What is the difference between inorganic and organic fertilizers

Cow manure, decaying leaves, and food compost are all forms of organic fertilizer. Inorganic fertilizer is synthetic, comprised of minerals and synthetic chemicals.

Inorganic nitrogen is commonly made from petroleum. Most of the minerals in inorganic fertilizer are mined from the earth, and balanced inorganic fertilizers are high in all three macronutrients and can contain ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and potassium chloride.

Organic fertilizers release nutrients as they break down, improving the soil and its ability to hold water and nutrients. Given time, they make your soil and plants healthier and hardier. Organic fertilizers carry little risk of a toxic overdose of chemicals, but they require a breakdown of microorganisms to release nutrients, limiting their seasonal effectiveness and potentially increasing the amount of time they take to feed your plants.

Inorganic fertilizers are a fast dose of nutrients, feeding your plants how you want and when you want. They are fully artificial and manufactured in exact doses. Even though they are an almost perfect food source for your plants, they provide nothing for the soil, limiting their effectiveness in the long-term. There is also the very real risk of a toxic overdose of chemicals that leach arsenic, cadmium, and uranium into the soil, potentially affecting any growing fruits or vegetables.

The question of organic fertilizer vs. They are created from the byproducts or end products of naturally occurring processes, which means they come directly from nature itself.

Even though they take longer to work, and the exact ratio of nutrients is indeterminable, organic fertilizers provide a healthy food source for your plants and protect your little part of the environment.

Inorganic fertilizers are perfectly measured out shots of nutrients exactly when you need them most but at significant cost. In contrast to this, inorganic fertilizers themselves are not always the best option as they are not always available and accessible, especially in remote areas where most farms are located, they are very expensive and not affordable for the average farmer, their seasonal application is a must and they have a higher risk in extreme seasons, that is, when rainfall is either too low or too high.

Organic fertilizers-natural materials that originate from plants or animals; inorganic fertilizers-also known as mineral fertilizers, come from mining of mineral deposits; need some processing; can also be manufactured industrially through chemical processes, for example urea.

Organic fertilizer examples- include green manures, livestock manure, compost, household waste, crop residues, woodland litter etc. Organic fertilizers; feasible option, available on or near the farm at little or no cost at all; inorganic very costly due to costs of labour, transportation, handling and the opportunity cost of the land being used for producing them.

Organic materials-the release of nutrients to the crop is affected by the decomposition rate and timing of the use of the fertilizer; inorganic fertilizers release nutrients immediately. Application-organic-by hands; inorganic-by hands or specialized equipment. Limitations-organic fertilizers- large quantities needed, large amount of labour required for harvesting and preparing manure, the quality is not always very good; inorganic fertilizers- not always available or accessible, expensive, seasonal application is a must, higher risk if rainfall is either too low or too high.

Differences between organic and inorganic fertilizers. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. MLA 8 Ali, Allana. Name required. Email required. Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Written by : allana. User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. Summary of differences expressed in points 1. So, legumes and composite plants that contain high Nitrogen are not used as decomposing materials. Inorganic fertilizers are also known as synthetic fertilizers and they are ready to use in plants.

These synthetic fertilizers come in single-nutrient or multi-nutrient formulas. There are 16 nutrient elements considered as essential for plant growth. They divide into two categories; primary elements and secondary elements. Modern chemical fertilizers include most important primary elements, which are nitrogen, phosphorus , and potassium. Secondary important elements are sulfur , magnesium , and calcium. When applying the inorganic fertilizers, it is important to consider about its concentration because high nutrient levels increase the risk of burning the plant.

Another disadvantage of inorganic fertilizer is the rapid release of elements, which reach deeply into the soil and water, but plants cannot access them. Some of the advantages of inorganic fertilizer are cheaper in the short term and it adds less to the land in the long term. Moreover, it is easier to use and prepare.