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Container Gardening

Heavy metals in fertilizer

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Tonight I decided to look up the metals in fertilizers and its pretty scary stuff. I looked up a few products both organic and synthetic and most are loaded with metals. Arsenic, nickel, and lead in particular. One has to wonder how much is taken up by the plant ,and if growing edibles consequently in the food.

http://www.aapfco.org/metals.html

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Comments (3)

litterbuggy (z7b, Utah)
6 years ago
I'll be interested in hearing what folks have to say, but happily my Foliage Pro is pretty clean.

What do you mean by 'loaded'? A few parts per million of a metal isn't usually a big deal when you consider the dilution with water.

Utah's not on that website, but because California has very stringent environmental programs I'm inclined to trust that a product they approve won't be harmful if used as directed.
User
Original Author
6 years ago
PPM might be significant with certain metals as well as the form (natural or processed). Certain metals mimicking nutrients and prevent proper uptake I've read at least in regards to humans so I'm guessing it might be the same for plants. I'm going to do more research today.

I never hear anyone that concerned about it so perhaps it's not a big deal but we'll stay tuned for opinions!
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Heavy Metals in Fertilizers
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Keep in mind that data was mined almost a decade ago. I don't know, but I imagine many have sourced their parent materials or changed their mix since then for those with issues...just speculation, though. Just something to consider with that list.
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This is my take on a list like this.To me it's a tool.It may not be a great tool,but it is what it is.If we are to make informed decisions on what to use,then this could be used to help make them. I certainly will not put Arsenic,Cadmium or Lead on my breakfast cereal,then why should I put it on my plants if there are alternatives?I know that plants are tougher than us in some ways,but in a list of over 2000 fertilizers and with possibly dozens that will work for my needs and that are "cleaner than dirt",then like the old phrase says,"it's a no brainer" to make a choice.To me that's reasonable. Someone who smokes cigarettes can make the argument that there are plenty of things in the air that can cause cancer.Can they factually say that?Of course,but to use it to continue smoking,I know a few people who might think the person was a little off in the upper story. It probably comes to personal choice and I like information sometimes that I can sift through. By the way olpea,thanks very much for the updated list.I tried to find it myself.Thanks again.Brady
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I would wait and evaluate it for a month. Are you already mowing the grass?
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One possible "silver lining" in all of your recent clouds is that the extra two inches of rain that you just got was probably absorbed fairly easily by your soil. Water will run off of a dry sponge, but sink right into a wet one. Soil behaves the same way. Given your previous rains your soil was wet, and if it is not clay was ready to absorb at least most of it. That said, I think most of your fert may be gone (assuming that much of it was fast-release), but also assuming the grass plants had sufficient time to take the (presumed) imidacloprid into their roots, your grubs that will hatch in the next two months or so are likely to die. Or at least should be so weakened that they won't cause much trouble anyway. That stuff works by getting into the plant, and then poisoning the grubs when they try to eat the roots. It lingers in the plants for a long time. Good luck! Paul
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Washington state was one of the first (1997) to require testing and heavy metal limitation requirements for ANY product sold as a "fertilizer" in that state. It is a heavy agricultural state as well as having a flourishing population of hobby gardeners.

There is an extensive data base of approved products you can research as well as links to other sites that discuss things like metal uptake by plants. I fertilize so infrequently that I have not examined it closely but you may find the website useful:

Metals in Fertilizers.

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