Organic Science

Plant Nutrition and

Soil Conditioning

Roger C.
C Funk,
Funk Ph.D.
Ph D
Treatise: “Do Green Products
Make Us Better People?
People?”

Dr. Nina Mazar, U off Toronto

Asst. Prof of Marketing

Research in March 2010,

2010 issue of
Journal of Psychological Science
• Exposure creates “halo effect”

• Purchase gives “moral

moral capital
capital”
Master Gardener Program
• Mission: Disseminate horticultural and
related technical information to the
public
Focus Groups: Northeast,
Southwest and Central
Ohio
• Conclusion: Economic downturn is
excellent time to introduce scientific
organics that are:
1) effective
2) cost-
cost-effective
3) sustainable in the environment
Webster Dictionary Definitions
of Organic

• Biol. – Relating to, or derived

from living organisms

• Chem.
Ch – Relating
R l ti to,
t or
containing carbon compounds
Government Definitions of
Organic Fertilizer
USDA – National Organic
g Program
g ((NOP))
All organic fertilizers allowed in the
Program are naturally derived; that is, of
plant or animal origin.
g Sewageg sludgeg is
not allowed and no synthetic organic
fertilizers are included on the allowed list.

Association of American Plant Food

Control Officials ((AAPFCO))
“A material containing carbon and one or
more elements other than hydrogen and
oxygen essential for plant growth.”
Original Plant Nutrition Research
Dr. Daniel Arnon (1910-- 1994)
(1910

Leading Expert in Plant

Nutrition
• Essential Elements
g
• Hoagland’s Solution

Concerns about Organic Movement

• Plants don’t absorb organic nutrients
intact
• Plants are organic regardless of nutrient
source
Historical Source of Confusion
• Prior to 1828, scientists were unable to bond
carbon to carbon and there was a common
b li f th
belief thatt a “life
“lif essence”
” was necessary. This
Thi
philosophy was known as Vitalism
Vitalism..

• Th
The compounds d were called
ll d “organic
“organic”
i ” to
t denote
d t
their origin.

In 1828, Friedrich Wohler’s

research initiated organic
science,, which dispelled the
science
theory that organic compounds
were fundamentally different
from inorganic.
inorganic
Scientific Definition of Organic

H Organic is the chemistry of

C carbon and more
carbon,
specifically, the chemistry
of the carbon
carbon--hydrogen
linkage.

HHH Catenation is the formation

of carbon chains or
CCC
polymers, the basis for
organic chemistry and life
on Earth.
Unique Characteristics of
Organic Compounds
• Of the nearly 100 natural elements, only
carbon
b can catenate
t t andd fform stable,
t bl
multiple covalent bonds at ordinary
temperatures and pressures on Earth.
Earth

gy stored in the covalent bonds

• The energy
of carbon polymers is released by cellular
respiration, a form of “chemical burning”.

• Organisms (microorganisms, plants,

animals) use this energy for cellular
activity.
Carbon-Containing, But Not
Carbon-
Organic

Carbon (C)
Carbon Oxides (COx)
Carbonates (CaCO3)
Urea (NH2)2CO
Biological, But Not Chemically
Organic
• Urea,, p
produced by y terrestrial
animals and also synthesized as a
fertilizer,, contains carbon but does
not react chemically as organic.
(NH2)2CO
(

• Our bones and teeth are p

primarily
ya
form of calcium phosphate
Ca5(
(PO4)3OH
Origin of Carbon 6

C
• All carbon on Earth was formed
in the cauldrons of stars larger
than our sun and captured
during the formation of our
solar
l system.
t

• Carbon can neither be created

nor destroyed, only recycled.
Carbon Cycling: An Overview
 Carbon Cycling: Detail
CO2 + H2O
Res/decom, combust
Hydrocarbons
(petroleum, etc)

Synthetic Organic
Compounds
CO2 + H2O
(fertilizers, pesticides) Res/decom, combust
Synthesis

energy input energy output

CO2 + H2O CHO CO2 + H2O

oxygen output oxygen input

Photosynthesis Respiration/decomposition, combustion

Other Biochemicals CO2 + H2O

(proteins, membrane
(proteins
structures) Res/decom, combust

Biosynthesis
Synthesis
• The combination of two or more parts by
design or natural processes. A Synthetic
compound is produced by chemical or
biochemical synthesis.
• Plants, animals and microorganisms
synthesize the chemicals they need for
ttheir
e lifee processes
p ocesses from
o suga
sugar provided
p o ded by
plants (either directly or indirectly) with
the mineral elements from the soil.
• Sugar + mineral elements = proteins,
DNA, ATP, etc.
Photosynthesis

