Organic fertilizers comprise of a variety of plant-derived materials that range from fresh or dried plant material to animal manures and litters to agricultural by-products that contain moderate amount of plant essential nutrients. They are capable of mitigating problems associated with synthetic fertilizers. The nutrient content of organic fertilizers varies greatly among source materials, and readily biodegradable materials make better nutrient sources. They gradually release nutrients into the soil solution and maintain nutrient balance for healthy growth of crop plants. They also act as an effective energy source of soil microbes which in turn improve soil structure and crop growth.

Organic fertilizers are widely used for vegetables, fruits , grains plantation crops and cash crops.