What Is Milorganite Lawn Fertilizer?
Milorganite is a fertilizer created from treated sewage sludge. The biosolids come from wastewater treatment plants from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The name "Milorganite is derived from "MILwaukee ORGanic NITrogEn."
Composition
Milorganite is made of a semisolid residue of organic matter, which is a byproduct of wastewater treatment. The fertilizer value comes from the nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter in the wastewater that winds up in the sewage sludge.
History
In 1913 the City of Milwaukee created a sewerage commission that connected all municipal sewers, centralizing wastewater treatment. The new activated sludge process was adopted to treat wastewater, but it produced tons of dried microbe solids. Nutrient analyses determined the content of the material was similar in composition to commercial fertilizers and scientists began experimenting with the byproduct. The end result was Milorganite.
Benefits
Milorganite manufacturers claim that there is no burning of turf with over-application. Milorganite produces a dark green, dense turf without causing excessive top growth.
Availability
Milorganite comes in pellet form. It is sold in 36-pound bags for retail use, 50-pound bags for the commercial market and in bulk bags for large-area application. Milorganite is also sold and added to other commercial fertilizer products.
Approval
Milorganite is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for distribution for any use, including home gardens.
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