The Principal Role of Organic Fertilizer on Soil Properties and Agricultural Productivity -A Review (2024)

Research Article

The Principal Role of Organic Fertilizer on Soil Properties and Agricultural Productivity -A Review

Sisay Assefa¹* and Sisay Tadesse²

¹Debre Berhan University ,College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, Ethiopia

²Aris University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Ethiopia

Submission:July 01, 2019; Published: August 09, 2019

*Corresponding author: Sisay Assefa, Debre Berhan University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, Ethiopia

How to cite this article: Sisay Assefa . The Principal Role of Organic Fertilizer on Soil Properties and Agricultural Productivity -A Review. Agri Res& Tech:Open Access J. 2019; 22(2): 556192. DOI: 10.19080/ARTOAJ.2019.22.556192

Abstract

As a key component of agricultural sustainability, organic fertilizer contributes greatly to improving soil fertility. Therefore, the objective of this review is to revise the role of organic fertilizer on agricultural product and productivity. The newly sourced artificial fertilizer had a short-term benefit, but it had severe long-term side effect such as soil toxicity and decline soil fertility. Afterward, the idea of organic farming was acceptable to developed organic agriculture system. The use of organic fertilizers has advantage of being cheap, improving soil structure, texture and aeration increasing the soils water retention abilities and stimulating healthy root development. Organic fertilizer has many sources such as minerals, animal source, sewage sludge and plant. Vegetables, animals and residue materials had a contribution to improve soil organic matter content in soil. Therefor it is recommended that, using integrated nutrient management is a continuous improvement of soil productivity on longer term basis through appropriate use of organic fertilizers (i.e. animal manure, plants residue and sewage sludge) and their scientific management for increments of optimum growth, yield and quality of different crops.

Keywords:Organic fertilizer; Fertility; Agricultural productivity

Introduction

Among the problems inherent to tropical soils, soil acidity, characterized by low pH, excessive aluminium, deficient calcium, and low organic matter is the most serious. Tropical soils are often unproductive because some of these soils are prone to strong phosphate fixation that renders phosphorus unavailable to plant. Soils that are prone to strong phosphate fixation (adsorption to oxides and clay minerals) often require extremely high phosphate fertilization application in order to alleviate the effect of phosphate fixation. Soil acidity and mineral deficiencies can be corrected by lime and fertilizers. Unfortunately, lime and fertilizers are not always easy options available to small and resource-poor farmers. Agriculture was practiced for thousands of years without the use of artificial chemicals in the world. Artificial fertilizers were first formed during the mid-19th century. These organic fertilizers were cheap, powerful, and easy to transport in bulk. The new artificial fertilizer technology had a beneficial in the short term, had serious longer-term side effects such as soil compaction, erosion, and declines in overall soil fertility, along with health concerns about toxic chemicals entering the food supply. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, soil biologist began to seek ways to remedy these side effects while still maintaining higher production [1]. Similarly, inorganic fertilizers were known for their high cost and their negative environmental effect if managed poorly [2]. The agricultural sector in Ethiopia was the major part for sustaining the growth and reducing poverty. However, lack of adequate nutrient, the depletion of soil organic matter and soil erosion are the major obstacles to sustained agricultural production. Since 1998, Ethiopia has included conservational tillage and compost as part of its extension package to reverse land degradation [3]. There exists ample evidence to show that compost and conservation tillage can result in higher and comparable yields, compared to chemical fertilizers [4]. The use of organic fertilizers which emphasizes maximum reliance on renewable local or farm resource. The advantage this fertilizer was cheap, improving soil arrangement, texture and airing, increasing the soils water preservation abilities and stimulating healthy root development [5]. In the developing world, many producers farm according to traditional methods that are comparable to organic farming, but not certified, and that may not include the latest scientific advancements in organic agriculture. In other cases, farmers in the developing world have converted to modern organic methods for economic reasons. Therefore, themain objective of this paper is to overview the principal role oforganic fertilizer on agricultural productivity.

