Organic and Sustainable Landscaping 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: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES • WATER CONSERVATION • NITRATE LEACHING INTO GROUNDWATER • PHOSPHATE EROSION 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 Food Web – 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 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 Soil Food Web. 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 Horticulture, 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 mulch-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.