Rob, I am not an organic certifier. Nevertheless, I think my response
is correct. "Chilean nitrate" is a natural geologic deposit, mined and
used in an unrefined condition. Therefore it is "natural" and some
organic certifiers historically have a default allowance for natural
substances along with a default rejection of synthetic substances.
Other certifiers have refined their system and will disallow natural
stuff for reasons which fit certain criteria. So nicotine and
strychnine are disallowed by some because of their toxicity, and nuts to
their being natural.
Long term use of chilean nitrate would have the same negative soil
effects as long term use of a synthetic sodium nitrate, so many
certifiers have phased it out and others restrict its use to 20% of the
nitrogen requirement of the crop or other schemes. All are dealing with
the fact that while it is natural, it isn't so good in the long term.
I don't personally know anyone who uses it.
best regards from NJ,
Loren Muldowney
> Thanks!
>
> Rob
>
> *****************
> T. Robert Fetter
> Research Assistant
> Dept. of Resource Economics
> Draper Hall
> University of Massachusetts
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> phone 413-545-5716
> fax 413-545-5853
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>
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