Compost v/s Chemical Fertilizer – Know Why Compost Wins
Poor plant health is often attributed to poor soil conditions. Therefore, providing a healthy environment for plants to grow is important. Whether you are a gardener or someone growing vegetable or fruits at home, there are myriad ways to improve soil quality, crop yield, and achieve better returns. But one of the most common questions that arise is whether to use compost or chemical fertilizer and which option is better.
Chemical Fertilizer
Chemical fertilizer can be defined as the soil additive which contains an extensive range of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, essential for plant growth. But there are several disadvantages and adverse effects of using chemicals on the soil, human health and the environment.
Although chemical fertilizers act fast, they can sometimes overload the plant with nutrients. It may be extremely harsh on plants. Besides, fertilizers containing readily available and easily absorbable nutrients are washed away during rainfall and find their way to water resources. These excess nutrients lead to algal blooms and they are known to pollute drinking water.
Additionally, chemical fertilizer can also harm the beneficial microbes existing in the soil that are essential for soil fertility. Another reason why people are looking for alternatives to chemical fertilizer is the price factor. They are expensive than compost.
Compost
Compost can be defined as a mixture of different organic materials which is decomposed into simple organic and inorganic compounds, and it is used to improve the fertility of the soil.
Composting is the process in which a mixture of organic waste like leftover food, fruit and vegetable scrap, garden waste, livestock waste etc are decomposed in a pit / bin. The organic matter is acted upon by microorganisms which break it down and turns it into a natural fertilizer. Also known as “black gold”, the decayed organic matter is then used to enhance soil health and crop yield.
Advantages of Composting
Environment-friendly – Composting is an environment-friendly method to improve and maintain soil fertility. Since composting does not involve any use of chemical, it does not harm plants, human health or the environment in any manner.
Reducing waste – Large amount of waste is generated today, and it is a growing problem globally. Domestic waste constitutes a major portion of the waste generated. Thus, treating waste at the source is helpful. The composting process can be followed at home by individuals to reduce the burden of waste on society as a whole.
Easy preparation – One of the advantages of composting is that natural fertilizer can be prepared easily, without spending much. All you need to do is to segregate the waste into dry and wet waste. Choose a location to compost or use compost bin to store domestic waste, maintain the moisture content and allow air to pass through it. Leave the compost for a time period. When the compost turns black, you can use it as fertilizer.
Inexpensive – When compared to chemical fertilizers in the market, compost is inexpensive. It is a very cost-effective means by which you can provide a healthy soil environment for plants to grow.
Boosts soil fertility naturally – In the long run, compost provides high-quality soil, better yields by boosting soil fertility naturally. A Washington State University study says that compost can prevent soil erosion and help plants against diseases. Moreover, it is a sustainable method of maintaining and improving soil health.
All the given points prove that it is better to use compost than chemical fertilizer. You can speed up the composting process by using the latest innovative solutions.
Organica Biotech is one of the leading companies with excellent, natural and safe solutions for home composting. SoilMate, one of the popular products available in the market, consists of rapidly acting bacteria that decompose all kinds of domestic waste. Also, it is capable of suppressing the foul odour and keeping the pests away. You can use SoilMate to accelerate the composting process and use the compost for improving soil health exponentially.
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