Fertilizers: Chemical versus Organic

Posted by Ena Clewes
November 9th, 2007
Filed in Garden Maintenance
Tags: earth, fertilizer, phosphate, rock

A natural fertilizer is one that consists of some natural earth product which may be processed mechanically, but is not  treated with acids or substances to increase its solubility.

Phospate rock, finely pulverized, is a natural fertilizer.

An artificial, chemical fertilzer is a combination of some earth product and a strong acid. Super phosphate, which is made by treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid, is an example.

A hundred pound bag of superphosphate includes 50 pounds of phosphate rock and 50 pounds of
sulfuric acid.

An organic fertilizeris a mix of plant and animal residues. These may be fresh residues or residues which have been accumulated and have been preserved for long periods of time, such as peat, marl and limestone.

A raw, organic fertilizer is made up of raw ( unfermented) plant and animal residues. Or it may be made of raw, organic matter to which such materials as pulverized phosphate rock, potash rock ,oyster shell flour and seaweed have been added; these contain most of the elements which are apt to have been leached out of the soil.