Survey on nutrient content of different organic fertilisers

Abstract

The knowledge of nutrient aspects of organic fertilisers is of much relevance in assessing their availability and long-term effect to the soil and crop and in formulating sound fertiliser recommendation. Around 619 organic fertiliser samples under different categories, which were received by the analytical laboratory of UPASI Tea Research Institute, Valparai, were examined for their nutrient status. The trend in the number of samples received every year for the past 5 years showed that there is a gradual, steady and linear increase in the number of samples received by the laboratory which, in turn, authenticates the increase in the production and utilisation of organic fertilisers in agricultural sector. This also reveals the awareness of organic farming among farmers in recent times. The organic fertilisers received by the laboratory were categorised into different groups based on their nomenclature. The number of samples received each year under different categories varies to a larger extent. The nutritional status was unpredictable based on the nomenclature of the sample received. In addition to this frequency distribution, the nutritional values analysed are discussed in this paper. Correlation matrix was worked out between all the parameters estimated. It is evident that if maintenance of proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and moisture content is ascertained in the finished product, one can guarantee the quality of the organic fertiliser in terms of nutrient content.

Evaluation of selected organic fertilizers on conditioning soil health of smallholder households in Karagwe, Northwestern Tanzania

“…Organic fertilizer refers to naturally occurring organic materials that contain sufficient nutrients to enhance soil health [ 16 , 17 ]. Through the provision of a variety of soil nutrients, organic fertilization techniques offer an efficient means of sustainably preserving soil health over time [ 15 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Effects of organic fertilizer incorporation practices on crops yield, soil quality, and soil fauna feeding activity in the wheat-maize rotation system

“…Organic fertilizers are materials with defined chemical composition and high nutritional value that can provide adequate nutrients for plant growth (Moller and Schultheiss, 2015;Rajan and Anandhan, 2015). Organic fertilizers were mainly made by composting animal manure, human excrement, or plant matter (such as straw and garden waste) under microorganisms fermenting at high temperatures (Chew et al, 2019).…”