Concept and Definition of Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizers were defined as materials having definitechemical composition with a high analytical value that supplyplant nutrient in available form [6]. Organic fertilizers are fertilizersderived from animal matter, human execrate or vegetable matter(e.g. compost, manure). Organic fertilizers are made with naturalraw material; it usually pertains to our biodegradable wet suit.Usually compost is made by decomposing biodegradable wastes.These wastes include paper, leaves, fruit peelings left over foodsand even fruit juices. Organic fertilizers make a good addition tothe soil. It makes the soil reach and ideal to planting.

Source of Organic Fertilizers

The main organic fertilizers were sourced from peat, animalwastes (often from slaughterhouse), and plant wastes from agricultureand sewage sludge. Naturally occurring organic fertilizersinclude animal wastes from meat processing, peat, and slurry.Organic fertilizers were carbon-based compounds that increasethe productivity and growth quality of plants. Organic fertilizers,far from being purified and simplified chemicals, were complexcompounds that add numerous secondary and micro-nutrients.Organics such as manures, powdered rocks (such as lime, rockphosphate, and greensand), blood meal, bone meal, wood ash andcompost all contain important micronutrients, and their texturewould improve soil quality rather than degrading it. Organic farmer’semphasis using only organic fertilizers for fertility maintains.In many aspects, organic farming was the way of life as it is a methodof farming. Soil nutrient depletion and likely degradation havebeen considered serious threats to agricultural productivity andhave been identified as major causes of decreased crop yields andper capita food production [7]. The positive effects organic farminghas on the environment and quality of food, it also greatly helpsa farmer to become self-sufficient in his requirements for agro-inputsand reduce his costs. Organic farming aspires to a combinemixture of organic, environmental, social and ethic objectives.

Mined powdered limestone, rock phosphate and Chilean saltpeter were in organic (not of biological organs) compounds whichcan be energetically intensive to harvest. mineral fertilizers containingN, P, K and S not only increase crop yield but also improvenutritional quality of crop yields, such as protein, oil, starch, essentialamino acids and vitamins in pulses, oil seeds, tubers, andvegetables respectively. Animal source materials include the productof slaughter of animal, blood meal, bone meal, hides, hoofs, andhorns were typically precursors. Chicken litters, which consistsof chicken manure mixed with sawdust, was an organic fertilizerthat has been shown to better condition soil for harvest thansynthesized fertilizers. Common form of animal manure includesfarmyard manure or farm slurry. Farmyard manure also containsplant materials (often straw), which has been used as bedding for animal and has absorbed the faces and urine. Agricultural manurein liquid form known as slurry is produced by more intensive livestockrearing systems where concrete or salt are used, instead ofstraw bedding. Manure from different animals had different qualitiesand requires different application rates when used as fertilizer.

Sewage sludge is materials that contain human excreta, asit is generated after mixing excreta with water and treatment ofwastewater in sewage treatment plant. Green manure are cropsgrown for the express purpose of plowing them in those increasingfertility through incorporation of nutrients and organic matterinto the soil Leguminous plant such as clover is often used for this,as they fix nitrogen using rhizobia bacteria in specialized nodes inthe root structure. Green manure, wherever feasible, is the principalsupplementary meals of adding organic matter to the soil. Itconsists in the growing of quick growing crop and ploughing it inorder to incorporate it into the soil [6]. Decomposing crop residue(green manure) from prior years is another source of fertility. Nitrogenis required for the growth of vegetative parts such as thestems and the leaves, while your plants will have healthy roots ifthey get a sufficient amount of phosphorus. Phosphorus was alsorequired for good flowers and fruits. Potassium makes the planthealthy by facilitating the circulation of nutrients within the plant.Moreover, plants also require other nutrients, such as calcium andmagnesium. Since these were required, you need not add themseparately unless in exceptional cases, if the soil was totally devoidof these minerals or the crop you wish to grow transforms organicsubstrates into a stable, humus-like material [8]. In addition to thecarbon storage benefits of adding compost to agricultural soils,composting can lead to improved soil quality, improved productivity,and cost savings. For example, nutrients in compost tend tofoster soil fertility [9].

