What is a soil amendment? Southland Organics’ Evan Gill explains the difference between fertilizers and soil amendments.
Soil Amendments
- Don’t add concentrated nutrients to the soil but actually improve the texture
- Can be both organic or inorganic
- Modify the soil structure
- Rebuild soils which have been damaged by improper management
- Mixed into topsoil to promote healthy plant growth
Fertilizers
- Concentrated nutrient amounts added to the soil for a direct plant growth influence
- Do not help soil’s texture
- Have a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available to plants after application
- Supply nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates
- May be chemically manufactured (synthetic fertilizer) or created from plant and animal products (natural fertilizer)
Products such as Jump Start Soil Conditioner and Genesis Lawn Soil Conditioner rebuild soils rapidly and are not considered fertilizers.
Written by
Mike Usry
Founder & CEO
20+ years in organic agriculture • Humate & soil biology specialist
Mike founded Southland Organics in 2009, the year before his daughter was born, after The Omnivore's Dilemma sent him into soil science. He will tell you he is not a microbiologist.
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