• The process within chloroplasts by which

green plants use the energy from
f
sunlight to combine carbon dioxide and
water to produce organic compounds,
compounds
especially sugar, and release oxygen. A
simplification of the process is
summarized below:
Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light Energy == Sugar + Oxygen
6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Photons == C6H12O6 + O2
Respiration

• The process within mitochondria by

which plants,
plants animals and
microorganisms react oxygen with
sugar to produce the high energy
compound Adenosine Triphosphate
(ATP)
( ) and release water and
carbon dioxide. A simplification of
the process is summarized below:
Sugar + Oxygen == Chemical Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water

C6H12O6 + O2 == ATP + 6 CO2 + 12 H2O

Plant Nutrient Overview

Inorganic
- Natural
- Engineered

Nutrient Ions
 Uptake
Burn
Leach

Organic
- Natural
- Engineered
What is the difference between
organic and inorganic fertilizers?
Organic Fertilizers

 Carbon
Carbon--hydrogen linkages
 Covalent bonding
 May
y be used as energy
gy source by
y
microorganisms
 Requires microbial or hydrolytic
action
 Nutrients attached to carbon
O
=

[CH2NHCNH]n NH+4 NO-3

Inorganic Fertilizers

 No carbon
carbon--hydrogen linkage
 Ionic bonding + -
 Not used as energy source by
microorganisms
 Water alone can separate
 Nutrient ions attached to each
other
NH4NO3 NH4+ + NO3-
 Comparison of Organic and
Inorganic Fertilizers
Fertilizer
Characteristic Organic
Urea Inorganic Coated
Natural Synthetic
Nutrient Release Slow Slow Quick Quick Slow

Burn Potential Low Low High High Low

Leach Potential Low Low High High Low

Cost / Nutrient High Intermediate Low Low Intermediate

Microorganism
May May No No No
Energy Source
Coated or Slow Release
Fertilizers

Urea Sulfur, polymer or

other slowly soluble
coating slows
nutrient release but is
not an energy source
for microorganisms
Comparison of Synthetic and
Natural Organic Fertilizers

Natural Synthetic
Charac-
Charac-
Urea
teristic Turkey Blood Methylene Urea-
Urea-
Alfalfa Urine IBDU
Litter Meal Urea form

Nutrient
2-1-2 4-2-3 13
13--1-.5 15
15--2-3 40
40--0-0 38
38--0-0 31
31--0-0 45
45--0-0
Analysis

CiN Ratio 15:1 16:1 3:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1.5:1 1:2

Micro-
Micro-
nutrient
ti t
Yes Yes Some No Some Yes No No
Energy
Source
Processing Turkey Litter as
Fertilizer
Carbon Footprint: Kg C
equivalent/1 lb N

Fertilizer Kg C/lb N
Organic Science
Lawn Care (25-
(25-0-7) 1.33
Tree care (30-
(30-10
10--7) 0.92
0 92

Natural Organic
Turkey Litter (4
(4--2-3) 1.63
Organic Science:
Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio
• Too much carbon (relative to
nitrogen) results in a nitrogen
deficiency for plants
• Too little carbon (relative to nitrogen)
results in accelerated carbon loss
from the soil with resultant loss in
soil structure
Organic Science:
Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio
• Managing soil organic matter is
essentially managing the
Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio
• Nitrogen is the major essential
element extracted from the soil by
plants and is also an essential
element for microorganisms
• Carbon in the soil is not used by
plants but is used as an energy
source by microorganisms
How Organic Matter Improves
Soil and Plant Growth

CO2 + H2O

Microbial Decomposition

Raw Organic Material Stable Humic Material

• Secretions • Soil aggregation
– Soil aggregation • Nutrient retention
– Plant defense • Moisture retention
• Filamentous growth
extends root influence
• Nutrient release
Active Sites in Stable Organic
Matter
Humic Acid (natural organic)

Polyaspartic Acid (engineered organic)

Root Response to Natural and
Synthetic Organic Amendments