How Long Does Fertilizer Last in Soil? (2024)

Mar. 12, 2024

How Long Does Fertilizer Last in Soil?

Fertilizer has various nutritional advantages for the soil and the plants that thrive there. Some general fertilizers and some are effective for particular plants. Depending on the grass, flowers, fruits, and vegetables you're growing, adding fertilizer to your lawn or garden requires an exact technique. The decomposition rate can differ depending on which fertilizer will be used.

The type of fertilizer used, the type of soil, and the environmental conditions are only a few of the variables that affect how long fertilizer remains in the soil. The average lifespan of fertilizers in the soil is between a few weeks and a few months, while some may survive longer.

So How Long Fertilizer does Stay in Soil?

Fertilizer stays in the soil for a different time frame after being applied. It largely depends on the type of fertilizer you apply. Some elements will affect how long fertilizer remains in the soil are liquid or granular, the objective of fertilizer, and organic or inorganic. How quickly nutrients from the fertilizer deplete in the soil is also influenced by the type of soil and the number of plants in the area. The following are the duration for fertilizers:

organic dry fertilizer 4 to 6 weeks

organic liquid fertilizer 2 to four weeks

inorganic dry fertilizer 4 to 36 weeks

inorganic liquid fertilizer 1 to 2 weeks

Depending on the type of fertilizer you have and how it was made, the precise duration of time that it stays in the soil will change. It will take some time for organic fertilizers to decompose into usable nutrients that a plant can utilize. Results from using synthetic compounds come considerably more quickly since plants may nearly immediately use them. They won't last longer than a week, depending on the synthetic material you're utilizing.

Types of Fertilizer

When a nutrient needs to be absorbed immediately rather than slowly, liquid fertilizers, (which have a fast release) are the ideal choice. Fertilizers in granule type are dry pellets that resist being washed away by rain. Granular fertilizer can be used to supply your lawn with additional micro and macronutrients, particularly those that are difficult to maintain in liquid form. These two are the main types of fertilizer: liquid and granular.

Liquid

Liquid fertilizers can provide your plant with immediate access to nutrients. The majority of liquid fertilizers only last 1 to 2 weeks, and you need to repeat. However, that depends on the kind and quantity of liquid fertilizer you use for growing plants. This kind of fertilizer can be sprayed directly onto the plant, where it will be quickly utilized by the plant after being absorbed by the leaves. Both at the beginning of the growing season and again in the middle of it, fertilizers can be applied. If you don't apply it with the right concentration or apply it too much at once, it might seriously harm your plant.

Granular

Granular fertilizers must be applied indirectly to plants because they are dry. Before planting, this kind of fertilizer is typically applied to the soil. It can be cultivated shallowly into the soil and used as a side dressing, and it can last in the soil for 4 to several weeks. As the plant grows, this enables the fertilizer to decompose in the soil. The plant can then use the nutrients when they are absorbed by the roots. Due to their surface coating, granule synthetic products have a few specific attributes. These binders contain active nutrients, slowing down how quickly the soil can absorb them. They last significantly longer as a result.

How Long Does Dry Fertilizer Take to Decompose?

When you want a fertilizer application to have a delayed release, dry organic fertilizer is the ideal option. While nutrients from dry organic fertilizer do not release as quickly as from wet fertilizers, they do reach the plant quicker than those from compost. The nutrients included in wet fertilizers are quickly available for the plant to absorb, whether the fertilizer is applied to the soil or the leaves, thus they don't stay as long as dry fertilizers. Dry fertilizer typically decomposes two weeks after application. There are many slow-release fertilizers in granular forms. The coating on the pellets aids in delaying the release of nutrients. Slow-release fertilizers take longer to operate but are more effective since they release less fertilizer at once. In fact, the quick availability of wet fertilizers is less effective because not all of them will be consumed before some of them drain out. Generally, organic dry fertilizer can take a few days to start working after being applied to the soil and can take up to two weeks to completely decompose.

How Long Does Wet Fertilizer Take to Decompose?

