If you have just started your journey into hydroponics you’re probably wondering why you need to spend your money in hydroponic specific nutrients when there are so many cheaply available soil fertilizers sold out there. Certainly there are all plant food and there must be some way you can use all these cheap soil fertilizers to create a suitable replacement to feed your hydroponic crop. In this post I want to explain some of the key differences between hydroponic and soil fertilizers, when soil fertilizers can be used in hydroponics, how they can be used and when it is definitely a bad idea to try to use them.

In the nitrification of NH4+ fertilizers 2 mol of H+ are generated for every mole of N, whereas in the transformation of organic N compounds (from biological N fixation) and urea fertilizer one net mole of H+ is generated for every mole of N transformed.

4.1.1 Nitrogen fertilization impacts on soil biodiversityBacterial diversity—Nitrogen fertilization can affect soil bacterial diversity directly by changing soil chemistry. When applied at high rates, ammonium and urea fertilizers can inhibit soil microorganisms due to ammonia toxicity and increases in ionic strength (Eno et al., 1955; Omar and Ismail, 1999).

Improves soil structure thus to increases water holding capacity and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) to increase soil fertility.

Humate soil conditioner is an amazing organic soil treatment and microorganism stimulant. One application of humate soil conditioner is similar to applying ½ inch of a high quality organic compost over the surface of the lawn. Humate is one of Organo-Lawn’s most amazing lawn and tree care products, because of how much it builds the soil and how much easier and less expensive it costs compared to performing an organic compost top dressing.

We offer potassium humates that are used as a multi-function compound fertilizer after combination with nitrogen and phosphorus. These are highly biodegraded and compressed remains of ancient plant and animal materials. These are also used as soil conditioners, plant growth stimulant and fertilizers efficiency promoters. We offer these humates at most competitive prices.

Soils provide important ecological services for the maintenance and survival of life. Soil health management is critical to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. Soil health is regulated by soil properties, namely physicochemical and biological properties. Modern agriculture relies heavily on chemical fertilizers. These are inevitable threats to agriculture. Nonetheless, they remain an important tool for global food security. As sustainable agriculture becomes a global goal, the ill effects of chemical fertilizers cannot be ignored. Fertilizers play a vital role in increasing crop yields and soil fertility. There are many kinds of chemical fertilizers, such as nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer. The use of fertilizers not only increases crop yields, but also alters the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil.

Ekrem Ozlu of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his team studied two fields in South Dakota. From 2003 to 2015, the research team applied either manure or inorganic fertilizer to field plots growing corn and soybeans. They used low, medium, and high manure levels, and medium and high inorganic fertilizer levels. They also had a control treatment of no soil additives to provide a comparison.In the summer of 2015, they collected soil samples at a variety of depths using a push probe auger. Then they analyzed the samples.Manure helped keep soil pH—a measure of acidity or alkalinity—in a healthy range for crops. Inorganic fertilizer made the soil more acidic.

One of these unsustainable methods is the widespread use of chemical fertilizers. Such fertilizers harm the soil and limit the possibility of growing healthy crops in the future. Here, we discuss the agricultural industry's excess use of chemical fertilizer, how this impacts soil health, and what alternative options we have.

In the quest for higher agricultural productivity, chemical fertilizers have become an integral part of modern farming. However, their widespread use has raised concerns about their impact on soil health. This article aims to unveil the intricate relationship between chemical fertilizers and soil health, shedding light on the benefits, drawbacks, and sustainable alternatives for maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Agricultural systems are under pressure to produce increasing amounts of food for a growing human population while preserving, and ideally enhancing, the capacity of soils to sequester carbon and provide a habitat for biodiversity. Regenerative agricultural practices have been put forth to address this challenge. One such practice is the application of non-harmful, cheap organic fertilizers in combination with additives.

Soil health is crucial for plant growth and ecosystem stability. Healthy soil contains necessary nutrients and microorganisms to support plant growth and maintain environmental balance. However, in many parts of the world, the use of synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, and other chemical inputs has had adverse effects on soil health. The solution to this problem is to use organic fertilizers, which can improve soil health and support sustainable agriculture. In this article, we will explore the significance of soil health, the benefits of organic fertilizers, and how they can improve soil health.

