Introduction
The main difference between biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer is that biofertilizers contain living microbes, whereas chemical fertilizers contain chemical substances. Fertilizers are materials that supply plant nutrients, and there are different sources and application methods for fertilizers.
What is a Biofertilizer?
Biofertilizers are living microbes that enhance plant nutrition by increasing nutrient availability in the soil. They improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. Common types of biofertilizers include Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillium, and blue-green algae.
What is a Chemical Fertilizer?
Chemical fertilizers are chemical-based substances that contain nutrients necessary for plant growth and soil fertility. They can add secondary nutrients to enhance the growing media. There are three major types of chemical fertilizers: nitrogenous, phosphatic, and potassium fertilizers.
What is the Difference Between Biofertilizer and Chemical Fertilizer?
The main difference between biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers is that biofertilizers contain living microbes while chemical fertilizers contain chemicals. Biofertilizers do not directly supply nutrients to crops, whereas chemical fertilizers provide nutrients to the soil directly.
Summary – Biofertilizer vs Chemical Fertilizer
Biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers differ in terms of their composition and mode of action. Biofertilizers contain living microbes, while chemical fertilizers contain chemicals. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and their use depends on specific requirements and considerations.
References:
1. Mitter, Eduardo K., et al. “Rethinking Crop Nutrition in Times of Modern Microbiology: Innovative Biofertilizer Technologies.”
2. Image Courtesy: 1. “Blue-green algae cultured in specific media” By Joydeep – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia, 2. “Fertilizer” By ILO Asia-Pacific (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
Highlights
– The key difference between biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer is that biofertilizers contain living microbes, whereas chemical fertilizers contain chemical substances.
– Biofertilizers are living microbes that can enhance plant nutrition by mobilizing or increasing nutrient availability in the soil.
– Chemical fertilizers are chemical-based substances consisting of one or more nutrients required for the enhancement of plant growth and soil fertility.
