Organic and Sustainable The Way of the Future

Salinas PAPA Seminar – October 1, 2014

Jim Verner California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. www.organicag.com [email protected] - 559-286-5646

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 1 The Way of the Future….. Landscapers, like farmers, will find their work will be increasing influenced by pressures from both sides: 1) The government, both federal and state, will be legislating more and more laws and regulations that seek to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. 2) The public – consumers, schools, cities, home owners – will be concerned for themselves and the environment and they will seek products and services that are safer and have less environmental impact.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 2 So landscapers need to learn how to work within these restrictions and demands: • • NITRATE LEACHING INTO GROUNDWATER • PHOSPHATE INTO SURFACE WATER • CARBON SEQUESTRATION PRACTICAL ISSUES • AGRONOMIC RESPONSES • ECONOMIC REALITY

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 3 Organics will become an increasingly significant part of Landscaping, so my objectives are to review how organic fertilizers differ from synthetics so that you can use organics effectively and efficiently: 1. What are organic fertilizers? 2. How do they work? 3. How should they be used? 10 Tips on how to use organics. 4. What are the results? 5. What are the benefits?

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 4 1. What are organic fertilizers? or·gan·ic 1. pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals, but that now includes all other compounds of carbon.

The basis of living things: Carbon and Nitrogen.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 5 Confusion about Organic Fertilizes

• Some landscape fertilizers say “Organic” or “Natural” on the bag, but when you read the label you see synthetic fertilizers are added humic material or manure. These do NOT qualify as Organic Fertilizers. • The USDA has very strict rules about what can be called an Organic Fertilizer and companies like OMRI, WSDA, and CDFA are authorized to confirm fertilizer manufactures comply with the USDA regulations on organics. Look for these seals of approval on your fertilizers.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 6 California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. has been manufacturing organic fertilizers in California since 1990 for USDA Certified Organic Farmers. • We only produce certified organic fertilizers • All our products are certified organic made from USDA NOP approved raw materials • A complete line of  dry and liquid NPKs  humic acid  specialty products

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 7 2. Organic Fertilizers – how do they work? To answer this, we need to understand: the differences between synthetic and organic fertilizers… and  the differences between different organic fertilizers (manures, compost, proteins) how plants use fertilizers how organics improve soil structure and contain a complete range of all essential nutrients.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 8 The Soil – all living things require carbon and nitrogen

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 9 Organic Chemical Contains carbon (C) that feeds the soil Does not contain carbon, so soil microbe microbes that make a healthy and fertile growth is limited and the soil becomes soil sterile Organic matter increases Organic matter decreases Improves soil structure and water Does not improve soil structure and retention builds up salts Nutrient Release of organic N is fast, Nutrient release is of ammonium and while conversion to ammonium and nitrate nitrate N is immediate and can be lost to is slower and longer lasting volatilization and leaching Nitrogen is available to the plant in Amine Nitrogen is available to the plant in as well as in the Ammonium, and Nitrate Ammonium and Nitrate forms only – the forms. plant must make its own Amine. Fewer applications save cost and labor Frequent applications add cost and labor Contains trace elements Trace elements must be added Plant growth is more balanced, stronger, Plant growth can be excessive, weak and and more resistant to diseases and stress. lack stress resistance Healthier growth means less need for Excessive growth means greater need for pesticides.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 10 Carbon - Essential for all living things The Carbon Cycle

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 11 Carbon in Soil and in Plants

Question: Since plants get their carbon from the atmosphere, why is needed in the soil? Answer: Carbon in the soil feeds the microbes that are the foundation of the . These microbes make nutrients available for plants and improve soil structure

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 12 Nitrogen – Essential in all living things The Traditional Nitrogen Cycle thought plants could use only INORGANIC forms of Nitrogen)

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 13 The New Nitrogen Cycle Understands plants can also assimilate and utilize the organic forms of nitrogen and that organic nitrogen affects plant growth and health in ways that are different from synthetic nitrogen

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 14 While soil scientists taught us that plants can only utilize mineralized nitrogen, they were wrong. The evidence that plants can use organic nitrogen from protein was always there – in the seed! Protein Content of Seed: Increase Improves Growth and Yield C. J. Schweizer 1 and S. K. Ries 1 1 Department of , Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823

Oat seeds with a higher protein content as a result of chemical applications in 1967 yielded 21 to 42 percent more grain in 1968. Wheat seed, whether from Michigan, Illinois, or Mexico, that contained more protein as a result of field applications of chemicals or nitrogen developed into larger seedlings. The content of protein in the seed correlated with subsequent growth and yield, indicating that the amount of endogenous protein or of a proteinaceous moiety, which can be controlled, may be an important factor in subsequent yield of major agronomic crops.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 15 Now we need to understand more about Nitrogen and this is the key to understanding organics

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 16 How Plants Use Fertilizers to Make Food

 Water and nutrients are taken up by the tips of roots: therefore abundant root branches and root hairs are more important than long roots.  Synthetic fertilizers contain only inorganic forms of nitrogen that must be transported to the leaves where they are reduced to amines, proteins, and carbohydrates that are the plant’s food for growth.  Organic forms of nitrogen, proteins and amines, can be used immediately by the plant without the need to be metabolized like the inorganic forms of nitrogen.  Different formsHormones tell the plant how to distribute this energy: new roots, new shoots, reproductive growth. California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 17 Plants need all three forms of nitrogen:  Nitrate – NO3-  Ammonium – NH4+  Organic – NH2 (amine) and protein but… Synthetic fertilizers supply only ammonium and nitrate, so plants must produce all their amine and proteins for growth. Organic fertilizers supply all three forms of nitrogen. Plants assimilate amine and protein to maintain healthier growth in roots and shoots, while the organic proteins are also converted by microbes to the inorganic forms of ammonium and nitrate for balanced nitrogen uptake. This produces stronger, healthier growth. California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 18 Most Nitrogen Research for Organic Production Focuses on the Nitrate (NO3-) Availability of Different Organic Fertilizers What this research misses is how different proteins supply the organic forms of nitrogen that plants can use!