The effectiveness of wet fertilizer is about 24 hours. The liquid quickly absorbs into soil and leaves, making nutrients available to the plant. It could take more time depending on the weather and humidity. You can apply fertilizer to your garden once it is in the right liquid condition. The liquid equally permeates the soil. This ensures that all plants have access to the nutrients that are available. The effects of liquid fertilizers on the soil will only last 1 to 2 weeks due to how quickly a plant's roots absorb the nutrients despite the variety in formulations. However, during the plant's active growing season, you will need to apply wet fertilizer more frequently regardless of the product you select.

Organic and Inorganic

The type of fertilizer being applied, the type of soil, and the environmental conditions all affect how long fertilizer stays in the soil. Typically, some fertilizers may remain longer; most fertilizers will last in the soil for a period of several weeks to several months. In order to avoid over-fertilizing the soil and potential environmental harm, keep to the specified application rates and intervals for any fertilizers being utilized. In order to determine the soil's nutrient requirements and to make sure that the proper fertilizer types and dosages are being used, it is also a good idea to get the soil tested on a regular basis.

Compost and manure are examples of organic fertilizers that decompose more slowly in soil and can last up to a year or longer. These fertilizers can increase the soil's overall fertility while giving plants a slow and constant flow of nutrients.

Inorganic fertilizers have the potential to decompose more quickly in soil and may require more frequent reapplying. The type of fertilizer used, the soil, and the surrounding environment can all affect how quickly they decompose.

Why do Organic Fertilizers need more Time to Work?

Since the nutrients in organic fertilizers need to decompose before they can be used, they dissolve more slowly than synthetic fertilizers. The material used to make organic granular fertilizer requires time to break down by topsoil bioactivity and can take up to six weeks to completely dissolve. Granular organic fertilizer breaks down in accordance with the organic ingredients used during manufacturing. However, it takes less time for organic granules to become available than it does for compost, which takes months to decompose. Most of the granules will be held in place after spreading because of the damp soil. Most formulas suggest watering later to dissolve and utilize the fertilizer.

Difference between Grass and Flowers fertilizer

Some dry fertilizers may survive the entire growing season in flowers and vegetables with a relatively quick blooming season, while others would need to be reapplied every few weeks or months. It depends on the fertilizer's precise composition and how quickly the plant can absorb and utilize the fertilizer. Fertilizers for flowers will last in the soil for 2 to 4 weeks but depends on above mentioned conditions. The type of fertilizer you use will determine how long it takes for it to work in the grass. A little but continuous amount of nutrients are delivered over a 6 to 8 week period using slow-release fertilizers. On the other hand, quick-release fertilizers feed the lawn right away, and new growth might start to appear in just 1 or 2 days. Fertilizers for grass can last several months to years (maybe 10) due to the slow growth of grass and the decomposition of fertilizers.

What Nutrients are needed for Every Plant?

A significant source of the nutrients required by plants for growth is soil. The three essential nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). They combine to form the group known as NPK. Your plants' green leaves and growth are a result of nitrogen. A strong, healthy root system is boosted by phosphorus, while strong growth is promoted by potassium. The nutrients calcium, magnesium, and Sulphur are also very important. Additionally, plants also require amounts of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, and molybdenum.

How Long Does Nitrogen Last in Soil?

This boosts a plant's lush, green growth and aids in the decomposition of organic waste in compost. Nitrogen deficient plants have slow development, small leaves, and little top growth. Slow-release types of nitrogen are preferred and use only what is required. Lawns require a lot of nitrogen for good performance. A plant that is not well-established or rooted can become over stimulated by too much nitrogen. Simply using a wet or dry fertilizer makes a difference. Liquid fertilizers can last for 2 to 6 weeks. Granular fertilizers typically have a slow rate of release and a life span of 2 to 5 months.

Here it is important that other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium also depend on the types and method of application to plant or soil. Liquid fertilizer will last for 2 to 6 weeks and dry fertilizer can last for several weeks to months.

