Definition

Noun: A type of fertilizer that originates from living matter or materials that were once part of a living organism. It is derived from animal or vegetable (plant) sources, such as manure, compost, or bone meal, and is used to enrich soil with nutrients.

Usage

"Organic fertilizer" is used to specify a natural, non-synthetic soil amendment. It contrasts with inorganic or chemical fertilizers. The term is commonly used in gardening, agriculture, and environmental science.

Examples

• Farmers are increasingly using organic fertilizer to improve soil health.
• Compost is an excellent form of organic fertilizer for home gardens.
• The study compared the effects of organic fertilizer to those of synthetic alternatives.

Advanced Usage

• "to apply organic fertilizer": To put organic fertilizer onto soil or plants.
  • The gardener applied organic fertilizer around the base of the fruit trees.
• "source of organic fertilizer": Refers to the origin material (e.g., manure, seaweed).
  • Livestock manure is a major source of organic fertilizer.

Variants and Related Words

• Organic fertiliser (Noun): British English spelling variant.
• Organic manure (Noun): A common synonym, though "manure" often refers specifically to animal waste.
• Natural fertilizer (Noun): A near-synonym emphasizing the non-industrial origin.

Synonyms

• Natural fertilizer
• Soil conditioner (in some contexts, though this focuses more on soil structure than just nutrients)
• Compost (a specific type of organic fertilizer)
• Manure (a specific type of organic fertilizer)

Antonyms

• Synthetic fertilizer
• Chemical fertilizer
• Inorganic fertilizer
• Mineral fertilizer

Related Phrases

• "Organic farming": An agricultural system that uses organic fertilizers and avoids synthetic chemicals.
  • Organic farming relies heavily on crop rotation and organic fertilizer.
• "Soil amendment": A broader term for any material added to soil to improve its properties; organic fertilizer is a type of soil amendment.

Noun

1. a fertilizer that is derived from animal or vegetable matter