Organic Fertilizers: Why Your Business Needs to Go Green on the Fertilizer Front?

Highlights:   

• Problems associated with chemical fertilizers
• How organic fertilizers address problems associated with synthetic fertilizers
• Types of organic fertilizers

Traditional agriculture has mostly been a mix of sustainable farming practices. However, with the advent of the Green Revolution, there was an introduction of various techniques and materials which aimed at improving agricultural productivity. Use of high-yield variety seeds, large tractors, and chemical pesticides and fertilizers has been a vital feature of this modern-age agriculture. Though this has helped in achieving the intended target of increasing agricultural productivity and addressing global food shortage, there have been certain unintended negative consequences also. Chemical fertilizers have affected the ecology and, in some cases, have even negated the positive effects of the green revolution. As a result, there has been an increasing demand for organic fertilizers.

Why organic fertilizers have been at the forefront of the fertilizer sector?

Most sub-tropical countries in the world, where rainfall is seasonal, depend on irrigation for farming activities. Along with irrigation, chemical fertilizers are also widely used in these countries. The chemicals in these fertilizers are insoluble, leading to leaching of the chemicals and salts in the soil. Agricultural studies have shown that excessive use of chemical fertilizers increases the salt content of the soil and ultimately reduces its fertility. In extreme cases, overuse of chemical fertilizers may also lead to land degradation and desertification. Sometimes, the chemicals enter natural water sources such as rivers and lakes through surface runoffs causing eutrophication.

Due to these issues, calls for adopting sustainable agriculture practices have increased. As a result, chemical fertilizers are gradually being replaced by organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are made from natural raw materials and are completely free from synthetic chemicals. Hence, these fertilizers are sometimes also called eco-friendly fertilizers. They help in improving the soil structure and increase its water holding capacity. Moreover, since these fertilizers are made from natural ingredients, organic fertilizers support the growth of microbes including soil fertility-enhancing bacteria. These bacteria consume the decayed material in the soil and release carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil, which help in plant growth. Organic fertilizers, thus, help in natural soil enrichment. Also, organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly as compared to synthetic chemical fertilizers. This helps in retention of nutrients in the soil and the chances of nutrients washing away with surface runoff is reduced.

Which types of organic fertilizers are generally preferred by agriculturists across the globe?

The growth of the global organic fertilizers industry has led to the use of different natural raw materials for making eco-friendly fertilizers. Today, organic fertilizers are made from different materials ranging from bird feathers to bat guano and earthworm castings. All these different organic fertilizers can be clubbed into three categories based on the source of the raw materials.

Animal-based fertilizers, as the name suggests, include those fertilizers which have raw materials sourced from animals. Thus, fertilizers such as cow manure, urea, bat guano, bone meals, etc., form part of this category. Animal-based fertilizers, nowadays, are increasingly being used for leafy vegetables which is anticipated to help this segment to rise at a CAGR of 48.1% by 2032. Plant-based fertilizers is the second most promising category of organic fertilizers which include composts, seaweed fertilizers, green manures, etc. While animal-based fertilizers add nutrients to the soil, plant-based fertilizers enhance the soil quality and increase its moisture retention capacity. The third category is that of mineral-based fertilizers which focus on adjusting the soil's pH levels.

To summarize, growing awareness regarding sustainable agriculture and rising adoption of organic farming is predicted to result in the expansion of the organic fertilizers industry. Furthermore, the advantages offered by different types of organic fertilizers will help in the gradual replacement of chemical fertilizers by these eco-friendly solutions.

To get a detailed analysis of the opportunities and trends shaping the organic fertilizers industry, feel free to contact us.

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