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 19 Two Organic Proteins – feather meal and plant protein – were top-dressed to alfalfa that had been fertilized with compost. Look at the abundant root hairs from the organic proteins only two weeks after application. Super “N”12-0-0 Compost Phyta-Boost 7-1-2

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 20 Myth: Synthetics Green-up Faster ‘Bridge’ Product - Phyta-Boost More Senescence, Thinner Leaves – Less Senescence, Thicker Leaves

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 21 10 Tips on how should Organic Fertilizers should be used. 1. Because organics feed the soil in addition to feeding the plant, the timing of application is much less critical than it is with synthetics. 2. If soil organic matter is low, apply with a good quality compost. ( C:N Ratio of about 12:1 – higher ratios mean the microbes will take the nitrogen that you want to go to the plant.) 3. Organic fertilizers can be applied with the seed. Organics don’t burn like synthetics. In fact, the organic protein supplements the protein in the seed so germination and establishment is better. continued

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 22 10 Tips on how Organic Fertilizers should be used

4. Use -mowers to maximize nutrient recycling. 5. If sodium (Na) is a problem, apply a fine ground gypsum (calcium sulfate). 6. If the pH is low, apply limestone. This does not do much for calcium availability, but it will help increase the pH. 7. If the pH is too high, increased organic matter will lower the pH over time. You can also add elemental sulfur. continued

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 23 10 Tips on how Organic Fertilizers should they be used.

8. Don’t confuse compost with mulch. Woody particles in the compost will cause the soil microbes to hi-jack the nitrogen than is needed by the plants. (A C:N ratio of 12:1or less is . ideal) For example straw has a ratio of 80:1, sawdust can be 400:1. 9. CAUTION: high levels of P and K in the soil are detrimental since they reduce calcium availability and weaken roots. Avoid adding more P and K when levels are high. 10. For compacted soils, standard aeration techniques may not be enough.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 24 Organic Fertilizers – what are the results? Stronger root system that controls the plant’s exudates.  This encourages beneficial soil microbes rather than harmful ones. Vegetative growth is stronger.  More resistant to disease and stress.  Controls transpiration for greater . Vegetative growth is not overly vigorous like that from high synthetic nitrogen.  Mowing frequency may be reduced.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 25 Organic Fertilizers – what are the results? Organic Fertilizers improve soil structure  Allows better root development  Greater water holding capacity

Organics Fertilizers contain all the essential nutrients.  Organic amino acids are effective chelates that improve plant uptake of cations (especially micronutrients).  Trace element deficiencies are much less common when there is a good organic program.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 26 Typical root and vegetative growth from synthetic and organic fertilizers

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 27 Hydro-Seeding Organic Options Application Oct 4 / Establishment Oct 24

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 28 Organic Fertilizers – what are the benefits? Environmental & Health  Reduced nitrate leaching into streams, oceans and ground water.  Reduced phosphate run-off into surface water.  Fewer synthetic chemicals on playgrounds and sports fields that can be absorbed thru the skin.  Improved water efficiency Agronomic  Stronger, more stress resistant turf and plants.  Reduced need for fungicides – in the soil and in the plant.  Reduced need for herbicides – strong stand of turf is best weed control. Economic  Labor savings from fewer applications and reduced frequency of mowing mean that organic programs save money.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 29 With a good organic program, less units of nitrogen are needed. And, because it is both quick acting and long lasting, fewer applications are needed. Fill in this chart with your own costs of fertilizers and applications. You will find organics can save you money.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 30 Long lasting this was five months after application. With synthetics they never went more than three or four months before turf looked like it needed more fertilizers.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 31 ORGANICS IMPROVE DROUGHT RESISTANCE AND SAVE WATER This trial compared a synthetic landscape fertilizer (BOTTOM of photo) to an organic (TOP of photo) in Southern CA in the summer. Three weeks after application, the system broke down and water was off for two week. The photo was taken two weeks after watering was resumed. The plugs in the following slide show why.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 32 Left – Synthetic Right – Organic The quick response to the organic produced a stronger root system that had increased drought resistance. So the turf suffered less senescence, and watering was resumed the stronger roots made a dramatic difference in top-growth.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 33 Plugs left in the air six days. Stronger roots did not wither and senesce so quickly. Left – Synthetic N Right – Organic N

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 34 Photo taken before mowing on April 13. Left – received a 2nd application 46-0-0 Right only one application of 7-1-2 in January.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 35 Thank You Any More Questions? Catalog and Information Available. Samples: Phyta-Grow Plant Food 7-1-2 (made from plant protein for quick root response and long lasting effect… and NO MANURE OR ANIMAL PROTEIN SMELL) If you have any questions, contact us. We are always glad to visit your site, review your conditions, and give you our thoughts and recommendations, even when we don’t supple the products you may need.

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. 36