Organic fertilizers offer growers another tool for
producing their crops with more sustainable inputs.
increased scrutiny regarding their production practices from the pesticides
they apply to the amount of water and energy they use. In October, Whole Foods
Market launched its Responsibly Grown
program. The company
said the purpose of this new rating system is to assess production practices
that impact human health and the environment. The system labels fresh fruits,
vegetables and flowers as “good,” “better” or “best.” The program also prohibits
the use of some of the hazardous neurotoxins still permitted in agriculture.
produce their crops, are consumers willing to pay more for them? A recent University of Florida study
focused on consumers’ willingness to spend more on ornamental plants based on
plant attributes related to sustainable production methods, container types and
origin of production. Consumers were willing to pay up to 16 cents more for
plants grown using energy-saving and sustainable production methods, plants
grown in non-conventional containers and plants grown locally.
show potential
Claudio Pasian, horticulture associate professor at Ohio
State University in Columbus, said an increasing amount of pressure is being
put on growers related to the environment by both retailers and consumers.
“Growers may be forced by their clients to produce more
sustainable products, including more organic products,” Pasian said. “Here in
Ohio, like in other parts of the country, there are concerns with fertilizers
running off into waterways and leaching into ground water. In the future
“fertilizer” may become a taboo word for some people. For some people, perception is
reality. Using an organic fertilizer may help growers achieve a more
sustainable image with retailers and consumers.”
plants and herbs, he said organic fertilizers look like a promising alternative
to traditional water soluble fertilizers. Like any new product or technology,
he said there are differences between traditional water soluble fertilizers and
organic fertilizers and growers will have to learn how to use them.
result of a substrate manufacturer seeking to conduct trials incorporating
organic fertilizer into some of its consumer growing mixes.
number of fertilizers,” he said. “There were no liquid organic fertilizers
tested because the purpose of the study was to incorporate the fertilizers into
growing mixes. All of the organic fertilizers tested were in a solid form,
either a powder or small granules. Most of the organic fertilizers were
animal-based. The control plants were treated with a 20-10-20 water soluble
fertilizer at 100 parts per million nitrogen.”
and petunia) grown with the organic fertilizers did very well. Although the
organically fertilized plants were smaller in size, he said they were
commercially salable.
 |
| Petunias grown with Miracle Gro Organic Choice All Purpose 7-1-2 at a rate of 5.9 grams per pot (left), Sustane 8-4-4 at a rate of 5.1 grams per pot (center) and Osmocote 15-9-12 at a rate of 2.7 grams per pot (right). Top = side view; Bottom = top view. Photos courtesy of Claudio Pasian, Ohio State University |
Pasian found the only plants that occasionally did not do
well with organic fertilizers were pansies. He has not conducted any further experiments
to determine why there were issues with pansies grown with organic fertilizers.
other species,” he said. “There were some phytotoxicity issues. The quality of
the plants was not as good and there was high rate of mortality.”
fertilizer trials
After the initial trials with organic fertilizers showed
positive results, Pasian expanded his research with additional ornamental
plants. He compared incorporating Scotts Miracle Gro Organic Choice and Sustane
organic fertilizers to a controlled-release and water-soluble fertilizers. All
of the plants in the study were grown in 4½-inch pots containing Fafard 3B
bark-based growing mix without a fertilizer charge.
geranium, hypoestes, impatiens, pansy and petunia) with the different
fertilizers,” he said. “The plant growth for plants fertilized with the
controlled-release fertilizer and water soluble fertilizer were very similar.
In most cases the water-soluble fertilized plants were the largest, followed by
the controlled-release fertilizer and then the organically fertilized plants.
 |
| Seed geraniums grown with Peters 20-10-20 water soluble fertilizer at a rate of 100 ppm nitrogen applied with irrigation as needed (left) or with a single application of Sustane 8-4-4 at a rate of 2.6 grams per 4.5-inch container (right). |
“The plants grown with the organic fertilizers were
slightly smaller. But overall the organically fertilized plants did well. In
some cases, the plants being smaller could be a positive effect because that
means growers may not have to apply growth regulators.”
perennials
Pasian has received a grant from the Horticultural
Research Institute to expand his organic fertilizer study to include herbs and
perennials. He worked with a local grower on the plant selection and chose
three herbs (basil, parsley and thyme) and three perennials (Nepeta cataria, rudbeckia and salvia). Like
the annuals study, the herbs and perennials were grown in 4½-inch pots
containing Fafard 3B bark-based growing mix without a fertilizer charge.
fertilizer was enough to finish the crop,” Pasian said. “One single application
incorporated into the growing mix before planting the plugs would be sufficient
for the production cycle. For thyme it would be very close to finish with one
application, almost the same as basil.”
because he encountered some issues with heat stress and disease problems.
problems,” he said. “The plants were grown during the summer so the warm
temperatures in the greenhouse may have contributed to the problems. I expect
when the parsley study is repeated during the winter and the temperatures have
cooled down the results will be different.”
 |
| Basil plants grown with Peters 20-10-20 water soluble fertilizer at a rate of 100 ppm nitrogen applied with irrigation as needed (left) and three rates of Miracle Gro Organic Choice (from left to right): 5.9, 4.5, or 3 grams per 4.5-inch container. |
Pasian said since many perennials are long-term crops,
they will need additional applications of organic fertilizers.
the organic fertilizers was good,” he said. “But then the fertilizers ran out.
Applying a powder or a small granular organic fertilizer to each pot is not
realistic for growers. These organic fertilizers can be incorporated into the
growing mix prior to planting. Once these fertilizers are used by the plants, which
takes about five to six weeks, a grower can start applying a liquid organic
fertilizer. This could be a fish emulsion or similar type fertilizer.
into the growing mix is not enough. Additional fertilizer will need to be
applied probably more than once. The plants grew decently with one application,
but if larger plants are the goal then more fertilizer is going to be needed.”
(catnip) grew very fast initially and was the first perennial to show
deficiency symptoms. Pasian said nepeta would require additional fertilizer
applications sooner.
Pasian said since rudbeckia is a very slow crop with a longer production time,
it will need supplemental fertilizer applications.
of growth that was as good as plants fed with water soluble and controlled-release
fertilizers,” he said. “But as time went on during production, the organically fertilized
plants needed another shot of fertilizer.
catnip and rudbeckia. I expect that salvia will require additional fertilizer
applications.”
perennials this winter and coming spring. The plants will be grown in 1-gallon
containers to match commercial production practices.
changing how fertilization is done by most growers,” Pasian said. “Water soluble
fertilizers are excellent products that growers use successfully. This research
will provide growers with information on how to produce a crop that has been
fertilized in a more sustainable way to satisfy a small percent of their clients.
grow plants with both organic and water soluble fertilizers, those grown with
the organic fertilizer are going to have to be marketed differently so the
consumers know the difference and can make their choice about which plants to
purchase.”
For more:
Claudio Pasian, Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture and Crop
Science, (614) 292-9941; pasian.1@osu.edu.
Worth, Texas; dkuack@gmail.com.
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