Importance of Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizers were different from chemical fertilizersin that the materials were a by- product of vegetables, animalsor minerals. The decomposing matter from these sources, breakdown naturally and would provide nutrient and minerals to thesoil. When considering lawn maintenance, it was necessary tomake sure that the lawn or garden gets the all of nutrients thatit needed for health growth. Although nutrients were available inregular soil, fertilizers can provide and ensure that the plant had abalance and suitable access of nutrients, proper lawn care includeproviding for the health of the lawn and garden. One of the benefitsof organic fertilizer was that the nutrients were related moreslowly than chemical fertilizers. This slower process allows theplant to process the fertilizer in a more natural way and will notresult in over fertilizing which could damage the plant [10]. Thesoil drainage and air circulation of the soil can also be improved.Having a compost pile was also a great way to get rid of food wasteand still contribute to your lawn care and environment. It was animportant valuable option that would help the soil and environmentalbe health and produce the best plants. Synthetic fertilizers usually contain chemicals which were not easily biodegradable.These chemicals leach into the soil and eventually find their wayinto the water system where they were consumed by birds andother wildlife. In contrast, organic fertilizer had no such harmfulcompounds and therefore didn’t pose this danger, even with increaseduse. In addition, when synthetic fertilizers were sprayedon plants and lawns, they pose an immediate danger to kids andpets that play in the garden and on the grass. Caution must be exercisedwhen using these toxins, and exposure must be limited.Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers reduce acidity inthe soil and do not cause leaching. They do not kill beneficial microorganismsin the soil. Organic fertilizers also help improve thestructure of the soil including the circulation of air, which sustainsbeneficial microorganisms that help release nutrients to the soil.

In many agriculture areas, pollution of groundwater causeswith synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic fertilizersthrough the use of greater biodiversity, enhancing soil structureand water infiltration. Well managed organic systems with betternutrient retentive abilities, greatly reduce the risk of groundwaterpollution. Organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouseeffect and global warming through its ability to sequestercarbon in the soil. Many management practices used by organicagriculture increase the return of carbon to the soil, raising productivityand favouring carbon storage. Combinations of plantsand animals optimize nutrient and energy cycling for agriculturalproduction. The provision of structures providing food and shelter,and the lack of pesticide use, attract new or re-colonizing speciesto the organic area, including wild flora and fauna (e.g. birds) andorganisms beneficial to the organic system such as pollinators andpest predators [11]. If households are endowed with sufficient labourto apply manure, then the probability to opt for expensivefertilizers decreases. Other than reciprocally affecting one another,manure and fertilizer uses are also affected by other factors insimilar or in different directions. It reveals that the likelihood ofapplying both fertilizer and manure increases within increase inparcel size [12].

