Organic Fertilizer: Its Timeliness and Application

A TOYM Awardee in Agriculture and Food Technology Consultant in Organic Agriculture and Solid Wastes Management

T h e p ri o f fa rm i p u ts e . g . ch e m i l fe rti i rs a n d ce n ca l ze p e sti d e s h a s b e co m e p ro h i i ve n o w a d a ys ci b ti re su l n g i l w e r p ro d u cti ty i co m e fo r fa rm e rs. ti n o vi n

Due

continuous use of chemical fertilizers for the past 40 years our farms:

to

1. Turned acidic, some even below pH 4.

And this is critical insofar as plant nutrition is concerned.

The availability of nutrients in the soil can be seriously affected by pH.

Highly acidic as well as highly alkaline soils exhibit lower nutrient assimilation.

Nutrient availability is enhanced within the pH neutral zone : (pH = 6.5 to 7.5).

The growth of beneficial microorganisms is highly sensitive to conditions of pH.

Nitrogen fixing bacteria as well as those which transform elements into assimilablenutrient s are adversely affected by high or low pH.

On the other hand organic ertilizer fertilizer will enhance the ecomposition of organic decomposition atter matter which can contribute to eutralization neutralization of pH.

Chemical fertilization had caused adverse effects on the growth of beneficial microbes which decomposed organic matter.

Based on surveys conducted by the BSWM most of our soils have registered below 2% organic matter content which is already considered at critical levels.

The lower organic matter content means more puddled soil making land preparation more difficult and expensive.

This also led to poor aeration causing nutrient elements not to be adequately oxidized thereby making them less assimilated by plants.

On the other hand, a soil rich in organic matter will:

vEncourage better soil aeration vPromote better root penetration

Note: The looseness or friability of the soil particles.

The lower organic matter will also reduce the water holding capacity of the soil causing severe stress on plants.

In contrast, a soil with adequate amounts of organic matter will be able to retain more moisture.

Floodwater layer Soil

Soils rich in organic matter can absorb or retain water more than twice its volume by weight.

If the organic matter is high:

Roots absorb more water and soil nutrients.

They

develop more profusely and provide stability to the plant.

For emphasis:
If the soil is rich in decomposed organic matter or specifically humus this soil can absorb and retain moisture more than twice its own weight.

This is very important especially during a long dry spell (drought) or when there is El Nio.

Chemically fertilized soils have exhibited low biological activity resulting in less nutrient assimilation. This condition can only be reversed by beneficial microbes.

The soil microorganisms will accelerate the decomposition of organic substrates;

Will fix the

atmospheric

nitrogen especially

N-fixing microorganisms;

Will

transform

other

elements into metabolites or easily assimilated and more stable nutrients;

Some microorganisms also produce probiotics which can prevent the onset of fungal-, bacterial- and viralborne diseases in plants.

Important:
To get maximum productivity from a given crop the soil where it is planted must be wellbalanced in terms of its physical, chemical and biological properties.

A Well-Balanced Soil

HIGH CROP YIELD

Favorable soil fertility level shown by High nutrient availability; Desirable amounts of nutrients; Improved nutrient balance

Proper tillage & OM maintenance

FAVORABLE SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES e.g. Good Soil Aggregation & Porosity; Enough Soil Moisture

Fert. application & OM maintenance

FAVORABLE SOIL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES e.g., Optimum Activity

FAVORABLE SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES e.g., Desirable pH range; High CEC; Adequate nutrients

Beneficial Soil Microorganisms

Provide good supply of oxygen & moisture Some nutrients favor aggregation

Supply nutrients & favorable biological activity Add to store of soil nutrients

Provide good supply of oxygen & moisture Decomposition of Organic Residues Improves Soil Aggregation and Drainage

Misconceptions About Organic Fertilizers

It is common knowledge that all decomposed organic matter be it of animal or plant origin is called compost plain compost.

The statement that organic fertilizer is just plain and simple way of natural composting and that anybody can just produce this material is misleading and inaccurate.

