As greenhouse organic methods of plant production have increased in interest, the need for viable organic fertilizers has also increased. Organic fertilizer options in the past consisted of single sources of animal and plant by-products that varied in nutrient analysis, release and quality from source to source and batch to batch. Manufacturers today are providing an increasing variety of organic fertilizer products that are uniform from batch to batch both in nutrient analysis and release. This consistency is being accomplished through improved manufacturing processes and formula specifications. Organic products are available now as composites of several different organic materials, which help provide more balanced nutrient analyses.
Although the process is more complicated, it is possible to obtain adequate nutrients from organic sources, but it takes more careful and creative management. In the past, no single organic fertilizer would provide all of the essential elements required; therefore a combination of organic materials must be devised.
Even with these advancements, fertility management is more challenging with organic fertilizers compared to conventional fertilizers. There are several reasons for this, starting with the challenge of knowing both the amount of nitrogen (N) applied and the rate of nitrogen released from the organic material and how it matches to nutrient requirement of the plants. Nitrogen is the most likely major element to become deficient in both traditional and organic production. In most inorganic chemical fertilizers, nitrogen is immediately available. But, it is more slowly available in most organic fertilizer sources. Nitrogen in organic matter is released from complex molecules but must be converted to ammonium and nitrate ions before plants can take it up. This process is natural and occurs because of the activity of a number of bacterial/microbial species found in most growing media. This process can be unpredictable and is affected by the factors that impact the activity of bacterial/microbial populations.
Another reason organic fertilizers are more challenging to use is that their ratio of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium are not usually in proportion to each other as considered to be traditionally correct. Nitrogen and potassium are traditionally both provided in the same amount while phosphate should be no more than about half the amount of nitrogen. Some organic nutrients sources will often result in plant growth comparable to that of plant growth with conventional fertilizers even though the traditional ratios are not in line with one another. If organic nutrients are added in the parts per million (ppm) nitrogen in the same level as conventional fertilizers, often there is a potential for high salt levels and organic acids that can be damaging and interfere with plant growth.
Many organic bulk materials can be incorporated in the growing medium prior to planting to provide nutrients. The effective level of these materials depends on the nutrient analysis, amount added and the needs of the plant. Some pre-plant organic fertilizer materials include, but are not limited to: blood meal, bone meal, fish meal, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, crab meal, feather meal, bat guano, greensand meal, kelp meal, dried manure, seabird guano, rock phosphate, soybean meal, wood ash and worm castings. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) maintains an extensive list of these materials on their website www.omri.org. In most cases, it may be necessary to apply a ‘soluble’ organic fertilizer solution after planting to boost the level of plant available nutrients. This is where liquid organic fertilizers, like fish emulsion, become important.
When switching to organic crop production and an organic fertilization program, be prepared to more intensively manage the fertilization program over the course of the production cycle. A few things to keep in mind when doing so are:
- Consider the length of your crop’s growing cycle;
- If using a pre-plant organic fertilizer, know the EC of the amended mix and;
- Mix and match fertilizers, formulations and nutrient applications to meet the plants needs
Remember that regardless of the organic fertilizer you choose, your production program should always include a comprehensive monitoring plan for pH, EC and nutrient levels throughout the plant growth cycle.
This article was published at Premier Techs Training Center, www.pthorticulture.com
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