The 10 major functions of organic fertilizer are explained most clearly in this article!

Any fertilizer that uses organic matter (compounds containing carbon elements) as fertilizer is called Organic Fertilizer. Generally speaking, organic fertilizer refers to the remains of dead animals and plants and the feces excreted by animals. Organic fertilizers are divided into commercial organic fertilizers and farmyard fertilizers. Farm manure includes soil manure, manure, compost, compost, green manure, human urine manure, etc. So what is the function of organic fertilizer?
1、 Can increase the particle structure of soil
Soil aggregate structure is a type of soil structure formed by the bonding of several individual soil particles together to form aggregates. Small pores are formed between single particles, while large pores are formed between aggregates. Small pores can retain moisture, while large pores maintain ventilation. Granular soil structure can ensure the good growth of plant roots and is suitable for crop cultivation and growth. The role of granular structure in soil fertility:
① Can coordinate the contradiction between moisture and air;
② Can coordinate the contradiction between the consumption and accumulation of nutrients in soil organic matter;
③ Can stabilize soil temperature and regulate soil thermal conditions;
④ Improving tillage and promoting crop root extension.
2、 Can improve soil permeability and looseness
Fruit tree leaves absorb carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen; The root system absorbs oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide. In order for fruit trees to have a normal nutrient cycle, the shallow respiratory roots on the surface must have sufficient oxygen supply, which requires the soil to have looseness and breathability. Soil permeability is directly proportional to the size of soil particles and is influenced by soil moisture content, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and air temperature. Soil permeability, also known as soil aeration, refers to the ability of soil air to exchange with the atmosphere, or the rate at which the atmosphere enters the soil. It is closely related to soil structure, especially pore characteristics. Soil with high total porosity or macropore ratio has good air permeability. Soil with good structure has better air permeability than soil with poor structure; Sandy soil is better than clayey soil; Soil with moderate moisture content is better than excessively moist soil; The surface soil is better than the lower soil.

3、 Can improve soil and balance acidity and alkalinity
The strength of soil acidity or alkalinity is often measured by its acidity or alkalinity. The reason why soil has acidity and alkalinity is because there are small amounts of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in the soil. When the concentration of hydrogen ions is greater than that of hydroxide ions, the soil becomes acidic; On the contrary, it is alkaline; When the two are equal, they are neutral. The pH of most soils in our country is within the range of 4.5 to 8.5, with increasing pH values from south to north, forming a trend of "southern acidity and northern alkalinity". Due to the difference in climate between the north and south of China, the south is humid and rainy, and the soil is mostly acidic, while the north is dry and less rainy, and the soil is mostly alkaline. Soil that is too acidic or too alkaline can reduce the effectiveness of soil nutrients to varying degrees, making it difficult to form a good soil structure, severely inhibiting the activity of soil microorganisms, and affecting the growth and development of various crops.
4、 Can improve the quality of agricultural products
Changes in the main organic components in fruits:
1. Moisture. Except for nuts such as chestnuts, walnuts, and other dried fruits, the moisture content of most fruits is between 80% and 90%.
2. Sugar and acid. Sugar, acid content, and sugar acid ratio are the main indicators of fruit quality. The sugars in fruits are mainly glucose, fructose, and sucrose, while starch is present in green young fruits. Different types of fruits also have different levels of sugars, such as grapes, figs, and cherries, which contain more glucose and fructose; Peach, plum, and apricot contain more sucrose than reducing sugar. The organic acids in fruits mainly include malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid. Apple, pear, and peach are mainly composed of malic acid, while citrus, pomegranate, and fig are mainly composed of citric acid. The acid content in fruits is low in young fruits and increases with fruit growth. When approaching maturity, it decomposes as a respiratory substrate.
3. Pectin. The internal cause of fruit hardness is the binding force between cells, the mechanical strength of cellular constituents, and the cell turgor pressure. The binding force between cells is influenced by pectin. Immature fruit pectin exists in the middle layer of the primary wall, connecting cells to each other. As the fruit matures, it becomes soluble pectin and pectin salts under the action of enzymes, making the flesh softer. The content of cellulose and calcium has a significant impact on fruit hardness.
4. The aroma and odor of the fruit. Aroma and odor are important factors determining fruit quality. Many fruits have astringency, mainly due to tannins, and the main bitter component in citrus is naringin. The fruit also contains vitamins. Vitamin A is found in yellow fruits that are high in carotenoids, such as apricots, loquats, persimmons, etc. prickly pears, jujubes, kiwifruit, and sea buckthorn, which contain relatively high levels of vitamin C. Young fruits that contain chlorophyll have higher levels of vitamin C. As the fruit grows, the absolute amount increases, but the content per unit fresh weight decreases. The skin is higher than the core, and the sunny side is higher than the backlit side.
5. Changes in pigments. The color of the fruit includes chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. The structure of carotenoids is tetraterpenes (C), with 500 species present in chloroplasts and plastids. They bind to proteins and protect cells from strong light damage. When fruits mature, chlorophyll decreases and carotenoids increase.
5、 Containing various nutrients
Organic fertilizers not only contain abundant organic matter and organic acids such as humic acid, amino acids, and humic acid, but also contain various large, medium, and trace elements. Although the content is low, it is relatively comprehensive. Generally speaking:
Nitrogen leaves, phosphorus flowers, and potassium fruits;
Silicon preserves roots, calcium preserves fruits, magnesium preserves leaves, and sulfur preserves taste;
Iron prevents yellowing leaves, copper prevents falling leaves, molybdenum prevents flowering leaves, zinc prevents small leaves, and boron prevents rolling leaves.
6、 Long term effectiveness
True organic fertilizer cannot dissolve, nor can it dissolve, because organic fertilizer contains a large amount of cellulose and lignin that cannot be dissolved by water. It must be decomposed by microorganisms in the soil, converted into amino acids and carbohydrates, in order to be absorbed by fruit tree roots. This is a slow and persistent process.
7、 Has efficiency enhancing properties
After the decomposition of organic fertilizer, it provides energy and nutrients for soil microbial activity, promotes microbial activity, accelerates organic matter decomposition, and produces active substances that can promote crop growth and improve the quality of agricultural products. It not only tastes sweet and fragrant, but more importantly, the organic acids decomposed by microorganisms can activate the fixed mineral elements in the soil to be fully absorbed and utilized.

