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January 8, 2024
Comparison between organic and inorganic fertilizers
April 3, 2024What Are Organic Fertilizers?
Según la AEFA (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Agronutrientes), los fertilizantes orgánicos son:
According to the Spanish Association of Agronutrient Manufacturers (AEFA), organic fertilizers are “those that can be used in organic agriculture according to some international standard […] and certified by an accredited external company,
[…], fertilizers whose nutrients are contained in organic material of animal, vegetable, or other natural organic origin consisting of compounds/materials, in which the main nutrients are chemically bonded or part of these organic matrices.”
The Importance of Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers play a critical role in modern agriculture, used to enrich the soiland promote healthy and productive crops.
Throughout history, the importance of these natural fertilizers in ensuring thefertility of the land and the optimal development of plants has been understood. Today, they are particularly significant due to our need to reduce synthetic(chemical) fertilization and the concerning impact it is having on theenvironment.
Origin and Evolution of
Organic Fertilizers
Biological fertilizers originated in ancestral agricultural practices, where animal and vegetable wastes were used to enrich soil conditions. The use of seaweed as an organic fertilizer is documented from the time of the Romans, where coastal farmers collected beach-stranded seaweed and transported it to their crops.
Over time, techniques and processes have been developed to maximize the use of organic matter, increasing its effectiveness and benefits for plantations.
Types of Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are divided into different categories according to their origin and composition, offering specific benefits for crops. Here are the various types of organic fertilizers:
Animal-derived Organic Fertilizers
Manure: Highly effective animal-derived organic fertilizer, used since Neolithic
cultures.
Plant-derived Organic Fertilizers
Compost: Composting is a process that transforms organic material from plant sources into a natural fertilizer rich in nutrients. Compost is essential for enriching the soil organically and naturally, improving its structure, and facilitating fluid retention.
Ficosterra, c
Ficosterra, a leading Spanish company in the manufacture of fertilizers, biostimulants, and seaweed-based biofertilizers, includes in its product range a 100% plant-based organic fertilizer, free from animal residues and GMOs. This is their Bokashi de algas Ficosterra-g, a fertilizer registered with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture as an organic amendment that improves the physical structure of the soil, increases water retention, replenishes organic matter, and
organically supplies nutrients, achieving spectacular results in vigor, health, and increased crop productivity.
Mineral Fertilizers
Mineral fertilizers are products used in agriculture to supply essential nutrients to plants, extracted from mineral or synthetic sources. They have a high concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and other micronutrients such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), among others.
Although these fertilizers are effective in providing nutrients to plants, it’s important to use them responsibly. The use and misuse of these products have, over the years, had a significant environmental impact, contaminating soil and water with excess nutrients.
Mineral fertilizers, especially those containing nitrogen, play a critical role in water pollution, contributing significantly to the eutrophication of water bodies. The leaching and runoff of these nutrients, along with heavy metal pollution, represent a considerable environmental concern, as revealed by this study from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
The New EU Regulatory Framework on Fertilizers
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for the marketing of fertilizer products in the EU, aiming to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of these products, as well as facilitate trade within the single European market.
The regulation expands the scope to include not only traditional mineral fertilizers but also other types of fertilizers, such as organic fertilizers, biostimulants, and slow-release nutrient products, and sets harmonized standards across the EU for marketing these products within the single market. Importantly, it also includes maximum contaminant limits and quality requirements to ensure that the products are safe for their intended use and meet user expectations.
