Simply put, organically sourced nutrients and organic fertilizer come from natural sources such as manure, animal processing bioproducts, consumer waste, and plant biomass. The nutrients contained within these sources is broken down via a range of biological processes, and become available for plant growth. The diversity of living bacteria, microorganisms, and mycorrhizal fungi within organically sources fertilizers aids in nutrient uptake and plant health.
Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured nutrients such as ammonium nitrate (N), ammonium phosphate (P), and potassium sulfate (K). Chemical fertilizer solutions are typically denoted by various NPK values. It is important to note that many chemical fertilizers on the market may lack appropriate levels of micronutrients, though these can be dosed into growing systems as additives or supplements. Unlike the biologically active fertilizers produced by the INTAG patented biodigestion process, chemical fertilizers are typically sterile solutions, devoid of beneficial microbes, bacteria, and fungi.