Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common word for fertilizer is 肥料 (hiryō). There are also more specific terms for chemical vs. organic fertilizers, as well as related words for compost and manure.
The general term for any substance added to soil to help plants grow.
The standard, neutral word for fertilizer in all contexts.
This fertilizer works well for vegetables.
The time to apply fertilizer is spring.
Specifically synthetic or inorganic fertilizer.
Literally 'chemical fertilizer'. Commonly used to distinguish from organic types.
If you overuse chemical fertilizers, the soil deteriorates.
Fertilizer derived from natural sources.
Literally 'organic fertilizer'. Used in gardening and farming contexts.
Organic fertilizer is safe and environmentally friendly.
Decayed organic material used as fertilizer.
Animal dung used as fertilizer.
Specifically animal manure, often from livestock. More technical than 堆肥.
Manure contains a lot of nitrogen.
肥料 (hiryō) is the broadest term for any fertilizer. 堆肥 (taihi) refers specifically to compost or decomposed organic matter, while 厩肥 (kyūhi) is animal manure. In everyday conversation, 肥料 is usually sufficient.
生ゴミをコンポストに入れています。
I put kitchen scraps in the compost bin.