I offer my customers the option of organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers. Organics have many benefits, I think the most important to customers so far is that they are kid and pet safe. But safety aside, is one product better at producing a green, healthy lawn? Well luckily I have a large field at my house, which provides a great place to do a side by side comparison. This article is the first in a series on the results of the test, and I will be writing throughout the rest of the year with updates.
For those who are unfamiliar with organic fertilizers, here are a few key differences between organics and chemical fertilizers:
- Organic fertilizers aim to improve the quality of the soil by adding organic matter to the soil.
- Organic fertilizers provide a slow release of nutrients that provide longer lasting nutrition for the soil.
- Organic fertilizers are made from plant and animal products, where chemical fertilizers are made from fossil fuels.
To keep things simple, I will be using 2 criteria for results: they eye test and soil samples. I will be including pictures in my posts so you can be your own judge on the eye test. I will also taking soil samples along the way to see how the soil is impacted by the use of each product. I have taken samples as a baseline, and the soil in each area is very similar:
- Organic Area: Phosphorus Index: 10 Potassium Index: 45
- Chemical Area: Phosphorus Index: 9 Potassium Index: 51
Note: According to the NCDA Agronomic Division, the normal range for each index is 50-70.
Here is a picture from day 1 (click for larger image):
Check back next month for an update!
Also, being new to the blogging, I want to make sure I am providing readers with interesting content. So let me know if you have questions or topics you would like me to discuss in an article. You can either leave comments or send me an email at info@clearcutlawncare.org.
-Tyler
This is very interesting! I’ve always wanted to know and to see the difference between using organic and chemical. I’ve learned that organic fertilizers are much better to use compared to chemical. They said organic help to preserve the soil while adding nutrients to it. They encourage the growth of soil organisms and this helps the plants develop healthier roots and you can even save money if you know how to make your own organic fertilizer. With regards to chemical; if there will be less production of resources needed for the production then problem would be its availability. But, for now, I would like to see updates with your study and I wish to see who gets the best result. Thanks for sharing this.