Compost versus Commercial Fertilizers

[dumbledorf17]

I have a neighbor who is crazy about gardening, but since he started he never bought commercial fertilizers and I noticed that his vegetables are smaller.

He contends that eventhough his vegetables are smaller, the manure and compost that he is using will feed the plants.

What is best between the two? Or may I rephrase my question----what are the conditions which prescribes that a certain type of fertilizer should be used?

[sakura]

I'm for composting rather than commercial fertilizers because composting's organic and more cost effective for me. However, here's what I understand (and this is my personal opinion) about chemical fertilizers: though it's true that some may be harmful to other organisms as it's helpful to the plant, most chemical fertilizers are geared to provide huge amounts of nutrients to the plant. Studies and experiments are devoted to it so that the crops the plants will yield will be more and bigger.

Compost is more like a generic fertilizer, IMO, unless it was primed by specific scraps to create specific nutrients. Think of a human taking a Vitamin C pill vs. taking multivitamins or something.

In my family's farm, we use a combination of organic fertilizers & chemical fertilizers and our crops are pretty good. I think what worries people most about chemical fertilizers that's why they switch to organic ones is the possibility of our bodies taking in those chemicals.

My two cents.

[beezybody]

Sakura, commercial fertilizers can really provide huge amounts of nutrients to the plants resulting in a higher yield BUT only up to a certain level or degree. When it reaches this level the effect will plateau off. The soil becomes "too tired" for commercial fertilizers and needs to be regenerated with compost and other organic sources of fertilizers.

[farmerpiper]

Compost provides nutrients to plants and the soil which are available in a slow-release manner.

So the effect is long-term. Unlike commercial fertilizers where exposure to the air will result to the evaporation of nutrients rendering it useless to further utilization by the plant.

[garden ann]

Plants cannot distinguish whether we are giving compost or commercial fertilizers.

But when COMPOST there is no danger of "burning" your plants or overfertilization. It slow-releases nutrients. So nutrients are available for a longer period of time but they are not immediately available to the plants.
They still have to be converted into inorganic substances by the microorganisms in the soil so that it can be assimilated by the plants.

[Luna]

I use a combination of natural & chemical fertilizers myself, with the bigger bulk coming from the natural compost. It helps minimize any worries I have with chemicals affecting my plants, and as beezybody mentioned, it doesn't make the soil easily plateau. Saves me money too, as I use the chemical fertilizer minimally and my supplies last longer.

[vermigiant]

when you use commercial fertilizers, you get a scientifically calculated amount and dosage application which is needed by your plants.

organic fertilizers improve the structure of the soil so that it will be more porous and not compacted

[ladybug]

i read that organic fertilizers such as compost can improve the water-holding capacities of the soil because it improves the structure of the soil.

[John S.]

Unlike commercial fertilizers, we are not really sure if we are giving the correct amount of nutrients and elements to our plants when we use organic fertilizer.

But I am still for the use of organic fertilizers. I love the earth!

[farmerbrie]

Don't get me wrong but when using large quantities of organic fertilizer on crops would result in a temporary nitrogen depletion of the soil.

I guess the bacteria are very much engrossed working on the organic fertilizers and temporarily forget their nitrogen-fixing action.

[sakura]

Originally Posted by John S.

Unlike commercial fertilizers, we are not really sure if we are giving the correct amount of nutrients and elements to our plants when we use organic fertilizer.

But I am still for the use of organic fertilizers. I love the earth!

Yeah, I know what you mean John. I don't think plants would be able to tell the difference between organic and chemical fertilizers anyway haha. Still, it's best to weigh the pros & cons of either. I think bigger crops would yield from use of chemical fertilizers vs. organic.

Here's an interesting read about this topic: Fertilizer: Organic (Natural) versus Chemical (Inorganic)

[Edward12]

Don't apply commercial fertilizers too close to the plant's roots because the plants can be burned because of the chemical salts in the fertilizer

[mistermaster]

You're right there Edward ole boy

Applying big amounts of commercial fertilizers can result in the build-up of higher concentrations of salts which are toxic to the plants.

Higher salt concentrations can lead to a chemical imbalance on the soil.

[rosiethumb]

Just curious can "burning" of plants also occur when too much compost is applied?

[fireflies]

In my opinion, compost gradually releases nutrients to the soil and in small doses over long periods of time while commercial or synthetic fertilizers provides quick dose of nutrition to the plants, so I guess there is no burning of plants or overdose of compost.

[dumbledorf17]

“Nutrient stabilization in composted manure allows soil microbes and plants to use the nutrients in a slow-release and beneficial manner. Compost may even help reduce demand for nitrogen in certain crops.” Says Patricia Miller of the Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland

I guess this quote pretty sums up the beneficial effects of compost

[wrigglerman]

Composting is accomplished by the generation of heat by microbes that feed on the organic matter.

After harvesting compost, expose your bin or site of the pile to the sun for sanitation purposes. Then you may use it again for another composting process.

[honeylemon]

Originally Posted by fireflies

In my opinion, compost gradually releases nutrients to the soil and in small doses over long periods of time while commercial or synthetic fertilizers provides quick dose of nutrition to the plants, so I guess there is no burning of plants or overdose of compost.

However, compost when applied directly to roots of young plants may kill them.

[krissy]

Since this process involves microbes, it would be best if you dry the compost under the heat of the sun for a day or two to disinfect it.