Why Is Synthetic Fertilizer Bad?

Most people will do whatever it takes to give their garden the best chance of success. This includes treating their potted plants and garden beds with fertilizer, but not all fertilizers are good, especially synthetic varieties. Is synthetic fertilizer bad?

Synthetic fertilizer is harmful because the high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus it contains can contaminate nearby waterways. It also contribute to climate change due to the high levels of nitrous oxide it releases. Synthetic fertilizers are not beneficial for plants because they harm microbial life, damage roots, and increase soil acidity.

It’s tempting to buy a synthetic fertilizer because it offers quick results. However, that comes at the expense of destroying soil structure and killing beneficial microorganisms. Follow along as we explore why synthetic fertilizer is bad for your plants.

Seven Downsides Of Synthetic Fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizers offer many positive effects, but they don’t last long. While you may see a noticeable difference in the early spring or summer, they do more harm than good. That’s because synthetic fertilizers have many downsides, such as:

1. Increases Soil Acidity

Soil acidity is so important that rapid fluctuations can severely damage soil and plants. Excessive soil acidity, especially when introduced rapidly, can stunt growth and weaken plants. That said, using a synthetic fertilizer once may not devastate your plants right away.  However, repeated applications will increase soil acidity to the extent that your plants will become more susceptible to diseases.

Certain plants cannot absorb the necessary nutrients when rooted in overly acidic soil. That’s why you may notice leaf discoloration, wilting, and lackluster growth after regularly using synthetic fertilizers. Excess acidity can also contribute to manganese and aluminum toxicity, which can affect a plant’s ability to absorb water. You can reduce the acid levels by treating the soil with wood ash and calcium carbonate, so long as it’s not too late.

2. Taints Water

Synthetic fertilizer is bad for the environment, due to how it pollutes water. The excessive phosphorus and nitrogen in synthetic fertilizers can be washed into nearby bodies of water during heavy rains. This taints the water, harms the fish, and contributes to serious algae blooms. Eventually, the algae blooms will grow so big that they'll suffocate the fish and other life in the lake or river.

This alone is reason enough to use natural alternatives instead. The chemicals in synthetic fertilizers can also leach into groundwater and contaminate nearby wells. No one should use synthetic fertilizers if they have a well or live near lakes, rivers, and ponds.

3. Harms Microbial Life

Soil is filled with a variety of beneficial microscopic organisms, also known as microbes. These actinomycetes, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi help maintain a healthy ecosystem in your soil. Synthetic fertilizers weaken and kill useful microbes, which negatively impacts soil health. Microbes help cycle nutrients throughout the soil and naturally improve its structure.

Nutrient deficiencies can wreak havoc on your garden, and poor microbial health is often at the root of the problem. That’s especially true if you use synthetic fertilizers, which negate all of the benefits of having strong microbial life.

These fertilizers naturally lower soil pH, which can kill fungi and beneficial bacteria. The high salt content that most synthetic fertilizers contain also dehydrates microbes, rendering them useless.

4. Environmental Damage

Besides contaminating the water, synthetic fertilizer can damage the environment in many ways and release harmful greenhouse gases. First, this occurs uring the produxtion of synthetic fertilizers, which many people don't conider or are aware of. Producing synthetic fertilizers leaves a dangerous carbon footprint, as it requires large amounts of fossil fuels and releases harmful emissions.

Using synthetic fertilizers in your garden is just as bad for the environment. It triggers microbes to produce nitrous oxide that traps heat in the atmosphere. Using it once won’t immediately harm the atmosphere, but prolonged use is bad. Not using synthetic fertilizers is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Instead, you can always use organic fertilizers, so there’s no reason to risk unnecessary environmental damage.

5. Fertilizer Dependence

Few people know about fertilizer dependence. Despite the downsides of synthetic fertilizers, plants can become dependent on them. That’s because they provide fast-acting nutrients, which disrupts the relationship between the plants, soil, and microbes. The plants don’t necessarily crave the fertilizer, but they eventually stop seeking nutrients as they normally would.

This disrupts their natural life cycle, hinders their growth, and degrades the soil over time. Organic fertilizers can have a similar effect, albeit in a significantly less harmful way. That’s because organic fertilizers support microbes, rather than harm them. Because of that, using organic fertilizers doesn’t disrupt the natural order and negatively impact soil structure. However, you must follow the instructions, whether you use organic or synthetic fertilizers.

6. Root Damage

What would a plant be without healthy roots? Well, you’ll find out soon enough if you regularly use synthetic fertilizers, which can cause serious root damage. Synthetic fertilizers often dehydrate roots, weaken them and impact their ability to absorb water. This happens because artificial fertilizers contain a lot of salt. The rapid influx of nutrients makes roots lazy, as they stop searching for nutrients.

Eventually, the plant will stop expanding its root system, hindering growth and nutrient absorption. The heavy metals and excessive nutrients in synthetic fertilizers can also damage roots. They become mushy and appear discolored. Many plants struggle to recover from root damage after being exposed to synthetic fertilizers.

7. Health Risks

Synthetic fertilizers are not good for the oil, plants, and the environment in many ways, and there is a human risk as well. That’s especially true when growing crops, which can be contaminated with the heavy metals in synthetic fertilizers. Eating food grown with these fertilizers can cause kidney damage due to exposure to cadmium and arsenic. These heavy metals will likely remain in the soil and continue to poison future crops and other plants gown there. It's important to be mindful of which products you use in your garden.

Are Synthetic Fertilizers Worth It?

Synthetic fertilizers are only worth it if you use them carefully and for a limited time. Otherwise, you will damage the soil microbes, which will negatively impact soil structure and plant growth. Synthetic fertilizers can leave your plants deficient in key nutrients. It’s also worth considering how much you care about the environment. That’s especially true if you live near water, as they can become tainted by fertilizer runoff.

Synthetic fertilizers also release harmful greenhouse gases. You will have much better luck with organic fertilizers, worm castings, and clever garden practices. Synthetic fertilizers provide fast results, but they leave your garden in a worse state than it was before.

What’s The Difference Between Organic And Inorganic Fertilizers?

The key difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers is that organic fertilizers aren’t artificially manufactured. Organic fertilizers may contain chemicals, but they occur naturally. Conversely, inorganic fertilizers contain high amounts of lab-synthesized compounds. Because of that, they rapidly infuse soil with chemicals and minerals for fast results. While organic fertilizers don’t work as quickly, they help with long-term soil health.

That’s because organic fertilizers support soil microbes, whereas synthetic fertilizers harm them. They also contribute to great soil structure, while inorganic fertilizers damage soil structure due to excessive salt. Most importantly, organic fertilizers are biodegradable and cause no environmental harm or pollution. That alone is reason enough to pick an organic fertilizer over a synthetic one.

Summing It Up

Synthetic fertilizers are harmful because they rapidly increase soil acidity, which can damage the roots and cause leaf discoloration. Even worse, they contaminate the soil, leach into groundwater, and often migrate to nearby bodies of water. Organic fertilizers don’t work as quickly, but they have far fewer negative side effects.

Related Guides:

• The Pros And Cons Of Organic And Synthetic Fertilizers
• How Long For Fertilizer To Turn Grass Green?