On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are plenty of
synthetic fertilizers available that are safe and sustain-
ably driven. When choosing one, avoid fertilizers that
include any non-essential plant ingredients such as dyes
and perfumes. Plants can’t take up unnecessary ingredi-
ents, which tend to end up as waste that is diffused back
into the environment as potential contaminants.
Synthetic nutrients can be compared to many dietary
supplements that people use in addition to the meals they
eat throughout the day to achieve proper nutrition. When
you use both organic and synthetic fertilizers in garden-
ing, this is referred to as integrated nutrient manage-
ment. This method, which can take some knowledge and
practice to dial in, has the goal of optimizing the plants’
feeding schedule to a level that is most sustainable.
Another buying-point to look for in a sustainable
fertilizer is the concentration levels and nutrient ratios
of the formula. Blends that are highly concentrated are
typically considered more sustainable as they require less
water to manufacture. This point only holds true, however,
if the nutrient ratios have been methodically calculated
by the manufacturer. These formulas should be
100 per cent water-soluble so plants are able to uptake
them without any additional products or potentially
locking out selective ions due to inadequate mineral
ratios. Multiple-part, crop-specific, and stage-specific
formulas have the most potential for higher levels of
sustainability due to the points mentioned above.
Use and Disposal
No matter if you grow in soil or hydro with organ-
ics or synthetics, there is a shared goal of reducing
waste and potential environmental contamination.
For those growing in a sterile, hydroponics setting,
sustainable nutrient management is rather simple.
Assuming you have chosen a nutrient regime per the
standards above, the next step is knowing what to do
with the unused nutrient solution. One relatively easy,
sustainable technique involves running the unused
nutrient solution through a reverse osmosis filter. The
filter catches the leftover minerals, leaving the water
virtually clear of particles. Once the filter becomes
saturated, it can be discarded or taken to a hazardous
waste disposal facility.
For those growing in soil, there are a few extra precau-
tions to consider. As touched on before, nutrients and their
possibly toxic by-products can build up in the soil over
time. For container gardeners, it is wise to leach the soil
during and at the end of each grow cycle to remove the
salt buildup that could cause nutrient imbalances—which
could negatively affect the production level of the crop.
“When measuring the
sustainability of a
product, you also must
consider the potential
toxic trace elements
contained in the
fertilizer’s ingredients.”
To achieve sustainability while using fertilizer, it is
not only important that growers remain conscious
of their products’ ingredients, but they must find
ways to optimize their production with sustainable
techniques that have been tailored to accommodate
all of their inputs and unique practices.
grow cycle
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