Nutrient Management Research Database

This brief paper provides an introduction to the differences between organic and inorganic nutrients.

Organic nutrients are held in large, often complex molecules that plants absorb from the soil. Soil microbes break down these larger particles into smaller parts that can be taken up by the plant. For example, compost broken down by microbes can release nitrogen in the plant available form of ammonium.

Since microbes are not able to decompose all of the organic matter at once, organic materials can provide a steady supply of nutrients through the course of the season. However this also adds a layer of complexity to using organic sources of nutrients, as the rates of supply do not always match perfectly with crop demand.