Types Of Organic Fertilisers Nutrient Value

What Is Organic Fertilisers And What’s In Them?

Organic fertilisers are produced from naturally occurring plant and animal substances. Different organic fertilisers help to add different nutrients required by the plants or crops into the soil. Depending on the type of plants and depending on the type of soil you may need different fertilisers. Most of the manure derived from animal faeces and decomposed plants are good organic fertilisers. These fertilisers condition the soil, provide nutrients and improve water retention.

Types of manures

There are three main types of organic fertilisers or manures

• Green manure- Fresh plants like peas, grasses, mucuna, calapagonium, etc., are added to the soil by plowing. Leguminous plants are often used for this purpose as the root nodules of the plants contain nitrogen fixing bacteria. Seaweeds and spent grain from the brewing industry are also used as green manure.
• Farmyard manure – This manure mainly consists of faeces of cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, poultry, etc. Farm yard manure also contains the urine of farm animals and plant parts used as food and bedding for the animals. Before applying dung as manure it is necessary to allow the dung to undergo decomposition for a certain period. Applying fresh manure around plants like daylilies will usually cause burning of the plant roots.
• Compost manure- The decomposed remnants of plant and animal matter is called compost. Compost can be used in gardens, agricultural lands, and landscaping, to improve the structure and nutrient value of the soil.

Nutrient content of different manures

Cow manure

Cow manure contains about 17% organic matter. The average NPK ratio is 0.6-0.2-0.5. You can apply 2-4 inches of dried cow manure to the planting beds. During the growing season, you can add composted cow manure for extra nourishment. Cow manure may also contain residues of the medications used for the cattle and pesticide contents.

Horse manure

This manure has high nitrogen content than cow manure. This manure is very hot and may contain weed seeds. As horses are often provided with supplements the horse manure is great nutrient addition. The average NPK analysis is 0.7-0.3-0.6. it is better to use dry and composted manure as it will kill the weed seeds.

Fish meal

Fish meal contains dried and ground fish waste. This is a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The average NPK ratio is 2:1:1. For poor soil, you may need to add 3 pounds or 1.3kg of fish meal for 100 square feet.

Chook manure

When chicken manure is composted, 1.2-0.8-0.6 NPK is added to the soil as a topdressing. Given that chicken manure releases 3/4 of its nitrogen in the first year, it is a quick source of nitrogen. This manure is excellent for vegetable gardens and lawns because of its high nitrogen and phosphorus level.

Pig manure

The NPK values of this manure are 0.8-0.3-0.9. This manure contains micro elements necessary for the growth of plants.

Sheep manure

Sheep manure is dry and rich and is hot manure. The NPK ratio is 0.7-0.3-0.9.

Mushroom compost

This is the growing medium of mushrooms. It contains straw, gypsum, hay, chicken manure, etc. NPK analysis is 2-1-1. This is free of pesticides and seeds.

Worm castings

The manure from earthworms has NPK analysis 0.5-0.5-0-3. More than 50% of the manure is organic matter and it contains 11 trace elements.

Compost

It contains 25% organic matter and NPK is in the ratio 1:1:1. Aged compost can be applied at any time of the year.

Blood and bone fertiliser

This is a slaughterhouse by product and the average NPK of blood meal is 12-0-0 and bone meal is 3.5-18-0. When the pH of the soil is higher than 7 the bone meal fertiliser will not be as effective. Two cups of potassium sulphate must be mixed into a bucket of blood and bone fertiliser for it to be a complete fertiliser. 

Egg shells

Crushed egg shells are rich in calcium and the NPK analysis of this manure is 1.2-0.4-0.1.

Coffee grounds

This is rich in NPK and also contains copper and magnesium. The NPK value is 2-0.3-0.6