Produce Your Own Fertilizer... Literally

Nowadays, alternatives to chemical fertilizers are BIOSOLID FERTILIZERS. It is an organic material obtained from the recycling of sewage used in agriculture to help produce better crops. Biosolids, when used in agriculture have been proven to improve the crop growth significantly due to the many minerals found in biosolids like nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulfur and zinc. These minerals are useful in the efficient growth and production of plants. But is the use of biosolids gross? Or can it be a good alternative to previous agricultural methods?
The pros of the use of biosolid minerals in agriculture is that it is cheap, is recycled and is helping reduce landfill waste, and has produced significantly good results in crop production. Typically, farmers could save $15,000 to $20,000 every 2 or 3 years! It is also a good way to recycle instead of adding wastes to landfills. Using the biosolid method can produce just as good results as chemical fertilizers, if not, even better. Biosolid fertilizers have the nutrients plants need in order to grow without the use of chemicals. Its all-natural content not only makes the plant healthier but it also helps defend soil errosion and helps the soil retain more water to be more resistant in the case of a drought.

Biosolid Fertilizers have negative effects too though. Since it is made from the sewage waste, it has an unpleasant odor. Since it is organic, the fertilizer contains its natural content to keep the minerals. Also, although biosolids are cost effective and could save farmers thousands per year, it also reduces their property value making their farm less valuable. Many people are also opposed to it simply because it is "Gross". Having been recycled human waste, its chemical containment and true composition is unknown. This method is basically the accumulated waste used to grow crops that will soon be consumed by us.

The potential stake holder in this issue are the farmers who have to decide if the Biosolid method is right for them. They are the ones that know whats best for their farms and how they would want to fertilize their plants. They should accumulate enough knowledge about if this method is right for them and if it would benefit them and produce results that would last in the longrun.

We are definately influenced of the Western culture as portraying human waste as disgusting. The thought of our own waste used to grow crops that would eventually be our food isnt a very appetizing thought. Even if biosolids were only used to grow crops to feed the livestock in farms, those animals will eventually also be consumed by us. We have to keep in mind though, that a long time ago, before fertilizers were being made, agriculture was the primary job. They didn't go to the closest Wal Mart or RONA to get fertilizers thats for sure! Guess what they used to fertilize their crops? This method has been around a long time and I think that what we see as unsanitary and disgusting has been growing our crops for years and we just need to suck it up.

SOURCES:
http://www.garveyresources.com/biosolids-benefits-to-farmers/
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/tfer.html
http://www.sencer.net/Outreach/pdfs/DCSymposium08/Posters/LUbiosolids.pdf
http://www.biosolidsinstitute.com/faqs/page3.shtml