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In modern agriculture, more and more attention is being paid to sustainable development and environmentally friendly farming methods. Organic fertilizer, as a kind of natural and environmentally friendly fertiliser, is gradually gaining widespread attention. It not only provides rich nutrients for plants, but also improves soil structure and promotes ecological balance. So what is organic fertilizers?
what is organic fertilizer？
Organic fertilizers refers to the fertiliser mainly derived from organic materials such as chicken manure, cow dung, horse dung and other livestock excreta and crop residues, which are applied to the soil after composting through fermentation and humification to provide nutrients for plants. Compared with chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers have the characteristics of comprehensive nutrition, long-lasting effectiveness and soil improvement.
what is in compost?
Livestock and poultry manure
Chicken manure, cow manure, sheep manure, pig manure, rabbit manure and other livestock and poultry manure are common raw materials for organic fertilizer. They are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients, but they need to be fully fermented and putrefied to kill harmful substances such as germs, insect eggs and weed seeds in them, so as to avoid causing harm to crops and soil.
Agricultural waste
Straw: e.g. maize stalks, wheat straw, rice straw, etc. A large amount of straw left over after harvesting crops is an important source of organic fertilizer raw materials, rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and other organic matter, which, after crushing, fermentation and other treatments, can provide the soil with rich organic matter and certain nutrients.
Soybean meal, cottonseed meal, mushroom trash, mushroom trash, etc.: These are the residues from the processing of agricultural products. Soybean meal is a by-product of soybean oil extraction that contains high levels of protein and a variety of nutrients; mushroom dregs are waste from the cultivation of edible mushrooms that, after treatment, can be used as high-quality organic fertilizer raw materials that can improve soil structure and increase soil fertility.
Industrial waste
Wine lees: It is the waste residue produced in the process of wine making, which contains certain organic matter and a small amount of alcohol content, and after treatment it can be used as organic fertilizer, which can improve the permeability and water retention of the soil.
Vinegar lees: is the residue in the process of brewing vinegar, rich in organic matter and organic acid, to improve soil acidity has a certain role.
Tapioca residue, sugar residue, furfural residue, etc.: Tapioca residue is the waste after processing cassava; sugar residue is the by-product of the sugar industry; furfural residue is the waste residue produced in the process of furfural production; these industrial wastes contain certain organic substances that can be processed and used to make organic fertilizer.
Food waste
Food waste such as fruit peelings, vegetable leaves, leftovers and other food waste generated by catering and food processing companies are also good raw materials for the production of organic fertilizers. These wastes can be composted with other organic materials after sorting.
how to make organic fertilizer?
First, prepare the raw materials. Organic waste such as livestock and poultry manure (e.g. chicken manure, cow dung, etc.), crop stalks, food waste, etc. can be used. The larger pieces of raw materials are crushed with a wet crusher for better fermentation.
The next step is to choose a suitable fermentation method. A common one is composting, using commercial composters (fermentation tanks) or building fermentation tanks to pile up the shredded raw materials, with a pile height of about 1.5 metres and a width of about 2 metres. In the composting process, it is necessary to maintain a suitable humidity, generally controlling the water content at 50% – 60%. You can hold a handful of material in your hand and it is appropriate for water to ooze out between your fingers but not drip down.
Then fermentation. The fermentation tank can be fitted with a compost tumbler and the pile should be turned regularly during the fermentation process, usually once every 7-10 days, to ensure even fermentation. As fermentation progresses, the temperature of the compost will gradually rise and then slowly fall. When the temperature of the compost falls to a temperature similar to the ambient temperature, the colour becomes black, the texture is soft, and there is no odour, indicating that the fermentation process is essentially complete.
Finally, the fermented organic fertilizer can be stored for spare parts after crushing, granulating, drying, cooling, screening, packaging and other processes. In the use of organic fertilizer, according to different crops and soil conditions reasonable application, in order to give full play to the role of organic fertilizer to improve soil structure, improve soil fertility, for plant growth to provide a good soil environment.
How to store organic granular fertilizer?
The first step is to choose a suitable storage location. You should find a dry, well-ventilated place with an elevated surface. A dry environment can prevent organic fertiliser from caking or becoming mouldy from absorbing too much moisture. Good ventilation allows air to circulate, removing excess moisture and reducing the risk of organic fertilizer becoming damp. Higher ground will prevent rainwater from collecting and soaking the fertiliser. If you choose to store it in a shed, make sure it has good ventilation and drainage.
Secondly, look at how it is packaged. If the organic fertilizer is in bulk, it can be covered with plastic sheeting or canvas to prevent dust and debris from getting in and to reduce moisture ingress. If the organic fertilizer is bagged, make sure the bag is not torn and is sealed tightly. When storing different types of organic fertilizer, it is best to store them separately so that they do not affect each other.
It is also important to stack them carefully. Organic fertilizer should not be stacked too high, generally no more than two metres high, to prevent the bottom of the fertiliser from being under too much pressure and caking. Stacks should be kept tidy, leaving aisles that are easy to inspect and carry. At the same time, avoid stacking with flammable, explosive and corrosive materials.
Finally, check regularly. Check the condition of the organic fertilizer regularly for moisture, lumps or mould. If problems are found, take timely action such as drying and turning the pile. Any organic fertiliser that has developed serious mould or deterioration should be removed in good time to avoid affecting the quality of other fertiliser. In short, proper storage of organic fertiliser can maintain its quality and effectiveness, providing a reliable guarantee for agricultural production.
As an important agricultural input, organic fertilizer has many benefits, including improving soil structure, increasing soil fertility, promoting crop growth, improving the quality of agricultural products and protecting the environment. Organic fertilizers play an irreplaceable role in the sustainable development of agriculture.
