Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Is organic gardening viable?
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 22:43:14 -0500, "Ray Drouillard"
wrote: On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 12:50:20 GMT, Frogleg wrote: (snip) I don't understand why 'artificial' fertilizers have such vociferous opponents. AFAIK, plants don't care whether their nitrogen and phosphorous comes from cowpats or granules. There is also the issue of trace chemicals in the commercial fertilizers that build up over time and harm the plants. I understand that a whole lot of formerly very fertile land is now barely usable. But this is not specific to commercial fertilizers. It is recommeded for farming operations that both soil AND MANURE be regularly monitored to balance nutrients. Of course, there is no doubt that the bulk organic matter of soil needs to be maintained. If the soil sees only chemical fertilizers, but no horse pucky or grass clippings or whatever, it's going to lose go downhill. You're combining two features here. Chemical fertilizer provides nutrients with little or no organic matter. Composted materials provide organic matter with, usually, not a great deal of nutrition. Animal poo provides nutrients and some organic matter. You have a happier tomato plant with both a soil rich in organic matter AND nutrients, wherever they come from. If all it took was manure, hog waste ponds would fields of corn. Unwise application of chemical fertilizers can 'burn' plants; so can unwise application of chicken manure. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Taste, Is organic gardening viable? | Edible Gardening | |||
Is organic gardening viable? | Australia | |||
Is organic gardening viable? Taste | Edible Gardening | |||
Taste, Is organic gardening viable? | Australia | |||
Taste, Is organic gardening viable? | Australia |