Arguments for Synthetic Fertilizers

Synthetics

• Synthetic fertilizers are inorganic (man-made) in composition. However, all three of the major chemicals (N, P, K) used occur in nature. Scientists in the 19th century began to realize the benefits of adding back into the soil those chemicals that had been depleted. As a result, they began experimenting with various mixtures of N, P and K. When they are added back in proper amounts, the soil's ability to sustain plant life is sometimes greatly enhanced.

Nutrients

• N, P and K are all considered to be essential macronutrients for soil. Without any one of the three, soil cannot sustain plant life, for the most part. Many synthetic fertilizers also contain a number of micronutrients identified as being helpful to plants of all types. They supply, in a convenient fashion, all the nutrients needed in a single formulation. They've eliminated the need to rotate crops or to have a field periodically lie fallow.

Speed

• Synthetic fertilizers are a fast-acting means of introducing essential nutrients into a lawn or a field where crops will be grown. On lawns, their immediate release into the soil can lead to a quicker greening of the grass being grown. They also penetrate soil deeper as well as more quickly, and less tends to be wasted. Plus, they can be synthesized to any desired level of nutrient content needed to balance a specific plot of land.

Costs

• Most synthetic fertilizers can be bought in concentrated form ready for dilution as needed. They tend to be less expensive than many other types of fertilizer. Plus, because they're often sold in concentrates, they can be much easier to cart around. A single 25-lb. bag can often equal 300 pounds of organic plant-based or manure-based organic fertilizer. This makes synthetic fertilizers highly convenient in terms of the amount needed to enhance healthy plant growth.