Where to Buy?

A lot of organic fertilizers are available in the market with different NPK ratios and methods. You are a garden lover and want to level and boost your garden. Here is the best option for buying organic fertilizers for vegetable garden at Big Ass Fertilizers.

Take Away

Fertilizers can remain in the soil for a week to a few months. The kind, method of fertilizer and the ingredients that make it up can definitely impact how long it remains in the soil. In this article, you have learned about both the organic and inorganic, as well as their forms (liquid and granular). Hopefully, this article will be helpful for you to understand the question 'how long does fertilizer last in soil?'

FAQ'S

How Long Does Fertilizer Last in Soil?

It takes at least 2 weeks for organic slow-release fertilizer to break down in the soil. After application, organic fertilizers continue to operate everywhere for several weeks to months.

How Often Should Soil be fertilized?

Around every four to six weeks after planting, it is normally advised to apply fertilizer to clay soil. Only apply a small amount of fertilizer every three to four weeks to plants growing in organic soil that is rich in organic materials.

What happens if Soil is Over Fertilized?

An excessive amount of fertilizer affects the soil by increasing the salt concentration, which can harm beneficial soil microbes. Over fertilization can result in rapid plant growth with insufficient roots that are incapable of providing the plant with enough water and nutrients.

How do I Know When to Apply Fertilizer?

If you fertilize your lawn and garden plants heavily in the fall and lightly in the spring, it would be beneficial, if required. When fertilizing and gardening large areas, it is a good idea to have your soil tested before applying anything.

Does Fertilizer Go Bad? The Reality of Fertilizer Shelf Life

There's a common notion that liquid fertilizer lasts indefinitely, but that isn't entirely accurate. Both liquid organic fertilizer and synthetic liquid fertilizer degrade over time.

Organic liquid fertilizers, like liquid mineral fertilizer and microbial inoculants, may lose their potency within a couple of years. On the other hand, synthetic liquid fertilizers tend to have a longer shelf life, usually up to 8 to 10 years, if stored under appropriate conditions, ideally below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Organic Liquid Fertilizers

Organic liquid fertilizers are derived from natural sources like fish emulsion, seaweed extracts, worm castings, guano, or compost teas. They are rich in macro and micro-nutrients needed for plant growth and are usually free from harmful chemicals.

Organic liquid fertilizers enhance the fertility of the soil over time by feeding both plants and the microorganisms that reside in the soil, leading to improved soil structure. Moreover, these fertilizers are generally safe for the environment and do not cause chemical run-off.

Liquid mineral fertilizers are a type of organic fertilizer that directly supply plants with essential minerals like potassium, calcium, and sulfur. The downside is that organic liquid fertilizers may have a shorter shelf life compared to their synthetic counterparts.

They can lose their potency within a few years, especially if stored improperly.

My recommended organic liquid fertilizer:

How Long Does Npk Last in Soil?

How Long Does It Take for Fertilizer to Decompose?

Decomposition rates of fertilizer depend on the type of fertilizer you use. Synthetic fertilizers are often instantaneous, states Burpee Seeds and Plants . Organic fertilizers typically take two to six weeks to break down into the soil.

Adding fertilizer to your lawn or garden is a precise operation, depending on the grass, flowers, fruits or vegetables that you're growing. Whether you're using lawn fertilizer or an all-purpose plant fertilizer, the decomposition rate can vary.

Dry fertilizer products are made up of granules. Turf fertilizer is generally sprinkled over the grass at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn, states the University of Illinois Extension . Reapply the fertilizer every six to eight weeks. When applying flower or garden fertilizers, mix 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer for every 100 feet of garden space, according to Texas A&M Extension . Apply in spring, and reapply in fall at about half the spring rate.

Liquid fertilizer formulations vary, but because a plant's roots take the nutrients up quickly, their effect on the soil lasts only one to two weeks. This means you'll have to reapply it more often than you would a slow-release dry fertilizer. Depending on the manufacturer, mix between 1/2 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon of liquid or water-soluble powdered fertilizer with 1 gallon of water and apply to the soil every seven to 14 days.

