The Mineral Route: Understanding Mineral Fertilizers
Introduction: Mineral fertilizers, though derived from natural mineral deposits, require an industrial process facilitated by the petrochemical industry to become available for plant uptake.
Drawbacks:
- Not Fully Organic: Unlike organic fertilizers, mineral fertilizers don’t contribute to soil organic matter.
- Dependency on Petrochemicals: The need for industrial processing using petrochemicals deviates from the natural, organic approach.
- Lesser Microbial Activity: They don't foster microbial life, which is essential for a healthy soil ecosystem.
