Soil and inorganic fertilizer

It was a matter of moments after posting yesterday's blog that I found out that fertilizer costs are going to be going up this spring. I couldn't help but feel a wee bit smug - I had already purchased the bulk of our fertilizer last month anticipating such a move.
To make a long story short, it is because of fuel prices (we know how volitile they are) and actions of farmers last year in the Midwest (where most of our commercial fertilizer is sold) that prompted the spike in price for this Spring. For those of you who don't know, commercial fertilizer is a combination of natural gas plus elements such as potash, maganese, etc. Natural gas prices have dropped and that has caused a lag in production thereby affecting the price somewhat. But the slowing of production in potash mines has contributed to the cost also.
Anyway, it all factors into the cost of doing business in the long run. Fortunately, my main source of income is not farming, so I can absorb a lot without passing it on to my customers.
Some may be thinking that a move away from commercial fertilizers would be a logical move. Yes and no. We use less commercial fertilizer each year for a few reasons. Cost is one but as I spend more time with the soil and learn and understand more about it, the more I move in the direction of using other builders and amendments and less inorganic methods.
First, you have to know your soil and your crops. Look at commercial fertilizer as medicine people take. If the doctor prescribes a certain dosage to be taken every so often, then you stick to that advice and use it correctly. Of course, like medicine today, we find ourselves at times using commercial fertilizer way too much with some subscribing to the feeling that if a little is good, a lot is better. And, like your body, you can do long term damage to your soil's health with that kind of attitude.
So why use inorganic fertilizer at all? Well, because it has a place in modern agriculture. Organic farming is a wonderful avocation and use of the soil for those of you who believe in it. Just like the person who uses natural herbs for their body, some people believe that that is the only way to go for health. I happen to believe that a holistic approach to the soil is needed. I feel that if commercial fertilizer is used correctly, like any drugs that a doctor prescribes, then it should be used because science can be effective and not a detriment.
I made a comment in yesterday's post about the health of the soil and the health of your body being on the same plane. When planning on what crops to grow, I believe that soil, which is a combination of plant matter and natural elements, has to be used depending on its composition. For example, tomatoes. It has been my belief that New Jersey is famous for our tomatoes because, among other things, it is the sandy, acidic soil that the plants reside in which optimizes the flavor. Therefore, it makes sense to plant varieties that thrive in this kind of environment to maximize the potential of soil and plant genetics.
Culture and market demand do not always make this possible so you have to amend your soils in a combination of strong organic matter and element combination to get optimal growing conditions for a variety of plants.
One big reason why I use inorganic fertilizer is because the plant intake is superior to organic fertilizers. Because of its composition, commercial fertilizer is absorbed faster by the plants and more beneficial in the short term. This result, in my opinion, is one reason that makes the science of commercial fertilizer a benefit. Some may argue this point.
There is always talk of cover crops in farming. They serve many purposes depending on the farmer's plan for his field. Most big commercial farming operations use cover crops only to get by for a few months to keep the soil in place until the spring planting season. Others use cover crops for months and even years to enhance the soil. In my opinion, the latter is better and that is why we have the kind of operation that we have where we can afford to rest ground and use a long term soil amendment such as clover or alfalfa to try and maximize the potential of such a cover crop.
I think the final question of whether commercial fertilizer is worth it or not, rests with the goals of the operation. I think it is foolish of people to pooh pooh science as something that is evil and should not be catered to. But the flip side is that people who rely totally on science as a miracle and in place of good soil practices are just as much at fault as those who think it is evil.
Tomorrow, I am going to talk about the culture of farming. Having been around farming all of my life, I have some insight into it that allows me to shape the kind of operation I feel optimizes the existence of Spinella Farm.