Organic fertilizer is rich in organic matter. It is derived from plant and animal waste, fermented and decomposed into a high-quality carbon-containing organic material. When applied appropriately to the soil, it can significantly improve soil fertility, provide a more stable nutrient supply for crops, and contribute to higher crop quality and yield. Organic fertilizer has many benefits, specifically:
A. Regulating soil pH balance. It significantly improves soil physical and chemical properties. Long-term use of chemical fertilizers often leads to acidification, significantly reducing the number of beneficial microorganisms. Beneficial microorganisms only become more active when there are sufficient organic nutrients. When the concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil is greater than the concentration of hydroxide ions, the soil solution becomes acidic. Higher acidity is less conducive to crop root growth. Applying organic fertilizer absorbs acidic or alkaline cations in the soil, thereby regulating the pH balance.
B. Increasing the application of organic fertilizer can balance the conflicts between soil, water, fertilizer, air, and heat. Organic fertilizers contain a high amount of active organic matter, which significantly improves soil aggregate structure and creates larger spaces between aggregates. These spaces between large and small aggregates make the soil more loose and breathable, meeting the air needs of crop roots.
C. Organic fertilizers offer a comprehensive nutritional profile that is more beneficial for improving the quality of agricultural products. Rich in organic matter, organic fertilizers also contain a variety of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, boron, iron, molybdenum, copper, and cobalt, thereby preventing crop diseases caused by various nutrient deficiencies. The comprehensive range of nutrients in organic fertilizers ensures that agricultural products contain more protein, fat, sugar, and vitamins, while reducing harmful substances, thereby improving the quality of agricultural products.
D. Organic fertilizers retain moisture and heat, reducing fertilizer and water loss. Organic fertilizers contain a high amount of humus, which has a large heat capacity and absorbs heat to increase temperature. Humus also retains moisture in the soil, reducing evaporation and improving its water-holding capacity, resulting in enhanced drought tolerance. Increasing the application of organic fertilizers also minimizes drastic fluctuations in soil temperature. In adverse environments with fluctuating temperatures, a more stable soil temperature is beneficial for root growth.
E. The effects of organic fertilizers on the soil are long-lasting. When organic fertilizers are applied to the soil, soil microorganisms transform them into nutrients that are more readily absorbed by the roots. These nutrients are released slowly and over a long period of time. Generally, organic fertilizers applied to crops in the same season are not fully utilized within the same season and continue to have a certain lasting effect a year later. Increasing soil humus content also increases the organic matter content, thereby improving soil fertility.
F. Organic fertilizers are widely available. In rural areas, organic fertilizers come from a wide variety of sources, including livestock and poultry manure, human feces, crop straw, the residue from oilseed crops, and any other organic fertilizers that can enhance soil fertility. These can also be applied to the soil using factory-processed organic fertilizers.
We farmers must prioritize the use of organic fertilizers to ensure better crop growth and higher yields, while also contributing to the protection of the ecological environment.
