What is the Difference Between Compost and Fertilizer?

Fertilizers feed plants.
Compost feeds the soil.

Fertilizers do add nutrients to the soil.
However, the ingredients are focused on meeting the needs of the plants.

Fertilizers have been shown to actually prevent the growth of microbes needed to keep the soil healthy.

This throws the soil’s chemistry out of balance and can actually lead to breakdown of the soil food web, especially if used year after year.

The impact can be even worse if chemical fertilizers are used instead of organic fertilizers.

Compost, unlike fertilizers, actually promotes healthy microbe growth within the soil.
It feeds the soil food web and increases the health of the natural soil.

Over time, this creates a more nutrient rich soil that is beneficial for the plants and vegetables that you place in it.

This is because compost is actually made up of microscopic fungi and bacteria.

Other organisms like crickets and earthworms are also present in compost, which further benefits the soil.

The end result is soil that allows the plants and vegetables to feed themselves.

Composting also helps the soil retain much needed moisture, and research has also shown that composting can also assist in enhancing the disease resistance of some plants, like tomatoes and vegetables.

This can reduce the amount of crops you lose to disease, which often leads to wasted expenses.

Fertilizer and compost can be used together.

However, it is important that you remember how fertilizer can affect the future composition of your soil.

If you do choose to use fertilizer, it is recommended that you stick to organic fertilizer or only use it for the short term.

However, it is important that you remember how fertilizer can affect the future composition of your soil.
The key to success in organic farm depends how much you balance the trading of nutrients during harvest and new cultivation. Nutrients budgeting is very important. Introducing nutrients into the soil is a way of life fused into the agricultural practices of the farmer. So when you are doing soil amendment by adding manure, you shouldn't think of the immediate plant... Think of feeding the soil and nourishing it.
If you do choose to use fertilizer, it is recommended that you stick to organic fertilizer or only use it for the short term.When you feed the soil... Your plants becomes king on your farm. They perform well and resist diseases and withstand pests. One simple method to know the nutrients budgeting calculation for your farm is keeping records of harvest. Know in Kg, every harvest from your farm. A proper farm records is very important.
If you harvested 500kg worth of produce, be sure to add at least 200 kg farm yard manure, and adopt green manuring and other organic practices to nourish the soil for another planting circle