Organic vs Chemical Fertilizers

Research Findings on Organic vs Chemical Fertilizers

EPA Information on Fertilizers + Watershed:

Nitrogen + phosphorus (animal manure // chemical fertilizers)
“When these nutrients are not fully utilized by plants they can be lost from the farm fields and negatively impact air and downstream water quality”
Precipitation (stormwater) carries pollutants from rooftops, the ground, sidewalks, and roads into local waterways
Wastewater (sewer // septic) → if not operating properly, nitrogen and phosphorus discharge into waterways
IN AND AROUND HOME:
- Fertilizers, yard and pet waste, certain soaps and detergents contain nitrogen + phosphoru
  - Need to be properly used and disposed of
- “Amount of hard surfaces and type of landscaping can also increase the runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus during wet weather”

The Effects: Human Health

Nutrients and excessive algal blooms = toxins + compounds in water
drinking/swallowing/swimming in contaminated water can result in:
- Stomach or liver illness
- Respiratory problems
- Neurological effects
“Nitrate, a compound found in fertilizer, can enter drinking water in agricultural areas”
- “Infants are more susceptible to the health effects posed by nitrates, which can be serious and sometimes fatal”

Causes:

Bacteria:
- Coliform gut bacteria from animals can causes multiple health issues if ingested by humans
- More of a huge problem with reservoirs and other places where drinking water comes from
Sediments:
- Melting snow washes salt and other sediments into water/streams
Sediments block sunlight from aquatic plants → lack of food and fertilization for life in the river
Nutrient Blooms:
- Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) that wash into river cause algae blooms
- Extra fertilizer from farms washes into river → compounds in fertilizer are toxic for the life in the river, or they feed algae blooms
- cattle/livestock operations → manure (poop, chemicals, toxins from gut) wash into river

Action Plan:

Sediments:
- figure out benefits/conving way of getting sand used in dover
Nutrient Blooms:
- Get word out/reach out to farmers about using more environmentally friendly fertilizers for crops
- Don't over apply fertilizer → use organic or slow release fertilizer instead

EPA Tips on Combating Watershed:

Conserve water daily → shorter showers, fix leaks, turn off faucets
Don't pour toxic chemicals down the drain → cleaners/detergents… take to dump or hazardous waste center
NEVER POUR OIL OR ANTIFREEZE DOWN DRAIN OR ON STREET
Use plants that require little water in yard
Pick up after dog ( even in yard?) → ask about that one bc i dont have dog
Look for leaks in car + fix
- Many pollutants come from gasoline/chemicals in cars and other vehicles

Organic Fertilizers…

“Improve water movement into the soil, and in time, add structure to the soil”
“Feed beneficial microbes, making the soil easier to work”
“Don’t make crust on the soil”
“Gardeners want materials rich in calcium, including clamshells, oyster shells, wood ashes, dolomite, and gypsum”

Inorganic Fertilizers…

“Since they are lost from the soil quickly, you may have to fertilize plants several times during the growing season”
If managed improperly, can impact animal and plant life negatively.
- “Impacts include algae blooms causing the depletion of oxygen in surface waters, pathogens and nitrates in drinking water, and the emission of odors and gases into the air”

Organic Fertilizer

No risk of toxic buildups of salts when using organic fertilizers
“Renewable, biodegradable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly”
Feed microorganisms that build and sustain nutrient levels in the soil → really hot/cold days, reduce excessive nitrogen exposure
- “Microorganisms create a living soil which is a naturally controlled-release nitrogen source, which prevents lawn diseases and will not cause excessive growth”

Inorganic Fertilizer