Organic Fertilizer

Organic Fertilizers brings in all-at-one time-sustainable agriculture, benefits to farmers, health to consumers, and wellbeing to environment in many ways. Typically made from natural materials like plants, leaves, animal dung, vegetable or crop residue, seaweed, sewage sludge, etc, ingredients of these materials are 100% natural and rich in phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Organic fertilizers are used to improve soil fertility, nutrient supply, plant vigour, produce quality, and yield.

Sustainable tomorrow with organic fertilizers. Say yes to Organic, say yes to Health.

Dry and Liquid form of Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizers are soil improvers. They are either applied in dry or in liquid form. Both forms of fertilizers help in improving the soil the structure by increasing its permeability, aggregate stability, and decreased bulk density but differently. For instance, liquid organic fertilizer can be easily mixed up to optimal nutrient level and each drop of it will have the same nature of effect as other. However, usually, it is not suitable for spreading across a large area.

Dry organic fertilizer contains not just nutrients but also organic matter. It releases nutrients slowly and helpful in improving soil health and fertility. The dry form of fertilizers is suitable when a large area needs to be covered. As for both the composition and nutrients value vary but the essential is that their quality should be optimum for high infiltration and moisture, nutrients retention, and better plant growth.

Organic Vs Chemical Fertilizers

Organic Fertilizers or Natural fertilizers are like manures that are naturally produced and have been in use for centuries to provide desirable nutrients to plants and crops. These fertilizers are typically made from- plants, animal waste, and minerals. These materials are minimally processed so that the materials can retain their natural form and rich in phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium.

Call them Inorganic, or synthetic- Chemical fertilizers- are produced artificially from inorganic materials. Manufactures of these fertilizers refine the materials like-petroleum products, rocks, etc to extract nutrients before adding the chemical fillers. They are the most widely used and commonly available.

But of late, eco-friendliness of these chemical fertilizers was largely questioned. After understanding the risk to human health and environment, people started to resort back to natural fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers contain some harmful acids like sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid which stunt the growth of microorganisms present in the soil. These micro-organisms are nitrogen-fixing bacteria which helps in supplying nitrogen to the growing plants and maintain soil health balance. In contrast, organic or natural fertilizers support the growth of these bacteria.

Associated benefits of Using Organic Fertilizers-

• Helps in boosting plant quality and productivity.
• Increase and restore organic matter content in the soil.
• Enhance biological activity and improve soil health.
• Improve the efficiency of the produce and yield.
• Safe to use for a longer time and over a larger area.
• Eliminate the risk associated with the use of harmful chemicals in fields.
• Boost the drought-resistance capacity of plants and render crops more resilient.
• Reduces carbon footprints and helps in safeguarding the entire ecosystem.
• Do not require high investments, and large industrial setup to produce.
• Best way to manage and utilize the biodegradable waste materials.

Composting Vs Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is the final product of decomposed organic waste material with the help of friendly earthworms. However, composting is the aerobic process of breaking down organic material with the release of carbon dioxide and heat which can be as high as 105-degree F. Vermicomposting is a relatively cooler process than composting wherein the temperature ranges between 50-90-degree F unlike in composting where the temperature is high. The low temperature is maintained to support the life of worms.

The vermicomposting places are shallow and more aerated as compared to composting. In composting the bins are deep and less aerated. Likewise, the space required for vermicomposting is more than the composting process.

Advantages of vermicomposting over composting-

Vermicomposting is a great source of beneficial soil micronutrients, micro-organisms, plant enzymes, and plant hormones. It has certainly an edge over traditional composting due to its efficiency and longevity.

• Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients.
• It improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and waterholding capacity and prevents soil erosion.
• Vermicompost is rich in beneficial micro flora such as a fixers, P- solubilizers, cellulose decomposing micro-flora etc in addition to improve soil environment.
• Vermicompost contains earthworm cocoons and increases the population andactivity of earthworm in the soil
• It neutralizes the soil protection.
• It prevents nutrient losses and increases the use efficiency of chemical fertilizers.
• Vermicompost is free from pathogens, toxic elements, weed seeds etc.
• Vermicompost minimizes the incidence of pest and diseases.
• It enhances the decomposition of organic matter in soil.
• It contains valuable vitamins, enzymes and hormones like auxins, gibberellins etc.

