Soft Rock Fertilizer for Soil Improvement

by Kevin Smith Author

Improving the quality of land for growing plants and crops happens in a number of ways, both naturally and with the addition of chemical fertilizers. Soft rock fertilizer represents one of the options in this process, and is a source worth considering. Read this blog to begin to understand why.

Important Characteristics

The source of a fertilizer is important for a number of reasons, and the closer it is to a natural source, in general, the better. This soft rock fertilizer is a naturally occurring colloidal phosphate found in central Florida. A quick update from high school chemistry - a colloidal solution is one where a microscopic substance is dispersed within another substance. The colloid maintains its integrity within the suspension. In this case, the soft rock - clay - carries the phosphate fertilizer in suspension until released within the soil.

Rock phosphate will not leach from the soil, an important environmental consideration, and in addition within the rock are additional minerals. The phosphate is released slowly, so it encourages growth for a longer period of time. Because it is naturally occurring, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) has listed the product and designated it as certified organic.

The soft rock fertilizer's organic qualities will help build up the composition of the soil, increasing the presence of helpful microbes, for example. Because it is a slow release product, if there is a need for a quicker acting result, it can be blended with dry mineral products for these requirements.

Why Organic?

There is no denying the impact technology has had on agriculture and the ability to increase the yield of the land to feed the world. But as we assessed the impact of chemical fertilizers and insecticides, sometimes coming with deadly consequences, the benefits didn't always outweigh the drawbacks. This is no startling revelation, but the strength and permanence of organic farming, from backyard vegetable garden to 10,000 acre farm, is now a fixture in agribusiness.

Natural techniques of farming have been used for thousands of years, such as crop rotation, so it isn't an "all or nothing at all" proposition to move towards employing organic tools and techniques. What is different is the degree to which the consumer has bought into the whole idea of organic farming, farm-to-table, free range, cage free, etc. Adding something new or augmenting what you have, like using soft rock fertilizer, may be a wise choice.