Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer is water soluble. When applied to the soil the nitrogen is immediately available for plant growth. (Applying too much will burn the leaf tissue and root tissue.) If it is not immediately available for plant growth, it is not totally unused. The soluble products will follow the water run off from the area into ground water or streams and lakes. Fish hydrolysate (OF2) will remain as a solid on the soil, as amino acids, until the amino acids are completely broken down into its elements and used and absorbed by plant roots.

This results in aiding in soil restoration and refurbishing the soil of nutrients and soil micro organisms.

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst compared the nitrogen release from various compounds for plant growth.

The following conclusions were drawn:

90% of the nitrogen derived from ammonium sulfate was released in three (3) weeks. Very little remained after (3) weeks. (90%)
75% of urea nitrogen was derived in three (3) weeks. An additional 10% was released over a six (6) week period. (85%)
40% of nitrogen derived from fish was released in three (3) weeks. An additional 50% was released over the next fifteen (15) weeks. (90%)
Supplemental fast release nitrogen (Urea, Ammonium Sulfate) applied with organic sources (fish) increased the percent of total available nitrogen over a fifteen (15) week period.
For turf, 30% of Milorganite nitrogen was released in three (3) weeks. An additional 30% was released over the next ten (10) weeks.
The study showed that only 40% of Milonigate nitrogen would NOT be available for plant growth (only 60% was usable) 30% of Urea from the source of nitrogen was released in three (3) weeks. An additional 30% was released over the next twelve (12) weeks. The remainder (40%) of Urea from nitrogen was not available for plant growth. (Only 60% was usable.)

NOTE: While inorganic fertilizer is cheaper, it is short lived and only a portion of the total applied is usable by plants. Whereas, fish fertilizer lasts up to a 15 week period and over 90% is usable by plants.

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