My Farming Experience: Chemical vs Organic Fertilizers (Condensed)
January 15, 2026
With over a decade of farming experience, I shifted from sole reliance on chemical fertilizers to a chemical-organic combination. Below, I share key insights: their effects on crops, pros and cons, and core takeaway—chemical fertilizers are essential, while organic ones are excellent supplements that reduce chemical use and enable continuous cropping.
1. Chemical Fertilizers: Fast-Acting but Unsustainable Long-Term
Initially, I relied fully on chemical fertilizers for their obvious advantages: fast-acting and targeted, ensuring early yields. However, problems arose after 3-4 years: soil compaction (poor water retention, easy cracking), stunted root growth (leading to lodging and premature senescence), difficult continuous cropping (more pests, lower yields), and reduced crop taste. They act as "quick fixes" for immediate nutrient needs but deplete soil fertility over time.
2. Organic Fertilizers: Soil-Nourishing but Raw Material-Dependent
Switching to organic fertilizers addressed these issues. Their core benefit is soil nourishment—loosening compacted soil, strengthening roots, and boosting stress resistance. They also cut chemical use by 30% while maintaining or improving yields. Yet their effectiveness and drawbacks vary by raw material:
Manure-based: Easy to source and affordable, but quality-unstable (uncomposted manure may burn seedlings) with inconsistent nutrient content.
Plant-based (straw/soybean meal): Gentle and safe for soil improvement, but slow-acting and insufficient alone for high early yields.
Food by-product-based: Highly effective (higher fruit set rate, better taste, improved water/fertilizer retention) but costly, burdening large-scale farming.
3. Key Takeaway: Combine the Two for Balance
Chemicals remain essential for critical growth stages (seedling, fruit expansion) to quickly supplement nutrients. For long-term soil health and stable yields, organics are indispensable. My current approach: use organics as the base (tailored to crop cost/needs) and reduce chemical top-dressing by 30%-40% for peak nutrient demand periods.
This combination improves soil fertility, solves continuous cropping issues, and enhances yield stability and quality. Though organics add some cost, reduced chemical use and fewer pests make it cost-effective long-term. In short, farming is like caring for your body—chemicals are "emergency supplements," organics are "long-term nourishment." Combining them balances immediate and sustainable production.
