Minerals in Fertilizer Lauren and Zora

What is fertilizer? Simply put, fertilizer is plant food. Fertilizer contains combinations of nutrients that plants need to grow. Think of your body; it's a vessel for all the organs and parts it sustains. Plants accept the proteins they receive each day, and unlike your body, they have no way to get harmful foods out of their system, the plant dies, while humans have the ability to throw up.

Why do plants need fertilizer? Plants have been known to need sixteen different chemical elements, which are then divided into mineral and non-mineral categories. Non-mineral nutrients are hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. The mineral nutrients are dissolved in water and enter the plant through the roots. There are not always enough of these nutrients in the soil, which is why many farmers use fertilizers. Mineral nutrients are divided into two groups; macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients can be further divided into primary and secondary nutrients. For natural plants to grow and thrive they need a number of chemical elements, but the most important are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Most packaged fertilizers contain these three macronutrients. Fertilizing plants causes them to grow more rapidly and efficiently.

What is a pH level (in soil)? pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen in soil. An acid soil is soil that has a pH of less than 7.0. Alkaline soils are clay soils that have a high pH level of 8.5 or greater. Below a pH of 6.0, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are less available. When pH exceeds 7.5, iron, manganese, and phosphorus are less available.

Why is pH important? Soil acidity and alkalinity (soil pH) is important because it influences how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil. Plant roots absorb mineral nutrients when they are dissolved in water. If the mixture of water and nutrients in the soil is too acid or alkaline, some nutrients won’t dissolve easily, so they won’t be available for uptake by roots. A too low or high soil pH is toxic to grass roots and if there is too much chemical build up, the chemicals can make way into the plants and permanently ruin the pH of the soil.

Organic Matter Organic matter is anything that contains carbon, such as living or dead plants and animal material. Organic matter ranges from kitchen waste and shredded leaves to well-rotted manure and compost. Some forms of organic matter are mulch, soil and compost. Adding organic matter to your soil can Supply nutrients for plants by providing surfaces where nutrients can be held in reserve in the soil, facilitate better drainage by loosening soil structure, store water in the soil, help increase air drainage, increase the activity and numbers of soil microorganisms, and encourage earthworms.

Macronutrients Macronutrients can be further divided into primary and secondary nutrients. Primary nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They usually are lacking from the soil, as plants use large quantities for growth and survival. Secondary nutrients are calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Soil usually has a high enough amount of these nutrients, so fertilization is not always needed. Sulfur is found in sufficient amounts from decomposition of organic matter, which is an important reason for not throwing out grass clippings and leaves.

Micronutrients Micronutrients are the second division of mineral nutrients, and are essential for plant growth and only needed in small quantities, hence the prefix 'micro'. They are sometimes called minor elements or trace elements. The micronutrients are boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc.

Nitrogen Nitrogen is a primary nutrient in plant growth. Every amino acid in plants contains nitrogen as it an essential component for plants to manufacture new cells. Nitrogen helps plants make proteins they need to produce new tissues. Plants have evolved to take up as much nitrogen as possible, even if it means not taking up other necessary elements. If too much nitrogen is available, the plant may grow abundant leaves but not produce fruit or flowers. Growth may actually be stunted because the plant isn't absorbing enough of the other elements it needs.

Phosphorus Phosphorus is a primary nutrient in plant growth. It stimulates root growth and helps plants grow buds and flowers, improves vitality and increases seed size. It does this by helping transfer energy from one part of the plant to another. To absorb phosphorous, most plants require a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8.

Potassium Potassium is a primary nutrient in plant growth. It improves the overall vitality of the plant. It helps plants make carbohydrates. It also helps regulate metabolic activities.

Chemical Fertilizer Cons Pros Chemical fertilizers (also called inorganic, synthetic, artificial, or manufactured) have been refined to extract nutrients and bind them in specific ratios with other chemical fillers. Pros Cons Long-term use of chemical fertilizer can change the soil pH, upset beneficial microbial ecosystems, increase pests, and even contribute to the release of greenhouse gases. Chemical fertilizers are primarily made from nonrenewable sources, including fossil fuels. Repeated applications may result in a toxic buildup of chemicals such as arsenic, cadmium, and uranium in the soil. These toxic chemicals can eventually make their way into your fruits and vegetables. They’re inexpensive. Standardized labeling makes ratios and chemical sources easy to understand.

Organic Fertilizer Pros Cons Organic or natural fertilizer in this case means that the product is minimally processed and the nutrients remain bound up in their natural forms rather than being extracted or refined. Pros Cons Nutrient ratios are often unknown, and the overall percentage is lower than chemical fertilizers. However, some organic products are actually higher in certain nutrients. In fact, you may actually see a deficiency in your plants during the first couple of months until the first application breaks down. Organic fertilizer is usually made from plant or animal waste or powdered minerals. Organic fertilizers are renewable, biodegradable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Recommended Products Make your own compost! Keep track of what foods you add to make sure that your soil has all the nutrients it needs to keep your plants healthy. This eliminates the need to buy fertilizer.

Sources "Pros and Cons of Organic vs Sources "Pros and Cons of Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers | Today's Homeowner." ------- http://www.todayshomeowner.com/debate-over-organic-chemical-fertilizers/ "Understanding PH." Organic Gardening." ------ http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/understanding-ph "Soil PH." ------ http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/222.html "Fertilizer Basics: Organic Fertilizer, NPK Ratio | Gardeners.com." Gardeners Supply. ------ http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/fertilizer-basics/5161.html "What Are Chemical Fertilizers, and Why Do We Use Them?" ------ http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2013/04/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-and-why-do-we-use-it/ "The Five Types of Fertilizers." ------ http://www.basicsofgardening.com/5-types-of-fertilizer.html