Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizers are fertilizer compounds that contain one or more kinds of organic matter. The ingredients may be animal or vegetable matter.

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The organic carbon content of organic fertilizer can be of equal or greater importance than its nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Application of organic fertilizer promotes increases in heterotrophic bacterial biomass, which stimulates other secondary productivity and mineralizes nutrients to stimulate primary productivity.

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Manure for the garden comes from cow, sheep, poultry and horses. Pretty self-explanatory. Manure is known as a “complete” fertilizer; it has a lot of organic matter, but is low in nutrients. Manures are most valuable as organic soil amendments and mulches. Note: Beware of using fresh manure as a fertilizer because it can burn plants.

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