Difference between Plain Compost and Organic Fertilizer

Fact:

Plain compost and the real organic fertilizer are essentially two different products as shown in the following table:

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

1.The total NPK is low 1. normally below 4%. Contains only the elements naturally present in the substrate/raw material.

1.Has a total NPK content of 7.5-8.0% based on 25% moisture content. Adjusted to 10% m.c. this is equivalent to about 15%.

Hence, there are not enough nutrients to support proper growth and development of the crop.

Also contains chelated trace elements to effect a graduated release for more efficient utilization by plants.

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

2.

Because of the low or inadequate amounts of nutrients the effect on plant growth and development is inefficient and yield is adversely affected.

2.The finished product is analyzed and must be ensured to contain all the necessary elements in their right ratios as well as in a well-balanced state. For example: C:N not >15; C:P not >300; C:K not >150 ; C:S not >200; Ca:B not >200; Ca:Mgnot >100; etc.

Note: The law of limiting nutrient in plant nutrition states: the yield of a given crop is limited by the deficiency of one element even though all of the other necessary elements are present in adequate amounts. J. von Liebig

These nutrients must be readily assimilated by plants to attain maximum productivity

Law of Limiting Nutrient

The yield of a crop is limited by the deficiency of one element even though all of the other necessary elements are present in adequate amounts. J. von Liebig

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

.Devoid 3

1. .May emit foul or 3 2. obnoxious smell

which is normally the complaint raised by farmers.

of any foul smell or bad odor.

This is due to incomplete or improper composting. The microorganisms usually pathogenic which produce the bad odor are not killed because the temperature during composting is not high enough.

All pathogenic organisms are eliminated because of high composting temperature. Species of bacteria in the BPA will use up the elements that may lead to obnoxious gas emissions e.g. sulfur in hydrogen sulfide and carbon in carbon dioxide, etc.

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

4.

Very difficult to apply because of improper moisture content either too dry or too wet.

4.

The moisture content is maintained at about 25% which is just right for manual application.

The texture is not also uniform and sometimes due to carelessness of the processor may contain foreign matter e.g. plastic, stick, stones etc.

In mechanical application the moisture content ranged between 15-20% depending on the machine being used. The material is being sieved to maintain uniformity

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

5.

Due to insufficient processing temperature normally below 60oC weed seeds are not eliminated and this has caused discouragement to farmers.

5.

The processing temperature would reach thermophilic range (65+/-5oC) which guarantees the elimination of all weed seeds and unwanted matter including pathogens.

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer

6. 7.

The cationexchange capacity (CEC) is low affecting the availability of nutrients for the plants. Note: The CEC is a measure or indication of the soils capacity to retain nutrients and make them available for plant use.

6.

Has a very high CEC, as much as 300 meq/g of soil.

In laymans terms an organic fertilizer with a high CEC has a huge reservoir of nutrients available for plant use.

Plain

Compost

Superior Organic Fertilizer 7. Organic Fertilizer contains about 2.5% nitrogen so in a bag of 50 kg there is 1.25 kg of N. However, this organic fertilizer also contains nitrogen fixing bacteria, 7 of them and at least 3 species of N-fixing fungi. Note: If a soil has sufficient amount of organic matter (5-10% within the first 40 cm of top layer) these N-fixers can fix N between 300 kg up to as much as 3000 kg per hectare per year. This is no mean amount and what is good about it its FREE.

7. 8.There is truth to the observation that compost in terms of nitrogen content is more expensive than chemical fertilizer pound for pound. .

Assimilation of Nutrients
The following table shows the

species of bacteria that can fix elements and/or transform elements into more stable and easily assimilated nutrients by the plants.

Element

Microorganisms Responsible for Rate of Fixation or Conversion to Assimilation by Assimilable Nutrients Plants

Azotobacter vinelandii converts NNH2-NNH3-NNH4N Nitrosomonas europeae oxidizes NH4-NNO3-N

Nitrogen

Nitrobacter winogradskyi converts NO2-NNO3-N

For Asymbiotic N-fixation: Rhizobium japonicum; Rhizobium leguminosarum For Symbiotic N-fixation: Rhizopus oligosporus

Average of 0.3 % of total weight biomass

Element

Microorganisms Responsible for Fixation or Conversion to Assimilable Nutrients

Rate of Assimilation by Plants

The following microbes solubilize insoluble phosphorus into assimilable nutrients for plant use:

Phosphorus

Bacillus subtilis; Bacillus licheniformis; Penicillium notatum; Aspergillus niger

Note: Solubilization is enhanced by organic acids e.g. formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, etc.

