When you start gardening, you might think that fertilizing your garden a lot is the best way to make sure that your plants get all they need from soil.
In fact, overfertilizing can be as damaging as the lack of fertilizers, or sometimes even worse.
Here are a few reasons, why.
Nutrient imbalances
When the soil is overloaded with fertilizers, certain nutrients can become overly abundant, while others may become deficient.
This imbalance can disrupt the plant's ability to absorb nutrients effectively, leading to stunted growth, nutrient deficiencies, or toxicities.
Root burn or damage
Fertilizers contain salts that can accumulate in the soil when applied excessively.
These salts can draw water out of plant roots, causing dehydration and root desiccation.
Environmental pollution
The excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can lead to eutrophication, a process in which excessive nutrients cause algal blooms, depleting oxygen levels in the water and harming aquatic ecosystems.
Disruption of the natural soil ecosystem
Beneficial microorganisms, earthworms, and other soil organisms play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and nutrient cycling.
Excessive fertilization can harm these organisms, disrupting the natural balance and reducing the soil's long-term health and fertility.
Excessive vegetative growth
Nitrogen-rich fertilizers promote lush foliage growth, but may inhibit flowering and fruiting.