Impacts of Organic Fertilizer Application on SoilProperties

Declines in organic matter content of soils due to cultivationand erosion have been a major concern related to sustainabilityof agriculture. Therefore, management practices that increase theorganic matter content were deemed desirable to soil quality andproductivity. Moreover, soil organic matter increases following repeatedapplications of solid cattle manure. The effect of manureon soil pH is variable. Repeated applications of N fertilizer maylead to soil acidification due to acidity produced in the nitrificationprocess, while organic matter added as manure can act tohelp buffer the soil against a decrease in pH, manure that is lowin organic matter and high in ammonium nitrogen may result ina decrease in pH due to acidity produced when the ammoniumis oxidized to nitrate in the soil [13]. Moreover, Whalen et al. [14]stated that an immediate increase in the pH of two acid soils followingfresh cattle manure application and concluded that the effectsof manure on soil pH would depend on the manure sourceand soil characteristics. Manures of high organic matter and carbonatecontent would be most effective in raising the pH of an acidsoil and also buffering against changes in pH once in the soil. Thecontent of organic matter was an essential indicator of soil qualityand fertility [15]. Organic matter was one of the three soil componentsthat are crucial for its physicochemical properties, suchas its sportive and buffer abilities as well as its biodiversity andbiological activity. Because of the positive influence of organicmatter on soil functionality, it was imperative that its resourcesbe maintained or improved [16]. Soils that received repeated applicationsof cattle manure were more friable to the feel and lesscompacted under foot than those of the unmannered plots Campbellet al. [17]. Farmyard manure has long been known to improvesoil structure, increase porosity and water holding capacity anddecrease evaporation rates, that cattle feed manure applicationsto soils increased water infiltration into the soil while reportedthat additions of manure decreased crust strength. Improvementsin physical soil quality characteristics were generally indicated byincreases in water infiltration, macro porosity, aggregate size andstability, and soil OM.

Role of Organic Fertilizer for Agriculture

The increased consumer demand appears to be driven primarilyby the perception that organically grown produce was saferand more nutrients to eat than produce grown conventionally[18]. Similarly, the use of inorganic fertilizer has been observedto cause the destruction of soil texture and structure, which oftenleads to soil erosion and acidity as a result of the leaching effectof nutrients. All these give rise to reduced crop yields as a resultof soil degradation and nutrients imbalance [19]. Edmeades [20]concluded that manured soil had higher organic matter levels,lower bulk density, higher porosity and hydraulic conductivity,and greater aggregate stability than soils fertilized conventionallyKarlen and Stott, [21]. Improvements in all of these soil qualityindicators would optimize crop growth. Thus, one of the most significantbenefits of manure as an organic nutrient source was thepotential to maintain or increase soil organic matter levels

Power and Doran, [22] Microbial biomass and labile organicmatter pools were often greater in organic than conventionallymanaged soils. Higher organic matter content, N mineralizationpotential, and microbial biomass were observed in organicallyfarmed plots than in those receiving commercial fertilizers. Liebigand Doran [23], found greater total C and N, microbial biomass,soil respiration, and mineralizable N in organically managed farmsthan in conventional farms. In general, tissue dry matter contentwas reported to be higher in organically grown leafy vegetables,but not in fruit [24]. Similarly, Heaton [25] stated that dry matterproduce from organic systems was higher than in conventionallygrown produce. High rates of K fertilization have been reported toreduce dry matter content in some crops [26-41].

Summary and Conclusion

Organic and synthetic fertilizers had a role in on soil propertiesand agriculture and the good points of each should be acknowledged.But inorganic fertilizer had more demerit than organicfertilizer. Organic fertilizers are fertilizers derived fromanimal matter, human excreta or vegetable matter (compost,manure). Organic farming is a production system that avoids orlargely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growthregulators and livestock feed additives and rely on crop rotation,crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farmorganic wastes and mineral bearing rocks. Organic farming aspiresto a combine mixture of organic, environmental, social andethic objectives. For instance, compost provides air, water, organicmatter, and microorganisms to your plants, thus enhancing theirgrowth. It also maintains a healthy atmosphere for the soil andhence keeps insects, plant diseases, and weeds away. Many organicmaterials serve as both fertilizers and soil conditioners; theyfeed both soils and plants. Microbial biomass was often greaterin organic than conventionally managed soils. Organic fertilizersare carbon-based compounds that increase the productivity andgrowth quality of plants. The majority of organic fertilizers canbe prepared locally or on the farm itself. Use of these organic fertilizersensures that the food items produced are free of harmfulchemicals. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of organicfertilizer or combined application is more beneficial than artificialfertilizers in order to preserve soil properties and increase the soilproductivity.

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