Average of 0.2 % of total weight of biomass

Element

Microorganisms Responsible for Fixation or Conversion to Assimilable Nutrients

Rate of Assimilation by Plants

Potassium

The following microbes solubilize insoluble potassium into assimilable nutrients for plant use:

Bacillus sp.; Aspergillussp.; Penicillium sp.

Average of 0.2 % of total weight of biomass

Element

Microorganisms Responsible for Fixation or Conversion to Assimilable Nutrients The following microbes oxidize inorganic sulfur into assimilable compounds and also capable of reducing sulfur to sulfide: Thiobacillus thiooxidans; Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Rate of Assimilation by Plants

Sulfur

Average of 0.01 % of total weight of biomass

Iron

These microbes reduce ferric to ferrous hence, minimizing phyto-toxicity in iron toxic soils:

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans; Bacillus sp.

Average of 0.01 % of total weight of biomass

Element Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Boron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Alumina, Silica, Selenium, Sodium, Chlorine, Iodine & Colloidal Silver

Microorganisms Responsible for Fixation or Conversion to Assimilable Nutrients

Rate of Assimilation by Plants

The following microbes would solubilize the elements mentioned:

Arthrobactersp.; Bacillus sp.; Corynebacteriumsp.; Klebsiellasp.; Aspergillus sp. & Penillium notatum

Average of 0.001 % to 0.005 % of the total weight of biomass

For a crop production program based on organic fertilizer to succeed - the use of quality or superior organic fertilizer is a must.

The production of this superior organic fertilizer is through the use of a scientifically formulated biological catalyst

able 1. Assay of the Nutrient Contents of Plantmate Organic tilizer.

Constituents ( Contents) Total Nitrogen (N), % Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH4-N),% Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N), % Total Phosphorus (P2O5), % Total Potassium (K2O), % Total Calcium (CaO), % Total Magnesium (MgO), % PH Moisture Content, % Sulfur (S), % Zinc (Zn), ppm Copper (Cu), ppm Iron (Fe), ppm Manganese (Mn), ppm Organic Carbon ( Walkley Black Method), %
Assayed By: (Sgd) VILMA M. QUIMSON

Moist Basis 2.44 1.84 0.60 3.74 3.61 4..46 0.19 7.5 41.03 1.59 166.0 32.50 3,375 151.0 11.85

Oven Dry Basis 4.14 3.11 1.03 6.34 6.13 7.57 0.32 2.70 282.0 55.11 5,723 256.0 20.09

Chemist IV Noted By: (Sgd) NORA B. INCIONG, Ph. D. Chief, Laboratory Services Division

Table 2.

Suggested Rates of Application of

NAME OF CROP

Organic Fertilizer.
NUMBER OF BAGS/HECTARE 8-10 10-12 12-15 20-25 15-20 10-12 15-20 20-25 10-12 12-15 15-20 15-20 12-15 12-15 15-20 12-15 12-15 10-12 8-10 8-10 15-20 15-20

FIELD CROPS Rice Corn Sugar Cane Coconut, Oil Palm and Pineapple Coffee, Cacao and Banana Peanuts BULBS and ROOT CROPS Potato and Sweet Potato Cassava Onion and Garlic Ginger Carrot, radish and sugar beet FRUIT and LEAFY VEGETABLES Crucifers and Cucurbits Tomato, Eggplant and Chili Beans and Other Legumes FRUIT TREES Mango, Durian and Mangosteen Citrus, Guava and Others FEED GRAINS and FORAGE Sorghum and Soybean Napier Grass and Others ORNAMENTALS Roses, Carnation and Gladioli Other Ornamentals PONDS Fishponds Shrimp ponds

Advantages of Organic Fertilizer vis--vis Chemical Fertilizers

1. It is cost beneficial.
Organic Fertilizer - a superior product which is produced by using the a biological preparation consisting of 25 beneficial microbes, enzymes, growth promotants, amino and organic acids and functional compounds that enhance nutrients assimilation by plants is very much cheaper compared to chemical or inorganic fertilizers.

