We all know that, before building any house, we first need to prepare a strong base; then only the house or building becomes capable of holding a vast, long-term duration to stay. Just like we create a base for building, for healthy plants, we need good soil to grow strong and thrive. Before you plant anything, it's important to get the soil ready so it has all the right stuff for your plants to flourish.
Sometimes, even when we give our plants enough water and sunlight, they don't grow as well as we hoped. This often happens because the soil might be missing some important nutrients. That's where fertilisers and manure come in!
But what exactly are fertilisers and manure? What do they do for the soil? And how are they different? Let's take a closer look at this article.
What are fertilisers?
Fertiliser can be defined as manufactured materials that contain one or more nutrients which is essential for plant growth and are easily available on commercial platforms.
Think of fertilisers as special food that you add to the soil to help plants grow better. They can be natural or made in a factory. You can find them as solids, liquids, or powders. Fertilisers are packed with nutrients that give plants a boost to grow healthy and strong.
There are two main types of fertilisers:
- Natural Fertilisers (Organic): These come from things found in nature. Here are a few examples:
- Vermicompost: Made from earthworm poop!
- Rock phosphate: A natural mineral.
- Compost: Decayed food and garden waste.
- Chicken litter: Chicken manure mixed with bedding.
- Bone meal: Ground-up animal bones.
- Chemical Fertilisers (Synthetic): These are made in factories and usually contain high amounts of three important nutrients:
- Nitrogen (N): Helps with leafy growth.
- Phosphorus (P): Good for roots and flowers.
- Potassium (K): Helps with overall plant health.
- Examples of chemical fertilisers include:
- Ammonium sulphate
- Ammonium phosphate
- Ammonium nitrate
- Urea
- Ammonium chloride
What is Manure?
Manure is organic in nature, and it improves the soil in a natural way. It's mostly made up of animal waste. When dead plants and animals decompose (break down), they become manure. Manure is great for making soil more fertile and helping plants grow better.
Here are the main types of manure:
- Animal Manure: This comes from farm animals.
- Cattle dung: Cow poop.
- Animal droppings: Poop from other animals like chickens, horses, etc.
- Green Manure: This is made from plants.
- Plant waste: Leftover parts of plants.
- Food waste: Scraps from your kitchen.
Differences between Fertilisers and Manure: A Quick Look
Here's a table to easily see the main differences between manure and fertilisers:
| Feature | Manure | Fertilizers |
| Source | Made naturally from plant and animal waste | Can be made chemically or come from natural sources |
| Nutrient Content | Contains a variety of nutrients in different amounts | Usually contains specific nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium |
| Release Rate | Releases nutrients slowly over time | Gives plants a quick shot of nutrients |
| Soil Structure | Helps improve soil texture and holds water better | Doesn't change the soil structure |
| Microbial Activity | Encourages helpful tiny living things in the soil | Usually doesn't affect these tiny living things |
| pH Level | Generally helps to balance the soil's acidity | Depends on the specific type of fertilizer used |
| Environmental Impact | Usually good for the environment, but can sometimes have metals or bad germs | Chemical fertilizers can sometimes pollute groundwater |
| Cost | Often cheaper, especially if you can get it locally | Can be more expensive than manure |
| How to Use | Can be mixed directly into the soil | Needs to be used carefully; too much can harm plants |
| Risks | Very low risk of burning plants | Higher risk of burning plants if you use too much |
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to helping plants grow, both manure and fertilisers are used, but in different ways. Manure is used for plant growth in natural ways which are organic in nature and which is used as a soil conditioner, and on the other hand, fertilisers are used for fulfilling plant growth in nutrient ranges like nitrogen and phosphorus. So, for the best results, consider using manure to improve your soil and a mix of slow-release and liquid organic fertilisers to give your plants the food they need.
In short, both fertilisers and manure are valuable tools for any gardener. Using them wisely will help you grow healthy and happy plants!
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