Organic matter (O.M.) plays a significant role in crop production and soil health. Building and maintaining a healthy soil that has more organic matter can aid in providing a stronger foundation for higher crop yields and resiliency to environmental stresses.Higher soil organic matter levels often translate into sustainable systems that produce higher, more consistent yields and greater long-term profitability.A review of soils with varying quantities of organic matter were correlated with yield and indicated productive soils often had 3.0-3.5% organic matter and that maximum yields were generally achieved on soils with approximately 3.75% organic matter (Figure 1, Fernández et al., 2012, Oldfield et al, 2019).

Fertilizers are pivotal in modern agriculture, providing essential nutrients to crops and boosting agricultural productivity. However, using fertilizers has raised concerns about its potential impact on soil health. Striking a balance between achieving robust crop yields and preserving the soil’s long-term health is essential for sustainable agriculture. This article delves into the multifaceted impact of fertilizers on soil health and explores strategies to promote a harmonious coexistence between intensive cultivation and the preservation of this vital resource.

Organic agriculture includes the right combination of organic, social, environmental, and ethical goals. The best part is that many organic materials act as fertilizers and soil conditioners; they feed both plants and soil. They are the best alternative to increase the productivity and quality of crop growth.In addition, the use of organic fertilizers in agriculture guarantees that the food produced is free of chemicals harmful to health. Therefore, instead of using artificial fertilizers, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to maintain the properties of the soil and improve its productivity.

Potassium is one of the major nutrients required by all crops and is present in large quantities in the plant in the form of the cation K+. It plays a major role in achieving the maximum economic yield, as part of a balanced approach to crop nutrition, as well as influencing crop quality.Potassium is fundamental to many metabolic processes through the activation of a large number of enzymes required for chemical reactions. These include the synthesis of proteins and sugars required for plant growth. Only a relatively small proportion of the plant’s total potassium requirement is needed for this. The majority is required for the essential role of maintaining the water content of plant cells. These roles are discussed below. Many are interlinked.

In a publication brought to the public’s attention by news release from the University of Illinois several weeks ago, S.A. Khan, Richard Mulvaney and a colleague in the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois challenged a number of basic tenets of soil fertility, especially practices related to use of potassium (K) fertilizer. Citing hundreds of references and thousands of reported studies, they asserted that: K fertilizer is generally unnecessary in soils like most of those in Illinois; the soil test is not a reliable way to know how much K the soil will supply to a crop; K used as fertilizer can cause crops to have lower nutritional value; using K fertilizer can damage soil structure; and potassium chloride (KCl), which is the most commonly-used (and lowest-cost) K fertilizer material, is harmful to crops.

Fertilizer potassium is sometimes called “potash,” a term that comes from an early production technique where potassium was leached from wood ashes and concentrated by evaporating the leachate in large iron pots (“pot-ash”). This practice is no longer practical and is not environmentally sustainable. In food production, potassium is removed from the soil in harvested crops and must be replaced in order to maintain future crop growth.Over 350 million years ago, the huge Devonian Sea was slowly drying up in the area of Central Canada and northern U.S., leaving behind concentrated salts and minerals. This process continues today in places such as the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea. These ancient marine salts are now recovered and used in a variety of useful ways, with the majority being used as potassium fertilizer.

The UN says that in 2021, there will be around 690 million hungry people on the planet which accounts for 9 percent of the world’s population.  Global food security is especially of concern looking forward as the world population is expected to increase by about 35 percent over the next 40 years.Agricultural output will need to significantly increase to feed the growing population. As available land for expanding agriculture is scarce, increased food production will come only from increasing productivity per hectare, which will require optimum and balanced fertilizer use.Boosting crop yields can be achieved by the implementation of balanced fertilization practices, which will also ensure the preservation of soil fertility and the sustainability of the farm systems.

Potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is a largely unrecognised but potentially significant threat to global food security if not addressed, say researchers.The lack of this key nutrient can inhibit plant growth and reduce crop yields. Farmers often spread potassium-rich fertilisers over their fields to replenish the depleted nutrient, but supply issues can inhibit its use and there are also questions about the environmental impact. The new study, published in Nature Food, finds that in many regions of the world, more potassium is being removed from agricultural soils through leaching or when crops are harvested. The authors from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the University of Edinburgh, University College London and the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research in Spain make a series of recommendations to tackle the issue.