Whats the difference between organic soil amendments and fertilizers?
Some of the chemical fertilizer manufacturers objected to packaged manures or composted plant materials being labeled and sold as “fertilizers”. They argued that these materials were primarily of value as soil amendments and were too low in terms of their nutritional content to warrant the title of “fertilizers.” They presented their case to legislators asking for legislation to be established making it illegal to market manures and composted plant materials as fertilizers. In some cases, they were successful and in those jurisdictions it became the “law of the land”. Consequently, the distinction between organic soil amendments and fertilizers is mostly one of political semantics. Both manures and composted plant materials are of value as soil amendments and as fertilizers. While they may be low in terms of nutrient concentration, they are used in greater quantities. See Section D.02.* on the nutritional content of fertilizers and soil amendments.
Related Questions
- Is it safe to say that using organic fertilizers and other organic farming practices are better for the soil and less of a threat to ground and surface water than conventional methods?
- Do fish meal, blood meal, and bone meal have to be organic to be used as soil amendments?
- Whats the difference between organic soil amendments and fertilizers?