Each type of fertilizer — liquid or granular — has a different rate of decomposition, according to Michigan State University Extension . You can choose a quick-acting fertilizer to nourish your vegetables or a slow-release product that will keep your flowers blooming throughout the growing season.

Fertilizer can give your lawn or plants a boost when they seem to be sagging or not producing the way you'd like. For a turf builder, fertilize your lawn at the right time to get the most benefit.

For most garden fertilizers, you can use quick-release synthetic granular fertilizers if you're looking for a quick boost for flowering or vegetable plants, reports Bob Vila. They take about a week for the improvement to show and last about three to four weeks. Slow-release granular fertilizers decompose and begin to improve plants about two weeks after applied, and they last anywhere from two to nine months.

How long does fertilizer last in soil?

Does Fertilizer Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

Houseplant and garden fertilizer is a must-have product when you want healthy plants.

Many people have old fertilizer they’re unsure is safe to use. Should you toss it out, or can your plants still benefit from its ingredients?

Does fertilizer go bad? Not if you store it correctly.

Stick around to learn about:

Fertilizer shelf life

How long fertilizer lasts in soil

If plant food expires

Signs liquid or dry fertilizer is bad

Steps to store fertilizer

Fertilizer is a crucial tool for vibrant plants, so let’s learn how to handle it properly!

How Long Does Fertilizer Last?

The shelf life of all types of fertilizer is a mystery for most gardeners since expiration dates are rarely on the packaging.

The following list can help you gain a better understanding of fertilizer shelf life under proper storage conditions.

Liquid mineral fertilizer: Up to 10 years

Liquid organic fertilizer: 5-8 years

Weed and feed fertilizer: 4 years

Dry granular fertilizer: Lasts indefinitely

Dry crystallized fertilizer: Lasts indefinitely

Microbial Inoculants: 2 years

Liquid mineral fertilizers, such as Ocean Magic, stay viable for up to a decade, but you need to shake up the bottle before each use since the minerals settle to the bottom during storage.

Liquid organic fertilizers, typically made from seaweed, should last about five years before the ingredients go rancid. These fertilizers have a powerful, offensive odor when fresh, so it may be challenging to determine when it goes bad.

Herbicides in weed and feed fertilizers, such as Miracle-Gro Shake n Feed, break down the components over time, which is why they have a shorter shelf-life than other types of fertilizer.

Dry granular fertilizer is very common for lawn applications. Brands like Scott’s Turf Builder retain their active ingredients until you place them on the soil for plants to use up.

Dry crystallized fertilizer, like Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Plant Food, is made to dissolve in water so you can apply it to your plants. The nutrients stay intact within the crystals indefinitely as long as it doesn’t get wet.

As a general rule, never store fertilizers that contain herbicides or pesticides, which degrade the ingredients quickly. Use them up each year, or give them to someone who will.

How Long Does Fertilizer Last In Soil?

The fertilizer type you use will determine how long it will remain in the soil.

Soil conditions and the number of plants in the area also play a role in how fast nutrients from the fertilizer deplete in the ground.

This is how long you can expect fertilizer to last in soil:

Liquid fertilizer (organic): 2-4 weeks

Dry fertilizer (organic): 4-6 weeks

Liquid fertilizer (synthetic): 1-2 weeks

Dry fertilizer (synthetic): 4-36 weeks

Organic fertilizers require extra time to break down into the minerals and micronutrients plant roots can take up.

Synthetic liquid fertilizers have nutrients that are “ready for uptake,” so they typically won’t last in the soil for more than a week.

Granule synthetic fertilizers typically have a coating or binder around the active ingredients to slow down the rate the nutrients soak into the ground, so they last much longer.

Related | Does Potting Soil Go Bad?

Does Plant Food Expire?

Some plant food, especially organic fish blends, does expire because the natural ingredients degrade over time.

