The Fertilization of American Crops: Manure vs. Biosolids

Americans value the quality of the foods that are brought to their kitchen tables. They expect their produce to be clean, fresh, and most importantly healthy. Most people inspect their produce carefully looking at its general color, shape, and texture, but do not consider how it was grown. Although there are many types of fertilizers, the two most widely used are biosolids and manure. The similarities and differences between biosolids and manure include chemical ingredients, possible harboring of bacteria, and cost. These similarities and differences may not be well known by the general public but should be considered when making the decision to buy organic or inorganic produce.

Many inorganic crop producing farms fertilize their products using biosolids, which is a stew of human waste and chemicals. Human feces start as a solid then breaks down to a sludge by the mixing of chemicals and natural bacteria. This sludge is then used to fertilize the soil to promote growth in crops. Because biosolids contain chemicals and toxins, any produce that was grown from it is considered inorganic. On the other hand, manure does not contain chemicals or toxins and crops grown from it is therefore considered to be organic. Manure is the fecal matter of plant eating mammals and poultry, but not all manure is made of feces. Some manure, called “green” manure, is crops that were grown for the purpose to be plowed under and return their nutrients to the soil.

Both biosolids and manure have the potential for harboring harmful bacteria. The most common bacteria found in animal or human feces being Escherichia coli (E. coli). E. coli can be harmful and even deadly when consumed, but most of the bacteria are destroyed when it is exposed to the environment in which the crops are grown, making it only a small threat to the consumer. While bacterial contamination is a possibility in both fertilizers, only biosolids used for inorganic produce has the threat of chemical and toxic contamination. Small amounts of chemicals left over from the production of the solid waste into sludge can be found as a residue on the crops. These chemicals include dioxin, which is considered an environmental pollutant, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), and flame retardants. The health risks from these contaminations are debatable and have not been widely researched.

There is an increasing demand for organic products due to the belief that there is less of a health risk in its consumption. Because of the high demand, consumers may notice that the price of organic produce is higher than the price of inorganic produce. One of the reasons for this is the high price for the use of organic manure and fertilizer. Farmers must follow strict regulations and guidelines to have their produce labeled “certified organic” and following those guidelines can be expensive. The use of biosolids is less expensive therefore does not raise prices at the supermarkets.

Choosing to buy organic or inorganic is a personal decision that warrants much consideration. Other considerations may include price, availability, contamination risk, and even handling. Consider how the food was grown, where it was grown, and what it was grown with. With all types of fertilizers there are risks and benefits to their use. Consider them all and choose wisely.

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