Why You Should Avoid Chemical Fertilizer For Kitchen Garden According To Benedict T Palen Jr.

 Although there is nothing wrong with getting quick results in your kitchen garden, applying chemical fertilizers may be the wrong thing to do, according to Benedict TPalen Jr. However, such synthetic fertilizers are capable of triggering more negative effects than positive ones in the long run. Well, this article gives you some key points on why you need to stop applying chemical fertilizers when cultivating plants for your kitchen garden and embrace natural ways instead. 

 

Potential Health Risks

 

One of the main problems of using chemical fertilizers is that their residues are left on the fruits and vegetables that you may cultivate in your garden. Long-term accumulation of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides increases the risk of getting sick even when consuming modest quantities. Literature suggests that prolonged chemical exposure has long-term effects such as cancer, hormonal disorders, and autoimmune illnesses. Applying fertilizers also affects the good microorganisms and nutrients in the soil since growing produce chemically kills the microorganisms and nutrients.

 

Environmental Damage 

 

Chemical fertilizers do not only affect your plants and health but also have detrimental effects on the environment. It dissolves in water and other solvents, and some of the components, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, find their way into the groundwater and other water bodies during irrigation or during rainfall. This results in the formation of algae as well as a decrease in oxygen levels – very harmful to water bodies. Certain chemical components of substances have been found to contribute to acidification, air pollution, and depletion of the ozone layer at some point. 

 

Harmful Soil Effects

 

According to Benedict T Palen Jr., organic manure, on the other hand, increases the production of beneficial plant nutrients in the soil but has adverse effects on soil fertility in the long run. Salts accumulate to levels beyond that which plants can tolerate, disrupt the natural balance of the soil chemistry, and harm friendly fungi. Beneficial species such as earthworms and rhizobia bacteria decrease, ultimately diminishing nutrient cycling and biological nitrogen fixation. Thus, the soil structure deteriorates, the risks of water logging and compaction rise, and the soil becomes less fertile to maintain crop yield rates in the long run.

 

Natural Alternatives

 

Fortunately, there are some ways you can increase the kitchen garden's health levels while avoiding the use of chemicals. Soil amendments such as composts, manure, blood/bone meal, and cover crops provide a slow but sustained release of various macronutrients and micronutrients. This encourages soil microbiology and enables more nutrient uptake by the crops. Companion planting and intercropping, crop rotation, and permaculture design also serve to enhance the natural symbiotic relationships plants require to grow. In case of any pest or disease attack, natural pest control methods such as Neem oil and insecticidal soaps can restore order. 

 

Conclusion

 

According to the expertise of Benedict T Palen Jr., chemical fertilizers can be replaced by natural manure and compost without using some chemicals – but this job is really useful for your garden, your body, and the world around us. As for pest control, it is recommended that you make your own compost and do your own research on the many organic remedies that are safe for your plants and herbs that are cultivated in your kitchen garden. In the long run, you will cultivate fresh and rich produce relying on the earth’s natural solutions instead of chemicals that harm the crops. This is because the changes that are made are not radical but relative and can have a significant impact on the outcome.