Organic Coffee - Organic Fertilizers

Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are a huge factor in dictating whether coffee can be certified organic. Organic fertilizers can reduce soil erosion and increase fertility by lowering bulk density. This means that farmers are not only growing healthy coffee, but they are putting vital nutrients back into their soils to help the next crop. The coffee plant has a vital nutrient it produces — coffee pulp. Coffee pulp is the outside of the plant that can be salvaged and returned to the soil as an organic fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the major nutrients that coffee plants need so by using the coffee pulp, cattle manure, bocachi and compost, and chicken manure and biogreen, farmers are able to supply those essential nutrients to the plant cheaper.

Prices of organic fertilizers vary widely. Because transportation costs are usually a primary hindrance, sourcing nearby fertilizers is almost essential for success. Organic fertilizers are cheaper in the long run because they replenish lost nutrients in the soil and thus helps future generation organic coffee plants.

The problem influenced with organic fertilizers is, "there is poor synchronization of nutrient availability and crop demand, as organic fertilizers release their nutrients slowly and not necessarily at the times when nutrients are required by crops". This means that growing organic coffee is slower because the nutrients take time to get released and thus slowing the growth rate of the plant. Using inorganic fertilizers permits faster growing of the plants because it is modified to sustain a larger yield. Inorganic fertilizers can be more expensive because they have to be bought, and can't be recycled like cattle or chicken manure. Even though it has to be bought, farmers are able to use less inorganic fertilizers because they are more concentrated than organic, but the organic helps the soils in the long run and is healthier. Even though organic fertilizers are less expensive than inorganic, consumers see a higher price with organic coffee. Environmentally-conscious consumers may be willing to pay this premium.