8、 Has water retention properties
Research data indicates that humus in organic fertilizers contains lipids, waxes, and resins. Due to the fact that these substances can infiltrate soil clumps during the soil formation process in soils with high fertility, making them hydrophobic, weakening the soil wetting process and the movement speed of capillary water, reducing the evaporation of soil moisture and enhancing soil water holding capacity, the soil moisture condition is improved.
The results of studying the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of humic substances indicate that they are determined by the side chains at the edges of humic acid molecules. When the polymerization degree of humic acid molecules is low, the amount of side chain groups exposed is large, and there is an inverse relationship between them. The relationship between humic substances and water molecules to some extent determines the water properties of organic matter.
The aggregate structure is related to the soil organic matter content and the amount of organic fertilizer applied. Water stable aggregate structure can ensure the looseness of the soil surface and facilitate soil permeability. The characteristic of this structure is loose aggregates and high non capillary porosity, which can reduce the height and speed of capillary movement of water in the soil and reduce surface water evaporation. The radius of soil particle structure with good agglomeration structure is larger than that of soil particle structure with poor agglomeration structure, and the upward movement speed of capillary water is inversely proportional to the radius of the structural unit.
9、 Has thermal insulation properties
Organic fertilizer has the functions of heat absorption and warming, which is beneficial for the germination and growth of fruit tree roots. Organic fertilizer releases a certain amount of heat during the decomposition process, which increases the temperature of the soil. At the same time, organic fertilizer has a large heat capacity, good insulation performance, and is not easily affected by external cold and hot changes. It can prevent freezing in winter and heatstroke in summer, which is very beneficial for the germination, growth, and overwintering of fruit tree roots.
10、 Soil organic matter content is an important indicator for testing soil fertility
Soil organic matter refers to the substances in soil that originate from life. Soil organic matter is an important component of the solid phase of soil and one of the main sources of plant nutrition. It can promote plant growth and development, improve the physical properties of soil, facilitate the activity of microorganisms and soil organisms, promote the decomposition of nutrient elements in soil, and enhance the fertility and buffering properties of soil. It is closely related to the structure, aeration, permeability, adsorption, and buffering properties of soil. Generally, under the same or similar conditions, the content of organic matter is positively correlated with the level of soil fertility within a certain range of content.
The organic matter content of soil is one of the important indicators for testing soil fertility, and organic fertilizer can increase the organic matter content of soil.