The effects of organic fertilizer and inorgarnic fertilizer on the physical and chemical properties of soil.?

Question

I need more than 7000 words on "The effects of organic fertilizer and inorgarnic fertilizer on the physical and chemical properties of soil."

Answer 1

If you consider that the basic tenants of organic and sustainable agriculture, one feeds and nourishes and maintains the soil as it is the soil solution that plants depend on for food. The soil structure; its micro pores and macro pores provide for the replenishment of oxygen to the root zone. Roots need that as much as the leaves and other upper plant parts or the plant will die or be adversely effected. The soil pores also provide for the flora and fauna of the soil, much of which is microscopic and which is hugely diverse and interactive. We learn to mimic Mother Nature in agriculture in many ways to provide the food we need on a long term basis; and its a quality product which doesn't hurt us or the environment with chemicals.

Not to bash chemicals un-necessarily, but yes it is easy to use a bag of chemicals to bypass the obvious labor intensive organic sustainable system but look at the problems as you research your paper.

1)pesticides are tailoring resistant pests (disease and insect)

2)plowing and mechanization are ruining the soil structure and providing a shortcut to dust bowls and deserts

3)chemicals are ruining our groundwater, rivers and oceans, and pushing species faster to extinction

4)forests/ jungles whose soil is poor to start with, are being slashed and burned at a rate that we could not possible catch-up and ever expect to repair the damage, let alone the species pushed to extinction

5) manufacturing agricultural chemicals severely damages the environment BEFORE they are even used. Look at CO2 emissions from limestone derived products alone.

For starters that will get you going. As you look at problems you will see many more than listed here. Look at ...

a) No till agriculture and sustainable agriculture

b) organic soil amendments and mined mineral fertilizers

c) organic farm practices

d) natural pesticides and organic replacements for chemicals like beneficial insects, biologicals like B.t., and safe products (Gardens Alive company product list is a good place to see what is available)

Good luck on the paper.

Answer 2

Sounds like a school project, as a hint I would start out looking at several different fertilizers and then find out what the company selling them says about their pro's and con's for the soil.