1. Pros & Cons of Organic Fertilizers and Inorganic Fertilizers Lauryn Cantrell, Grace Sterling, and Andrea Econa

2. Vocabulary Fertilizer - any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues (usually leaves) to supply one or more nutrients essential to plant growth Organic fertilizer - fertilizers derived from animal matter, human excreta or vegetable matter (compost and manure) The words "organic" or "natural" in this case mean that the product is only minimally processed. Organic does not refer to the standards of processing associated with the food Inorganic fertilizer - consists of synthetic, artificial ingredients manufactured and ready to use on plants; contains mineral-based nutrients manufactured for immediate application on crops Unlike the organic variety, inorganic fertilizer does not need to decompose over time to supply nutrients to plants Contains balanced amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous

3. Techniques & Advantages Organic Fertilizer: minimally processed; the nutrients remain bound up in their natural forms, rather than being extracted and refined Techniques of Inorganic fertilizer: nutrients in chemical fertilizers are refined to their pure state and stripped of substances that control their availability and breakdown, which rarely occurs in nature Organic Fertilizer Pros:  Improve the structure of soil as they break down  Difficult to over fertilize  No risk of toxic build up of chemicals because it's all natural Inorganic Fertilizer Pros:  Improvement occurs within days  Highly analyzed to produce exact ratio of nutrients desired  Inexpensive

4. Areas Affected Countries: USA, China, India, parts of Africa, Brazil – countries with higher populations rely on increased amounts of farming to feed their inhabitants, and turn to fertilizers to help their agricultural economy Crops most affected by fertilizers: corn, wheat, and soybeans ourworldindata.org

5. Ecological Impact Groundwater contamination: Nitrogen fertilizers break down into nitrates and travel easily through soil to the groundwater. They are water soluble. Nitrogen groundwater contamination contributes to marine “dead zones.” These dead zones occur due to an increase of nitrates in the water which leads to an influx of plant life. The increase in plant life eats up the oxygen in the water and starves the marine life. Soil: Fertilizers can cause soil acidification which can lead to a decrease in nutrient availability. This results in a decrease in the growth of plants because the soil does not contain the right nutrients needed for them to grow. earthgauge.net

6. Risks/Drawbacks Organic Fertilizer Cons:  Difficult to apply - must be applied by hand; time consuming  Have to apply in larger quantities  Slow-acting - you have to apply them early and often in the growing season  Risk of contamination by pathogens Inorganic Fertilizer Cons:  Danger of over-fertilization  Tends to leach or filter away from the plants, requiring additional applications  Long-term use can change soil pH  Repeated use can result in toxic build- up of chemicals such as arsenic, cadmium, and uranium in soil

7. Works Cited Charles, Dan. “Fertilized World.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society. May. 2013. Web. 8 April. 2015. Day, Julie. “The Debate over Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers.” Today’s Homeowner. Danny Lipford Media. 2014. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. http://www.todayshomeowner.com/debate-over-organic-chemical-fertilizers/. Stack, Lois Berg. “Soil and Plant Nutrition: A Gardener’s Perspective.” University of Maine. University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Web. 8 April. 2015.