Among agricultural products, fertilizers are vital resources in everything from gardening to agriculture, providing the nutrients needed to help plants flourish throughout the seasons. Until recently, the most widely available fertilizers were those composed of synthetic substances, but there is a growing trend of using organic fertilizers. To understand why many are making this switch, have a look at some of the benefits provided by these varieties of fertilizer.

What Are the Advantages of Using Organic Fertilizers?

1. Beneficial to Microbes

The average square foot of soil is home to trillions of microbes, which break down organic matter and release vital nutrients for consumption by plants. Unlike synthetic varieties, organic fertilizers contain substantial amounts of carbon and organic matter, which can replenish soil-borne microbes along with providing the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are the basis of all effective fertilizers.

2. Slow-Acting Soil Support

Synthetic fertilizers work by rapidly and forcefully releasing nutrients into the soil. This has several negative effects. The first of these is that soil-dwelling microbes consume larger amounts of nitrogen and strip soil particles of carbon, leading to an excess of carbon dioxide being released. Secondly, the chemicals in synthetic agricultural products can significantly increase soil acidity, thus creating a hostile and dangerous environment for the microbes that create healthy soil for plant growth.

Organic fertilizers are broken down by natural processes, so they release nutrients more slowly into the soil, allowing microbes plenty of time to break down nutritional compounds. This keeps plants supplied with the nutrients they need when they need them, and it limits the amount of carbon emitted from the soil.

3. Sustainable

Organic fertilizers have a significantly lower impact on the environment than synthetic formulations. Synthetic fertilizers contain large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and salt, which can cause microbes to reproduce at excessively high rates, thus exhausting the soil. These same substances can then wash into local waterways, damaging marine life and lowering water quality. Organic varieties, on the other hand, reintroduce vital nutrients to soil and support local biodiversity without negatively impacting wildlife.

When you’re looking for organic fertilizers or other agricultural products, visit Farmers Cooperative Inc. in Live Oak, FL. Serving Suwannee River Valley and Madison County gardeners and farmers since 1946, they carry an extensive array of the latest high-quality products. Visit them online for more information, or call (386) 362-1459 to speak with a team member.