The Difference Between Natural & Chemical Fertilizer

Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

• Organic fertilizers are those drawn from natural sources and must usually be certified by a state or local organics agency before they can be listed as organic. Fertilizers made from natural sources include chemicals from guano, bone meal, seaweed and fish emulsion. Inorganic fertilizers, on the other hand, are fertilizers made with synthetic or made-made chemicals and ingredients. They are often referred to as chemical fertilizers.

Fertilizer Burn

• Both organic and inorganic chemical fertilizers are safe to use, provided all directions are followed. Adding excess fertilizer leads to a condition called fertilizer burn in which the roots of a plant are damaged and dried out by salts and other chemicals and develop a yellow burn on the leaves. Chemical fertilizers are more likely to cause fertilizer burn, but organic fertilizer is damaging if it is applied improperly. Follow the directions when adding fertilizer to the soil.

Nitrogen Availability

• The availability of nutrients to the roots of plants is one of the primary concerns of gardeners and farmers. Although synthetic and organic nitrogen are indistinguishable to plants, the time required for the nitrogen to be released is very different. Organic nitrogen must be broken down by bacteria and natural processes in the soil; unless the chemical fertilizer is a slow-release formula, the nitrogen is available immediately. Plants that need an influx of nitrogen benefit more from inorganic fertilizers.

Environmental Effects

• Runoff is a serious concern of fertilizer use both in agricultural and domestic settings. As the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil, some of it ends up in the water table or washed away into moving bodies of water like streams and rivers. The large amounts of chemicals that end up in the water from inorganic fertilizers leads to serious consequences for the animals that live in or drink the water, including humans. Manure used as a fertilizer also affects water systems by allowing microorganisms to grow and deplete oxygen for fish.