Petroleum Products: Fertilizers

Out in west Texas, we need all the help we can get to make our grass and plants grow. Fertilizers are often used to aid in the growing process, and surprisingly, many of them are synthetically made from petrochemicals.

Synthetic fertilizers are composed of nutrients such as nitrogen that are artificially made from petroleum. There is, as one would suspect, quite a bit of debate between proponents of artificial and proponents of natural fertilizers, however both are commonly used.

Some say that synthetic fertilizers (made with synthetic nitrogen) are more effective because of the way the nitrogen is broken down and due to the fact that it is one of the most important nutrients for plant life. Others argue that while the nutrients may be present in synthetic fertilizers, they don’t contribute organic materials or minerals that plants also need.

For most, it comes down to a trusted brand and a good price.