What are the major shortcomings of chemical fertilizers to nutrient cycling?

Question

What are the major shortcomings of chemical fertilizers to nutrient cycling?

Answer 1

Hi Wizard21,

Actually, there is truth in both of the answers above.  However, there is another shortcoming with chemical fertilizers that was not mentioned.  That is, when the chemical fertilizers form a solution with water, they run off into our waterways (streams, creeks, ponds, lakes, rivers, and the like) and fertilize the plants (both native and non-native) in and along the waterways causing unnatural "blooms" of the plants that often choke water systems and even prevent the oxygenation of the water, thereby killing fish and other water life that require the oxygen to exist.

Nutrient cycling is both cost-effective and ecologically sound.  Another form of nutrient replenishing that is becoming an accepted alternative in a limited number of areas is natural flooding.  This is where some farmers who live near a waterway that historically flooded their land to again flood during periods of high water caused by rains and snow melts.  When a flood occurs, the waters bring new soil (along with their nutrients) to the land in the form of silt.

I hope this is of some help to you.

Hiking Tony

Answer 2

Sustainability and cost, basically (i.e. chemical fertilizers are expensive and you have to keep buying more, whereas nutrient cycles are natural).

Answer 3

Many are too soluble and run off with excess water.  It would be better if they released the nutrients slowly.