PEI Analytical Laboratories 23 Innovation Way Tel: (902)-620-3300

Soil Testing Charlottetown, PE Fax: (902)-569-7778

C1E 0B7

www.gov.pe.ca/agriculture/labservices

Organic Fertilizers
Introduction

Of the sixteen essential plant nutrients, the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are
used in the greatest quantity by plants. The term "complete fertilizer" refers to a material that contains
these three nutrients. In organic gardening, low phosphate content in the soil is the most difficult
imbalance to correct. A common source of phosphate in organic gardening is rock phosphate, but this
is relatively insoluble in soils above a pH of 6.0. For best results, a heavy amount of rock phosphate
should be applied up to a year before the organic garden is planted. Because mineral nutrients are
available to plant roots only when they are dissolved in the soil solution, regardless of whether they
come from inorganic fertilizer, the advance application is necessary to allow the microbiological
breakdown of organic fertilizers or the weathering of soil minerals.

The value of a fertilizer material will depend on the amount of plant nutrients it contains and the
availability of these nutrients to plants through the soil solution. Natural fertilizers, organic materials and
synthetic fertilizer are equally good sources of plant nutrients, relative to their percent content and
availability.

For instance, field trials have shown the potassium in KCl (muriate of potash) will supply about 12 times
as much to plants as will an equal amount of potassium applied in granite meal. So it would require 33
kg of granite meal containing three percent potassium to equal 1.5 kg of 60 percent KCl. It is therefore
a more costly source of potassium, but would remain in the soil much longer.

The availability of the nutrients from naturally occurring rocks, such as rock phosphate, granite meal,
greensand and limestone, will depend on how finely they are ground. The more finely they are ground,
the more surface is exposed and more likely (and quickly) will it become dissolved in the soil solution.

Nutrients from organic sources become available from the decomposition of microbes that have fed on
inorganic nutrient sources. Through the decomposition of microorganisms, and other organic
substances within the soil, nutrient ions (i.e. inorganic nutrient sources) are released into the soil
solution.

Fertilizer labels give the percentage nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potassium oxide in that order. Thus
the popular turnip fertilizer, 3-15-6-0.3 B contains 3% N, 15% P2 O5 and 6% K2O. It also contains 0.3%
boron, advisable to prevent water core or brown heart, a boron deficiency symptom.

A popular home garden fertilizer is 6-12-12 or its more economical "double strength" form, 12-24-24.

When soils become "built up" with high levels of phosphorus and potash, 10-10-10, 17-17-17 or 12-4-8
may be used, alone or in combination with compost and manures. The combination of organic manures
and synthetic fertilizers are complementary in their actions: (a) early spring growth is hastened by
synthetic nitrogen and long term nitrogen is released from the breakdown of organic matter later in the
season as the soil warms. The soil structure which is improved by organic matter assists in the growth
of roots and recovery of fertilizer from the soil. Also, organic matter acts as a sponge for excess
nutrients releasing them when they are needed by the plants.
Soil Testing

Soil chemical analysis is a service provided by the PEI Analytical Laboratory. Soil sample containers
and directions for taking samples are available from the PEI Analytical Laboratory (located at 23
Innovation Way in the Charlottetown BioCommons Park) or, at any Access PEI location outside of the
Charlottetown area.

Soil should be analyzed prior to planting during the crop planning stage to help identify the soil nutrient
requirements. Soil sampling should be conducted at least once every crop rotation. The most common
soil analysis package will include the soil organic matter content, the soil acidity (pH) , the amount of
limestone require (if applicable), the soil nutrient content of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and
magnesium, and the recommended fertilizer rates for that specified crop. It is left to the gardener to
determine which fertilizer materials to use to satisfy these requirements, although recommendations are
usually made.

For example: If a soil test report suggests the need for 135 kg N, 260 kg P2O5, and 260 kg K2O
(indicating a soil with a low level of fertility), the typical recommendation would be 2200 kg of 6-12-12
per hectare; or 2200 kg/1000 sq meters (about 2.2 kg per 100 sq meters).

For further information on this topic please contact a Nutrient Management specialist at the PEIDAF at
(902) 316-1600.

(Revised March 2014)