ORGANIC FERTILIZER PRODUCTION

SOIL is the nucleus of the agricultural ecosystem. It is a valuable resource requiring proper management. It plays a significant role in the overall crop production. Moreover, living organisms depend on it for life and growth. There are many ways of conserving the soil to maintain its productivity, and one of the most efficient measures is by adding organic matter. Aside from providing nutrients that crops require for their growth and development, organic matter also improves soil productivity through improved soil aeration, soil tilth (its suitability for growing crops), enhanced beneficial microbial population, and efficient soil moisture conservation. These benefits from organic matter can be realized through proper organic fertilization and management. The key to a successful organic crop production is efficient production and application of organic fertilizer.

Organic fertilizers rejuvenate and improve soil properties for better crop production. They contain beneficial microorganisms and humus which, when applied, will improve the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. Producing organic fertilizers at the farm will ensure the addition of humus to

TABLE 1. SPECIFICATIONS CONDITIONER

Characteristic

Total NPK C:N Organic matter Actual moisture content Color Consistency Odor

FOR ORGANIC FERTILIZER AND COMPOST/SOIL

Organic Fertilizer

5-7% 12:1 – 20:1 > 20%

30-35% brown to black friable no foul odor

DEFINITION OF TERMS Organic fertilizer is any product—in solid or liquid form—of plant (except byproducts from petroleum industries) or animal origin that has undergone substantial decomposition. It can supply available nutrients to plants with a total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of 5-7%. This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but no chemical or inorganic fertilizer material has been added to the finished product to affect the nutrient content, according to the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for Organic Fertilizer, 2013.

Tables 1-3 show the specifications and allowable levels of pathogens and heavy metals for organic fertilizers and compost.

Compost/Soil Conditioner Properties

2.5 - <5% 12:1 – 20:1 > 20%

30-35% brown to black friable no foul odor the soil for more efficient crop production. Thus, farmers need to know about the proper production of organic fertilizers.

Compost/Soil conditioner is any product, in solid or liquid form, of plant (except byproducts from petroleum industries) or animal origin that has undergone substantial decomposition that can supply available nutrients to plants with a total N, P, and K of 2.5% to less than 5%. This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals, but no chemical or inorganic fertilizer material has been added to the finished product to affect the nutrient content. Compost and soil conditioner are used interchangeably in the PNS.

Biofertilizers are fertilizer material that contain beneficial microorganisms and humus. They improve the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties which are essential to crop production. TABLE 2. ALLOWABLE LEVEL OF PATHOGENS FOR ORGANIC FERTILIZERS/COMPOST

Pathogens

Fecal Streptococci Total coliforms Salmonella Infective parasites

Allowable Level

<5 x 102CFU/g <5 x 102CFU/g 0 0