Nutrient Value of Organic Matter

Fertilizer selection, whether for organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers, should be done judiciously. You should try to know the nutrient content of the organic fertilizers before purchasing them. Like chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers also have N-P-K (nitrogen potassium and phosphorus) value.

The NPK value for organic fertilizers depends on the organic matter used for preparing them. Organic matter such as dried blood and fish meal are rich in nitrogen. Fish meal is also rich in phosphorus. Kelp, on the other hand is rich in potassium. The ability of the different types of organic matter to release nutrients is also not same. Hence availability of nutrients is also an important criterion in selecting the type of organic fertilizer.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension and The Utah State University Extension have provided the nutrient value of different organic matters, in their guides Fertilizing Garden Soils and Selecting and Using Organic Fertilizers respectively. Some of these values are tabulated below:

Organic Matter

% Nitrogen

% Phosphorus

% Potassium

Availability of Nutrients

Alfa Alfa Hay

2-3

0.5-1

1-2

Medium

Bone Meal

1

11

0

Slow

Cottonseed Meal

6

3

1

Slow

Compost

1.5

0.5

1

Slow

Dried Blood

12

1.5

0.5

Rapid

Feather Meal

12

0

0

Medium

Fish Meal

10

4

0

Slow

Grass Clippings

1-2

0-0.5

1-2

Medium

Horn Meal

12-14

1.5-2

0

Medium

Kelp

1

0.5

9

Rapid

Leaves

1

0-0.5

0-0.5

Slow

Legumes

2-4

0-0.5

2-3

Medium

Cow Manure

0.25

0.15

0.25

Medium

Horse Manure

0.3

0.15

0.5

Medium

Sheep Manure

0.6

0.33

0.75

Medium

Swine Manure

0.3

0.3

0.3

Medium

Pine Needles Manure

0.5

0

1

Slow

Poultry Manure

2

2

1

Rapid

Saw Dust Manure

0-1

0-0.5

0-1

Slow

Sewage Manure

2-6

1-4

0-1

Moderate

Seaweed Manure

1

2

5

Rapid

Straw Manure

0-0.5

0-0.5

1

Slow

Wood Ashes

0

1-2

3-7

Rapid


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