Farmers and home gardeners are in a continuous search to improve their soil in order to enjoy healthier soils, higher yields, create good investments, and high agricultural returns. In this search, we will focus on compost and fertilizers. But there is plenty of confusion, as to which of these will be the best to use. Now in order to know which one is the best, it would require you to read plenty of research, consuming a lot of your time and energy. So, do not stress, keep reading and get more clarity as to which one is better or more preferred.
Difference between compost and fertilizer
Fertilizer
It is an additive to the soil which contains various important nutrients that every plant requires to grow well. All these nutrients are available at a considerably basic level that includes, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Potassium adds strength to the stem of the plant promoting growth and flowering. Phosphorus is good for healthy fruit, seed, flower, and root development. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of leaves.
However, if you think about it, all these hills’ plans were doing exceptionally well without the intervention of humans, then why all of a sudden, do they require fertilizers in order to grow well? The fact is plans do not need our help if we can just leave them alone.
But humans grow plants for us for a specific purpose. Plants require nutrients in order to create vegetables, grains, fruits, etc. This produce is then taken away by us in order to be consumed. Now before humans, this would fall back into the soil, the bed, branches, and leaves. It would sit there and be composted on its own, adding the nutrients back into the soil. Now that we consume the products, it is essential that we add the nutrients to the soil, the same nutrients that are lost when we harvested and consumed them.
Now fertilizers are focused and targets nutrients that plants specifically require. This is the reason for a wide range of blended fertilizers. Each and every plant has a different requirement that needs to be met.
Compost
It is fallen nutrients. This means that all the fallen branches, leaves, twigs, and even food waste, which would somehow find a way in the soil to replenish the soil with nutrients in the natural cycle.
The nutrients that are present in fertilizers are also found in compost, however, the nutrients were stored within organic materials. As soon as, fertilizer is added to the soil, all the nutrients are immediately made available for the plants. Whereas compost releases these nutrients slowly, it takes weeks, days, and even months to completely expel all the nutrients.
Overall, fertilizers have had a significant impact on the environment that is not available by applying compost. Fertilizers have immediately available nutrients. These nutrients get saturated in the soil and quickly absorbed by plants. It is an amazing aspect of additives, but it also means the nutrients can also be easily taken out from the soil. Compost when added releases nutrients to the plants at a slower pace. It is a primary compost base additive process. Compose is extremely beneficial for the long haul, as a it produces larger yield, high-quality, hardy soil.
So, at the end of it all, I would say that it totally depends upon the kind of soil that you are utilizing and the plants that you are growing. The details in this article will help you decide which one suits your requirements better. Happy gardening!