2. It is an excellent soil conditioner.

POF when applied to the soil will make it loose and friable. In other words, it provides the soil good tilth a condition that will encourage more vigorous and profuse growth of root hairs as well as deeper and wider root zone of the plants or crops.

On the other hand, chemical fertilizers will cause puddling of the soil making it tough and difficult to prepare hence more costly for land preparation.

3. It enhances the cation exchange capacity (CEC).

The CEC refers to the nutrient binding and storing capacity of the soil. The greater the CEC the more nutrients can be stored in the soil hence, supply of nutrients to plants will not be limited and therefore encourage better growth and development and higher yield. POF can increase the CEC by as much as 6 times than the original whereas chemical fertilizers will cause immobilization in soils hence a negative effect on CEC.

4.The use of POF builds up the organic matter content of the soil.
Since the organic matter is the natural food source of beneficial soil microorganisms their proliferation will therefore be enhanced. These beneficial microbes will convert inorganic elements into metabolites or organic compounds that can be easily assimilated by plants. Also the microbes will accelerate the decomposition of organic materials e.g. grasses, weeds and stubble. Chemical fertilizers do not contain organic material, hence they dont improve the organic matter content of soils.

5. It promotes nitrogen fixation and enhances solubilization of the other elements.

POF contains at least 10 microbes (7 bacteria and 3 fungi) that are N-fixers as well as other species that can convert phosphorus, potassium and other inorganic elements available in the soil into readily assimilated compounds for plant use. This translates to substantial savings on chemical fertilizers. NPK which are generally supplied by chemical fertilizers are expensive and since they are oil-based products their prices have become very prohibitive.

6.The POF also contains beneficial microbes that have the ability to produce natural enzymes.

This will encourage the formation of growth promoting substances for better growth.

Some microbes also produce probiotics that will protect and/or increase the resistance of plants especially against physiological diseases.

7. It is a good source of organic acids that can improve the assimilability or absorption of soil minerals by the plant.
Increase assimilation will mean additional savings.

On the other hand, losses of nutrients from chemical fertilizers can be as much as 70% since they are highly volatile and not as stable as organic nutrients.

8.

It can beneficially affect the chemistry of inorganic fertilizers in the soils minimizing their degree of immobilization.

The beneficial microbes will transform the insoluble inorganic elements supplied by chemical fertilizers into metabolites or easily assimilated nutrients as pointed out above.

9. It improves the water holding capacity of the soil.

Since the POF contains substantial amounts of humus a material that can absorb water almost three times its weight, soils fertilized with it will retain more moisture a condition which is significant especially during droughts or prolonged dry season.

Humicacid which is found in humus is also beneficial for plant growth and development. Chemical fertilizers do not have a trace of humus.

10.The POF minimizes sharp fluctuation of soil temperatures. . Hence, minimizing the stress in plants or crops which is attributable to wide gaps of daytime or night time temperatures. The growth and yield of plants or crops subjected to any stress will be adversely affected. Again, chemical fertilizers do not have the ability to provide this advantage.

5.It will eventually lead to the production of organically-grown foodstuffs which are essentially free of toxic substances or harmful chemicals.
vIn the 1992 Earth Summit held in Brazil it explicitly mandated that foodstuffs traded amongst member countries of the WTO must be free of any toxic substance and the process used must be environment-friendly.

vOrganic farming is the only way sustainable production can be achieved because it promotes the ecological balance in the environment: soil, air and water unlike chemical agriculture which brings about deleterious effects on the environment.

vBecause of them being safe and have better eating quality organic products are much preferred by developed countries and even buying them at premium prices.

Pictures:

Pictorial Presentation

Determination of the soil pH using a portable pH meter.

A hybrid rice production area in Nueva Ecijafertilized with our Organic Fertilizer.

