The Complete Guide to Making All Kinds of Organic Fertilizer

I.    Comparison of the Characteristics of Organic Fertilizer and Chemical Fertilizer
1. Contains organic matter and can improve the soil. Can only supply mineral nutrients, generally with no soil-improving effect.
2. Contains comprehensive nutrients in low amounts. Contains a single nutrient in high amounts.
3. Long nutrient supply period, slow fertilizer effect. Fast fertilizer effect, not lasting.
4. Can improve the soil's ability to retain and supply nutrients. High nutrient concentration, prone to volatilization, loss, fixation, etc.
II. Decomposition of Organic Fertilizer
(1) Reasons for thorough decomposition:
1. The nutrients in undecomposed organic fertilizer are mostly slow-release, and crops cannot directly absorb and use them;
2. Undecomposed organic fertilizer has a high C/N ratio, and when applied to the soil it competes with crops for nitrogen;
3. Undecomposed organic fertilizer can spread pathogens, insects, eggs, etc.
(2) Nutrient changes during the decomposition process
1. Mineralization process: the process in which organic materials are decomposed by microorganisms into inorganic substances and simple organic substances.
Hydrolysis Aerobic: CO2 + H2O + Q starch, dextrin, disaccharides, monosaccharides
Anaerobic: CH4, organic acids, alcohols, a small amount of carbon dioxide
Hydrolysis Oxidation: proteins, polypeptides, aa CO2 + H2O + NH3
Decomposition: hippuric acid, benzoic acid + glycine + glycolic acid + NH3 + phytin, phytic acid, phosphoric acid
2. Humification process:
The process in which intermediate products of mineralization are further dehydrated and condensed to form a complex, stable, large-molecule brown organic substance.
Aromatic compounds, (phenols), polypeptides, amino acids, dehydrated and condensed to form humus, polysaccharides
The production of humus is an important sign of organic fertilizer decomposition,
The humus content determines the quality of the organic fertilizer.
III. Conditions for the Decomposition of Organic Fertilizer
(1) Moisture
 Affects the life activities of microorganisms; microorganisms carry out their life activities in the water film of the compost material.
 Affects the movement of nutrients and microorganisms within the compost material.
 Affects air and temperature.
 Generally, the water-holding capacity of the material is controlled at 60%-70%.
(2) Air
 Good aeration favors the activity of aerobic microorganisms and helps the material decompose. In the early stage, insert straw bundles to regulate it.
 Poor aeration favors the activity of anaerobic microorganisms, is not conducive to material decomposition, and favors humus formation. In the later stage, turning the pile and compacting it can regulate the aeration status.
(3) Temperature
Temperature changes in organic fertilizer are a sign reflecting the life activities of various microbial communities.
Generally aerobic microorganisms 30-40oC
Mesophilic cellulose-decomposing bacteria 25-37oC
 Thermophilic cellulose-decomposing bacteria 50-60oC
 In seasons with lower air temperature, the pile temperature should be raised. This can be regulated by inoculation, adding mule and horse manure, old compost, etc.
(4) C/N
 Generally, good compost requires a C/N ratio of less than 25:1, otherwise it will draw nitrogen from the environment;
Microorganisms use a 5:1 C/N ratio to build their own bodies, and for every 1 part of carbon assimilated, microorganisms need 4 parts of carbon as an energy source; then 5×4 + 5 requires 25:1;
Generally, straw has a ratio of 80:1; human urine and feces and nitrogen fertilizer should be added to compost to adjust the C/N ratio.
(5) pH
Most microorganisms in fertilizer need a neutral to slightly alkaline environment, and pH 7.5 is most suitable. Organic acids are produced during the decomposition of organic matter, lowering the pH, so lime, plant ash, and other alkaline substances should be added to regulate it.
 

II.    Section 2 Manure and Urine Fertilizer
I. Human feces and urine: a commonly applied fertilizer
(1) Composition and properties
 Human feces: the undigested part of food, 70%-80% water, 20% organic matter, 5% minerals.
 Minerals: silicates, chlorides, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, phosphorus
 Organic matter: cellulose, hemicellulose, fatty acids, proteins, amino acids
Human urine: 95% water, 5% water-soluble organic matter and inorganic salts, containing 1%-2% urea,
1% sodium chloride.
 C/N: Both feces and urine have relatively low ratios, decompose easily, have a fast fertilizer effect, and are fine fertilizers.
 pH: Human feces: generally a neutral reaction; Human urine: generally slightly acidic, becoming alkaline after decomposition