7 Advantages of Using Organic Liquid Fertilizers for Gardening

If you happen to visit any gardening store, you’ll probably find several types of fertilizers, both chemical and organic. While they may be advertised as having the same results, there are several reasons why organic liquid fertilizers have grown in popularity and are better than chemical alternatives.

Here are some of the well-known benefits of using organic liquid fertilizers in your garden over chemical ones:

1. Organic Fertilizers are Natural and Non-Toxic

One of the most significant advantages of using organic liquid fertilizers has to do with toxicity. Since they are made from natural materials such as recycled plant matter, organic materials are not toxic to humans, animals, or plants.

Therefore, using an organic liquid fertilizer is a sure way to know that you are safe from the toxicity associated with some inorganic fertilizer products.

2. Organic Fertilizer is Good for the Environment

Using organic liquid fertilizer exclusively on your garden means you are contributing, in your small way, to the preservation of nature. Unlike chemical liquid fertilizers, organic fertilizers are deemed to be entirely safe for the ecosystem they are used regardless of the quantities retained in the soil.

This is in stark contrast to synthetic/artificial liquid fertilizers that are known to kill surrounding plant life, insects and contribute to soil acidity over the long term.

3. Organic Liquid Fertilizer can be made from Recycled Materials

Still, on the environmental benefits, most organic liquid fertilizers are made from green waste or food waste that could have otherwise ended up in a landfill or sewage plant. There are companies and individuals out there doing a great job turning organic waste into many other useful products besides fertilizer.

As an added benefit, you might find that most organic liquid fertilizers in the store are cheaper than inorganic alternatives. For instance, some European countries provide incentives for farmers and companies that make organic products from recycled waste.

4. Better and Healthier Produce

If you are planting vegetables and fruits meant to be consumed, then organic liquid fertilizers are better if you can use them exclusively. There is growing concern over the effects of consuming food laden with chemical fertilizers with studies linking them to cancer and other diseases. Consequently, many health-conscious consumers are leaning towards natural foods produced using organic materials.

It is a requirement in most countries for organic food to be clearly labeled as organic to help consumers make the right choices when shopping.  This and the skyrocketing demand for organic foods makes using organic liquid fertilizers an excellent choice for vegetable and fruit farmers around the world.

5. Organic Fertilizers Improve Soil Structure

Given that organic fertilizer is made from dead or recycled plant material, its impacts on the soil are twofold. One, it adds nutrients to the soil that is used for plant growth and health and, secondly, improves the structure of your soil.

For indoor or controlled planting environments, this means you can use the same soil for more planting cycles without degradation. The improved soil also supports more plants over more extended periods, improving each time you use organic fertilizer.

6. You Can Make Your Own Organic Fertilizer

There are several guides out there showing urban gardeners like you how to make your liquid fertilizer at home. With basic materials and tools, you can teach yourself how to turn dead plant and animal materials you have into useful organic liquid fertilizer. You can make it for your gardening projects or brand it and sell it to people who need fertilizer.

7. You Can’t Over-Fertilize Your Garden with Organic Fertilizer

A big problem with inorganic or chemical fertilizers is the risk of overfertilizing your gardens, which can lead to plant death, acidic soil, and increased toxicity. You have to be careful about the measurements and frequency of application with chemical fertilizers.

In contrast, there isn’t much risk in overusing organic fertilizer as it belongs to nature in the first place. You only need to create a schedule to maximize the effects of the fertilizer and preserve it for future use.

In conclusion, using organic liquid fertilizer is a good thing and should be encouraged. There are just too many benefits that justify the extra cost you might incur, where there are no subsidies for organic products.

Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is an ecopreneur, consultant, advisor, speaker and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection, conservation and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Salman is the Founder of EcoMENA, a popular voluntary organization based in Qatar. He is also the Founder and CEO of BioEnergy Consult, a reputed consulting firm active in biomass, waste-to-energy and waste management segments.
Salman is a professional environmental writer with more than 350 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass environmental awareness in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com

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