Synthetic liquid or granular plant food will not expire if you store it under perfect conditions.

If synthetic crystals or granules get wet from rain, snow, ice, a sprinkler, or even high humidity, the material will quickly absorb the moisture and start breaking down.

If such material remains inside a plastic bag or container, you can still use the product, but if it’s left in a box or sack that leaks, the nutrients will leach out.

How To Tell If Fertilizer Is Bad

Here are the five signs your fertilizer may be bad:

1. Change of texture or a bulging bottle

2. Odd smell

3. Change of color

4. Infested with bugs

5. Mold growth

Not all of the signs above mean you must throw away the fertilizer. In many cases, the ingredients are still active, but you’ll have to do a bit of work to fix it so you can spread it on your plants.

How To Tell Liquid Fertilizer Is Bad

Synthetic liquid fertilizer rarely goes bad before you use it all.

Liquid fertilizers that use organic ingredients do go bad as no stabilizing chemicals, aside from natural phosphoric acid, are used to keep it from degrading.

After opening the container, organic fertilizer has no means to control how long the active ingredients will remain dormant.

Once the liquid’s biological components become active, fungi and bacterial growth will occur in the container.

You may actively see mold growth, or witness the bottle bulging out from the production off-gasses as the mold feeds. The liquid will also take on a strange consistency and rancid odor.

When you witness any of these indicators, please don’t put the product on your plants, as it may cause harm.

How To Tell Granular Fertilizer Is Bad

Hardening or “melting” of granular fertilizer can happen under moist conditions, but you can still dry and break up this material and use it safely on your plants.

Organic granular fertilizers are very attractive to many insects and animals, especially cats, mice, rats, and beetles. These critters may leave behind feces or bacteria that could be harmful to plants, so don’t use them if you see waste products in the fertilizer.

Small quantities of mold growth on granular fertilizer should not cause issues for plants. Use the material as usual, or spread the material in a dry location for a few days to kill off the fungi before putting it around plants.

Microbial Inoculants

Microbial inoculant fertilizers are very sensitive to environmental conditions, especially temperatures below 60 degrees or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Microbial inoculants are a specialized fertilizer that includes nutrients and microbes.

SCD BIO AG Microbial Inoculant & Soil Amendment

How To Store Fertilizer

Step 1 – Gather Suitable Containers

Most packaging for dry or crystallized fertilizer will be ineffective in protecting the product during long-term storage.

Use ziptop baggies or airtight containers large enough to hold the fertilizer.

There is no need to move the product into a different bottle for liquid fertilizers unless the original has cracks.

Have a permanent pen or marker on hand to label each bag or container with name brand and type of fertilizer, along with the original purchase date so that you can track the age of the product.

Step 2 – Seal Up The Fertilizers

For liquid fertilizers in a sturdy bottle, you’ll only need to wipe down the spout and neck area with a rag, then screw on the cap lightly.

Always store the fertilizer bottles in an upright position and add the purchase date with a marker if there’s no expiration date on the label.

For granular fertilizer, pour dry material from opened bags into your container of choice. Remove as much air as you can and seal the container.

WARNING: Never mix different fertilizers in a single container as a dangerous chemical reaction can occur.

Step 3 – Store The Fertilizer In A Safe Space

The best place to store fertilizer is in a dry location away from sunlight and exposure to extreme temperature swings.

A temperature and humidity-controlled garage, greenhouse, basem*nt, or shed is best. Avoid leaving fertilizer in storage bins outdoors or sheds with no protection from heat, cold, or pests.

Liquid fertilizer can freeze, which can alter its effectiveness once it thaws back out.

Keep the fertilizer well-marked and out of reach of pets or kids.

Do not store the fertilizer near paints, chemicals, or pesticides.

In Summary

Fertilizer is worth the investment, but storing it often leaves many homeowners confused on the best way to keep it in good condition.

I hope this article helped clarify how to tell when fertilizer is bad. I also hope you use the tips to store fertilizer correctly, so you can use it safely for many gardening seasons to come!

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