Chemical Fertilizers vs. Organic Fertilizers
This spring, most households will begin regularly fertilizing their lawns to keep that vibrant lush green color on their properties, but what they don’t realize is there are after effects of chemical fertilizer once the lawn has pulled out all the chemicals it needs. The excess chemicals that chemical fertilizers leave behind are extremely bad for the environment. Chemical fertilizers are made from non-renewable sources such as, fossil fuels. This means that not all of their properties can be broken down and reused in the environment. When chemical fertilizers are used to bring life back to plants, the soil can get depleted from many vital elements and can cause long-term soil damage. Since there are excess toxins left behind in the soil after fertilization the pH of the soil changes and contributes to green house gases. This toxic build up of chemicals in the soil can eventually run off into streams and rivers after excessive rainfall and or watering. This results in toxic waste in the public’s fresh water sources. You may be asking yourself, why are we still using chemical fertilizers then?
The fact is simple. It is more inexpensive for people to purchase chemical fertilizers than alternative fertilizers. Most individuals don’t know about the alternative methods that are available. People usually see quick results of the chemical fertilizer within just a few days due to it being highly modified. Yes, having almost instant results sounds amazing, but the harmful effects of these products outweigh the good. Let’s go over a few other alternatives.
There is an alternative, by which using natural organic unmodified forms of fertilizer; almost all of the harmful effects towards the environment disappear. Organic fertilizers leave the soil better off in the long-term, due the fact that the excess molecules, that the plants don’t use, can be stored in the soil as a renewable resource in the future. There is no risk of a toxic build up! Since organic fertilizers are biodegradable they can be made from composting on your own, which equals no cost at all. There are in fact, down falls to organic fertilizers in that they do not always produce an instant result because the organic compounds inside the fertilizer must be broken down, which is a process that releases the needed nutrients. This extra process that organic fertilizers must go through is the only downside; most people don’t have the patience for this and they would just like the instant results that the chemical fertilizers can produce for them. If people were more informed of both the pros and cons of each of these fertilizers, there is a strong chance the public would chose organic over chemical fertilizer.
The fact is simple. It is more inexpensive for people to purchase chemical fertilizers than alternative fertilizers. Most individuals don’t know about the alternative methods that are available. People usually see quick results of the chemical fertilizer within just a few days due to it being highly modified. Yes, having almost instant results sounds amazing, but the harmful effects of these products outweigh the good. Let’s go over a few other alternatives.
There is an alternative, by which using natural organic unmodified forms of fertilizer; almost all of the harmful effects towards the environment disappear. Organic fertilizers leave the soil better off in the long-term, due the fact that the excess molecules, that the plants don’t use, can be stored in the soil as a renewable resource in the future. There is no risk of a toxic build up! Since organic fertilizers are biodegradable they can be made from composting on your own, which equals no cost at all. There are in fact, down falls to organic fertilizers in that they do not always produce an instant result because the organic compounds inside the fertilizer must be broken down, which is a process that releases the needed nutrients. This extra process that organic fertilizers must go through is the only downside; most people don’t have the patience for this and they would just like the instant results that the chemical fertilizers can produce for them. If people were more informed of both the pros and cons of each of these fertilizers, there is a strong chance the public would chose organic over chemical fertilizer.
Alternative Fertilization Methods
Using the One-Third Rule to mow a lawn can provide a way of organic fertilization for a lawn both for homeowners as well as commercial business lawns. Grass clippings are very abundant and provide a free source of nutrients, in regards to lawn care. Grass clippings cost nothing, and don’t leave harmful un-biodegradable chemicals in the soil like many store bought fertilizers usually do. This type of lawn fertilization will not be harmful to pets and children, like the chemical fertilizers are. Finely cut grass clippings that are left on a lawn can provide approximately 40% of the annual fertilizer a lawn needs. Fresh grass clippings not only provide many nutrients, but the moisture inside of a fresh cut blade also helps the nutrients be taken up by the lawn much easier. In order to retrieve a sensible amount of nutrients, the grass must be cut no more than one third of the grass blade’s length, as shown in figure 1. This means that the lawn must be mowed frequently if the clippings are to be used as fertilizer. Leaving too large of clippings is unsightly and also can have a harmful effect on the lawn, and may result in dead patches. Using Mother Nature’s natural fertilizers (grass clippings) can help reduce the amount of toxins that chemical fertilizers leave behind in the soil.