Methodology of producing Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a scientific way of producing compost using earthworms. It is prepared with the help of earthworms -Eudrilus eugeniae and eisenia fetida which are commonly found living in the soil feeding on the biomass, plant, and animal waste. Earthworms feed on organic waste and produce excreta in the form of vermicast which is rich in nitrates plus minerals like NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), Magnesium, Zinc, and Calcium.

How to produce Vermicomposting?

Vermicompost production is an easier, less costly, and biofriendly process that simply needs certain steps to be followed in a well-organized way.

Raw Material Required for Vermicomposting-

Procedure to make vermicomposting –

Vermicomposting can be made using two methods- either bed method or pit method. In bed method, the beds/rows of organic vermicomposting are prepared. However, when organic vermicomposting is prepared in cemented pits, it is called the pit method. Depending on the method to be used, either a plastic bag or a cemented pit or concrete tank is used, the size of which again depends upon the availability of raw material.

• Choose the method of preparing vermicomposting- depending on the area available for vermicompost units, the quantity of raw material available, and production targets.
• Collect the entire biomass- animal dung, rotten fruits/plants/vegetables, biodegradable kitchen waste, dry leaves, etc. and keep it under the sunlight for a minimum of 2 weeks. (The older waste is comparatively suitable for the growth of vermicomposting than fresh waste)
• Vermicompost is rich in beneficial micro flora such as a fixers, P- solubilizers, cellulose decomposing micro-flora etc in addition to improve soil environment.
• Prepare the slurry of animal dung and other waste biomass in 80:20 ratio and sprinkle water on the heap of the biomass for faster decomposition.
• Now, spread a thin layer of sand or dry paddy straw at the bottom of the tank. It is normally done when cemented tanks are not available. It avoids the mixing of bottom soil with organic matter for vermicompost.
• Prepare the bedding by placing and distributing the partially decomposed biomass on the sand layer up to the depth of 05- 1.0 ft.
• After placing the biomass on each bed/row, release the earthworm species on the top of these beddings and cover the entire bed with banana leaves or dry paddy straw or gunny bags. This will create the ideal conditions for earthworms to grow and flourish
• Now, keep sprinkling the water from time to time to maintain the optimum moisture level of the compost. The frequency of sprinkling water depends on the season. Summers will require a greater number of sprinkling than winters.
• The tank or vermicompost unit should be covered with a thatch roof to protect the compost from the direct exposure to sunlight, rain, or overheating. Also, it is important to keep the worms away from the reach of ants, rats, snakes, or lizards which can eat away the earthworms and spoil the vermicompost making process.
• Keep the regular overview of the compost for 3-4 weeks to maintain the ideal condition of earthworms to grow.
• After nearly 24-25 days, the entire raw material will get converted into vermicompost.
• The newly produced vermicompost appears like the ‘dry tea leaves’ wherein the moist percentage should be 20-25% for the best results.

Soil conditioners

Organic Fertilizers are the best plant food and act as a soil conditioner when applied to the soil. They prevent the soil from erosion, improve its texture, and properties while enhancing the retention capacity. Moreover, they create ideal conditions for plant growth by raising or lowering the pH level, loosening up compacted and hardpan soil, and also releases the locked-up nutrients. Soil conditioners can be organic or inorganic (synthetic) matter.

Amman Farms produces high-quality organic soil conditioners that are hand-on ready-made to use in the crops, plants, farms, or gardens. These soil enhancers can be directly used in any type of soil in your farm/garden for restoring fertility while taking the complete care of the produce grown in that soil.

Amman Farms produces and offer- Animal Manures, Compost, vermicompost, potting manure, enriched vermicompost, potting soil mix, germination mix, and coco peat at your doorstep.

Why do you need soil conditioners for plant growth?

• Provide food to plants -

  Soil conditioners are food to microorganisms that decompose the organic material and release nutrients in the soil. These nutrients are the food for the plants.

• Rejuvenate Soil-

  Soil requires organic matter to thrive. Soil conditioners can rejuvenate the soil and its fertility to promote the growth of healthy plants and improved yield.

• Make plant disease resistance -

  Soil conditioners reduce the chances of nematode, fungal, and viral attacks to the roots and other parts of the plants and enable longevity of them.

• Increase the efficiency of fertilizers -

  Fertilizers add nutrients but for compacted soils, these nutrients get locked up and become unavailable to the plants. Because fertilizers can not change the soil structure of the plant. It is where the soil conditioners are used to loosen the compacted/hardpan soil, improve drainage, structure, and water retention capacity of the soil.