The rice crop at maximum tilleringstage. This was fertilized with 10 bags/ha of Organic Fertilizer. Notice the healthy growth despite the non-usage of

Rice crop fertilized with Organic Fertilizer at heading stage.

Rice crop fertilized with stage.

Organic Fertilizer at flowering

Rice crop fertilized with stage.

Organic Fertilizer at milking

Ripening stage of the rice crop fertilized with Fertilizer.

Organic

Harvesting the organically grown rice crop with combine harvester in Perlis, Malaysia. Average yield of MR 219

Country Philippine s Rice

Crop

Result

Inbred varieties Achieved yields of 7-8 tons/ha Hybrid varieties Achieved yields of 10-12 tons/ha A farmer in Nueva Note: Ecija got more than 15 tons/ha with hybrid rice after using POF for 3 seasons.

Hybrid Corn Sugar Cane

Achieved yields of 9-10 tons/ha Achieved yields of 150-160 tons/ha

Country

Crop

Result
Achieved yields of 20-25 tona/ha Achieved yields of 15-20 tons/ha Achieved yields of 10-12 tons/ha Achieved yields of 30-35 tons/ha Achieved yields of 30-35 tons/ha Achieved yields of 40-50 tons/ha Achieved yields of 30-40 tons/ha

Philippine Bulb onions (yellow s granex)

Bulb onions (Red creole) Garlic (Nave var.) Potato Sweet Potato Cassava Crucifers Other Vegetables

Country Malaysia Rice

Crop

Result

Inbred var. Hybrid var. Oil Palm Papaya Watermelon

Achieved yields of 7-8 tons/ha Achieved yields of 9-10 tons/ha Increased yields by 35-40 %

Orchard Trees (e.g. Increased yields by 30 % rambutan, durian, Increased yields by 30-40 etc.) % Assorted Increased yields by 35-40 vegetables %

Country China

Crop
Hybrid Japonica Rice (temperate var.) Hybrid Yellow Corn Sweet Melon Grapes, Apples & Peaches Sugar Cane Tea Assorted Vegetables Commercial Trees & Forage Crops

Result
Achieved yields of 10-12 tons/ha Achieved yields of 12-133 tons/ha Increased yields by 30-35 % Increased yields by 35-40 % Increased yields by 40 % Increased yields by 25-30 % Achieved yields of 35-40 tons/ha
In Da Qing, Heillongian Province we have successfully grown trees & intercropped with forage crops using the BPA organic fertilizer in barren lands where the pH ranged between 10-11.

Country Vietnam Rice

Crop

Result

Inbred var. Hybrid var. Cassava Orchard Trees (e.g. longan, rambutan, etc.) Indonesia Rice Inbred var. Hybrid yellow corn

Achieved yields of 7.5-8 tons/ha Achieved yields of 10 tons/ha Increased yields by 40-50 % Increased yields by 30-40 %

Achieved yields of 8 tons/ha Achieved yields of 8-9 tons/ha

Japonica rice fertilized with BPA organic fertilizer in

Organically fertilized Japonica rice in China.

Yield = 12

Oil palm plantation in Malaysia using our organic

Sweet melon using organic fertilizer in Liaoning Province, China.

Organically grown cucumber in an organic vegetable farm in

A closer view of the organically grown cucumber.

Organically grown leaf lettuce in an organic farm in

Ganoderm a
Productio n

Ganoderma fertilized with organic fertilizer in Liaoning , China. Normally, Ganoderma grows on trees but the same was successfully grown in sand mixed with our organic

Longan plantation using organic fertilizer in South Vietnam.

A cassava plantation fertilized with organic fertilizer.

A banana plantation fertilized with organic fertilizer in the

Dates tree fertilized with organic fertilizer.

Organically fertilized banana and dates in the

A hybrid orchid organically fertilized.

Another hybrid orchid which is organically

Organically fertilized ornamental

For further information Contact Gary Low

Plantmate Australia & New Zealand
0417 773 954 www.plantmate.com.au gary@plantmate.com.au mario@plantmate.com.au mark@plantmate.com.au sales@plantmate.com.au