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 vegetables or fruits at home, there are myriad ways to improve soil quality and crop yield and achieve better returns.

However, one of the most common questions that arises is whether to use compost or chemical fertilizer and which option is better.

Globally, the use of chemical fertilizers has surged, with over 190 million tonnes applied annually.

While they provide immediate nutrients, studies show that prolonged chemical fertilizer use leads to soil degradation, reducing its fertility by up to 40% over time.

In contrast, compost enhances soil structure, increases microbial activity, and reduces dependence on synthetic inputs, making it a sustainable long-term solution.

Chemical Fertilizer 

Chemical fertilizer can be defined as a soil additive that contains an extensive range of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, essential for plant growth.

However, 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 fertilizers is the price factor.

They are more expensive than compost.

Compost

Compost can be defined as a mixture of different organic materials that 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 turn 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 chemicals, it does not harm plants, human health, or the environment in any manner.
• Reducing waste – A 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 a compost bin to store domestic waste, maintain the moisture content, and allow air to pass through it. Leave the compost for a while. 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 and 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 foul odour and keeping pests away.

You can use SoilMate to accelerate the composting process and use the compost to improve soil health exponentially.

Also read:

• Your Complete Guide To Home Composting
• How Can You Turn Your Spoils Into Soil