, on the other hand, choose to consume foods whose production does not involve the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides , because this type of food is healthier.
Humus is an organic fertilizer produced by worms.
Some examples
The humus produced by worms; compost that is made with food scraps, wood and leaves; and manure (animal feces) are some of the most popular types of organic fertilizers. Their choice usually depends on the crop and the environmental characteristics of the region .
However, we cannot ignore the existence of many other organic fertilizers such as the following:
-Ashes that come from wood that does not have any type of paint. They are considered to be a great alternative when treating soils that have the particularity of having a very acidic PH. And they provide them with both magnesium and calcium or potassium.
-The mob . Under such a unique name is a very spongy matter that is obtained from the decomposition of vegetables that have had little oxygen and a lot of humidity. It must also be emphasized that there are two types: the blonde, which has an acidic PH, and the black, which is identified by having a neutral PH.
-Green fertilizer , which is obtained from plants that have been planted and then cut into pieces. It is a great type of organic fertilizer to get heavily eroded land or land that has been damaged by the use of too many toxic products back to its best condition.
-The guano . It is one of the most unique organic fertilizers that exists and is basically what is obtained from the defecation of bats and sea birds. It is considered to be very rich in phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
Not to mention that there are others that are equally effective but really peculiar, such as, for example, bone meal , coffee grounds , human urine , eggshells ...