Studies at the Department of Agronomy at Alabama Polytechnic University show that as much as 50% of all synthetic nitrogen applied to the soil can be leached out, and the half that does reach the plant may be in excess or deficient at times. Other studies show that an excess of chemical fertilizer slows or even stops the activity of microflora and microfauna, such as beneficial bacteria, algae, fungi, and other microorganisms, synthetic chemical fertilizers also can cause damage to microorganisms, such as earthworms, millipedes, etc., which are extremely important to the aeration of the soil.

Organic nutrition is better because they are derivatives of plants, and therefore, contain ALL the trace elements that exist in growing plants. Organic nutrition is naturally "low release"and provides nutrients to plants when they need the nutrients. Organic nutrients work within nature’s laws and systems while chemical fertilizers can be “feast or famine?(too much or too little) that can produce adverse side effects.

Microorganisms

 Microorganisms are microscopic plants and animals living in the soil. They include bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, protozoa, yeast, ground pearls, and nematodes. There are about 50 billion microbes in one tablespoon of healthy soil.

The primary job of microorganisms is to break down organic matter, first into humus, then various acids, enzymes and compounds, and ultimately into basic mineral elements (a process known as mineralization). Microbes must have a constant supply of organic matter or they will be reduced in population and will weaken in the soil. Healthy soils produce improved crops through microbial feeding. Microbes are constantly being born, living and dying. The dead bodies of microbes create an important source of organic matter and humus in healthy soil. Additionally, certain microorganisms, such as those found in Bio-Red™, have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air and make it usable to the plant. Air contains 78% nitrogen.