Approved Materials

The following list of fertilizers, growth promoters and soil amendments is approved for use in organic crop production. Some approved materials have certain restrictions regarding their use in organic crop production. Always carefully read the label and any other documentation. Apply all materials with awareness and care.

Algae
Animal Manure Excessive use of animal manure can lead to nitrate contamination of ground water. Heavy nitrogen use can also lead to high nitrate levels in leafy greens. Raw manure may be applied to:
  • Any green manure crop
  • Any perennial crop
  • Any crop not for human consumption
  • Any crop for human consumption, if such crop is harvested after a reasonable period of time after the most recent application of raw manure, but in no event shall such period be less than sixty (60) days
Biodynamic preparations
Blood meal
Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria
Bone meal
Boron products
Chelates Chelated micronutrient sprays may be used in conjunction with soil and/or plant tissue tests. Amino acid, lignosulphate, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and other diacid and triacid chelates are acceptable.
Chilean nitrate See: sodium nitrate
Compost
Cocoa bean hulls Need to be tested for pesticide residues.
Cottonseed meal Need to be tested for pesticide residues.
Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae
Diatomaceous earth Use a dust mask when applying to prevent lung irritation.
Dolomite May cause buildup of magnesium
Enzymes Acceptable if derived microbiologically from natural materials and not fortified with synthetic plant nutrients.
Epsom salts or magnesium sulphate
Fish meal
Fish emulsions Forms which are "fortified" with urea or other synthetic plant nutrients are prohibited. Phosphoric acid used as a stabilizer in fish emulsion cannot exceed one percent (1%) by weight of P2 03.
Gibberellic acid Acceptable if made without synthetic substances.
Grape, apple and other pomades
Greensand
Guano, bat or bird
Gypsum
Hoof and horn meal These are extracts of humates which may be made with either natural or unnatural processes. These are only acceptable if derived from natural sources and not fortified.
Humates Humates are usually natural deposits which are mined and may contain high trace mineral contents. Acceptable if derived from leonardite, lignite or coal.
Humic acid derivatives
Kelp extracts
Kelp meal
Kieserite
K-mag or sol-po-mag
Limestone
Microbial soil inoculants
Mined material
Mulches Plastic mulches must not be incorporated in to soil.
Mushroom compost Must be tested for pesticide residues.
Perlite
Peat moss Unfortified forms only.
Phosphate rock
Potassium sulfate
Rock phosphate
Shells, ground Oyster, clam, lobster and crab
Sodium nitrate Discouraged because of high sodium content. Cannot be used as the primary source of nitrogen. Sodium nitrate can be used for up to twenty percent (20%) of total nitrogen inputs. Total nitrogen is defined as pounds of nitrogen from all sources including, in part, manure, blood meal, compost, green manures, cover crops and fish meal.
Sol-po-mag or K-mag
Spent controlled atmosphere lime
Sugar beet lime Must be screened for pesticide residues.
Sulfates of zinc or iron
Sulfur, elemental Direct application to soil discouraged.
Vermiculite
Wood ashes
Worm castings
Zinc sulfate

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Prohibited Materials

Fertilizers, growth promoters and soil amendments prohibited for use in organic crop production include but are not limited to the following:

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