Let’s See the Difference Between Fertilisers and Soil Conditioners
What is the Difference Between a Fertiliser and a Soil Conditioner?
Taking good care of the soil in our gardens is the key to enjoying healthy plants and sufficient production of fruits and vegetables. Plants will develop and produce poorly if the soil is deficient in nutrients, regardless of how much water or sunlight they receive. Fertilisers, as most gardeners are aware of are needed to improve the soil’s condition. Soil conditioners, on the other hand, have a different story. Do you know how to distinguish between the two? When is it appropriate to use a fertiliser and when to apply a soil conditioner? How will each benefit the plant’s growth? All of these questions, as well as additional information, are addressed in the following lines.
The difference between fertilisers and soil conditioner is that fertilisers provide nutrients to the soil while soil conditioners improve the soil’s texture.
More about fertilisers and soil conditioners
The Importance of Using Fertilisers
Fertilisers add nutrients to the soil, allowing plants to feed and grow healthy. Fertilisers, in most cases, contain three essential nutrients that all plants require: potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, or NPK. Plants, in addition to these nutrients, require micro nutrients, which are typically available in smaller quantities. The amount of these micro nutrients varies depending on the type of fertiliser used and the plants it was designed to serve.
Because plants will extract all of the nutrients they can find when growing in a specific patch of soil, the soil will soon become depleted of nutrients. This is why fertilisers must be applied on a regular basis to ensure that the soil can supply all of the nutrients that plants require when they need them. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a specific fertiliser if you want your plants to get the most out of the nutrients you provide.
What is a Soil Conditioner and Why it is Recommended to Use One?
On occasion, no matter how good the fertilisers are we use, our garden plants may appear to have developing problems. You should be aware that the issue is not with the fertiliser, but with the soil’s condition or texture. Your plants will not be able to feed properly if the soil is too dense and does not allow water to evenly distribute and reach the roots of the plants. This is when a soil conditioner will come in handy. While it will not contribute nutrients to the soil’s quality, it will definitely improve its texture, making it fluffier and allowing for a slower release of nutrients in the soil.
A soil conditioner will improve the soil’s characteristics, allowing it to hold more water and air, allowing the roots to grow undisturbed, evenly distributing nutrients, and allowing for a slow release of nutrients, allowing the plants to enjoy a sufficient amount at all times. Organic soil conditioners can bring some nutrients into the soil in smaller amounts than inorganic soil conditioners. However, the role of the soil conditioner, once again, is to provide a better texture for the plants rather than to increase the nutrients in the soil.
This is why a soil conditioner should be used before planting any plants in the soil. Use a soil conditioner that is appropriate for the type of plants you grow.
Fertilisers and Soil Conditioners that Work at the Same Time
Natural manure and compost can be used as fertilisers and soil conditioners because they provide a variety of nutrients while also improving soil texture. Both should be used as soon as possible, long before you begin planting seedlings in the garden. Before adding plants, manure, in particular, should be allowed to decompose in the soil. Furthermore, the soil should be thoroughly mixed to ensure that the manure or compost is evenly distributed. However, manure and compost, like other types of fertilisers, should be added to the soil on a regular basis, albeit not as frequently as store-bought fertilisers.
