Agricultural crops Production -Fertilizer.pptx

Directions: Read and understand the
questions carefully. Write the letter of
the correct answer
1. Plants need food to nourish their parts.
Which refers to any organic or inorganic
materials of natural or synthetic origin which
is added to the soil to suppy certain
elements essential for plant growth?
a. Fertilizers
b. Trace elements
c. Macroelements
d. Microelements

2. The amount of fertilizer to be applied
depends on many factors. Which is the
least observed factor regarding the rate
of fertilizer application?
a. Nutrient requirement of the plant
b. The manner of applying the fertilizer
c. Environmental factors particularly
rainfall
d. The capability of the farmer to supply
the needed fertilizer material

3. Which method of fertilizer
application is most applicable to
seedlings for their starter solution?
a. Fertigation
b. Broadcasting
c. Foliar application
d. Localized application

4. There are several ways of determining
soil fertility which are simple and
complicated. What method observes any
abnormal appearance of the growing
plant which maybe caused by a
deficiency of one or more nutrient
elements?
a. Soil analysis
b. Plant tissue analysis
c. Field fertilizer trials
d. Nutrient deficiency symptom

5. Which is the primary function of
nitrogen?
a. Hastens maturity
b. Aids in seed formation
c. Forms and transfers starch
d. Gives dark green color to plant

6. When the fertilizer materials are
uniformly scattered over the entire
area, what is the method of fertilizer
application called?
a. Side-dressing
b. Broadcast method
c. Foliar application
d. Band or localized placement

7. Which is not a method of
determining soil fertility?
a. Soil analysis
b. Field fertilizer trials
c. Nutrient deficiency symptom
d. Foliar application of fertilizer

8. Which is not a method of
conserving soil fertility?
a. Composting
b. Application of organic fertilizer
c. Practice cover cropping and
mulching
d. Practice green manuring and
intercropping

9. Which fertilizer element hastens
maturity, stimulates blooming, aids
in seed formation, and gives plants
hardiness?
a. Calcium
b. Nitrogen
c. Phosphorus
d. Potassium

10. Which is not true about organic
fertilizers? Organic fertilizers . . .
a. Decomposed farm manures
b. Improve soil physical conditions
c. Facilitate soil erosion
d. Retain soil humidity

Directions: Read and understand the
questions carefully. Write the letter of
the correct answer
1. Plants need food to nourish their parts. Which
refers to any organic or inorganic materials of
natural or synthetic origin which is added to
the soil to suppy certain elements essential for
plant growth?
a. Fertilizers
b. Trace elements
c. Macroelements
d. Microelements

FERTILIZER
Nutrients
 substances that nourish and
promote growth
Fertilizer
 any material of natural or synthetic
origin which is added to the soil to
supply certain elements needed for
normal plant growth and
development

Kinds of fertilizer
1. Organic fertilizers
a kind of fertilizer produced from
decayed plants and animals
 generally the most valuable soil
conditioner.

ORGANIC FERTILIZER
 helps prevent soil erosion, crushing,
and cracking of soil.
They retain soil humidity and improve
the internal drainage of the soil.
These fertilizers should serve as
supplement to inorganic fertilizers.
These improve the physical make-up of
the soil making the soil porous and rich
in organic matter as explained by
Sangatan and Sangatan (2000).

Sangatan and Sangatan (2000)
enumerated the sources of organic
fertilizer as follows:
• Animal wastes: cattle, carabao, pig,
goat, poultry, and horse manure or
urine, etc.
• Crop wastes: rice straw, corn stalks,
weeds, stubbles, plant leaves, husks,
etc.

• Human inhabitation wastes: night
soil, sewage, and garbage
• Green manure: ipil-ipil leaves,
legumes, and madre de cacao leaves
• Water crops or plants: water
hyacinth (water lily), water alligator,
and water lettuce

• Biological organic sources: azolla,
and blue green algae
• Silt, river mud, and pond mud
• By-product of biogas digester,
digested sludge, and effluent
• Other sources: animal bone, ash,
seaweeds, and guano (bat manure)

2. Inorganic (chemical fertilizers)
a kind of fertilizer made up of
chemical elements from mineral
origin
It consists of materials processed or
transformed into a chemical material
or fertilizer.

Types of fertilizer based on the
fertilizer element present
a. Single element fertilizers
 These contain only one major element.
Examples of these are:
nitrogen – ammonium sulfate – (NH4)2 SO4 (21-0-
0)
phosphorous – ordinary super phosphate – P2O5
(0-20-0)
potassium – muriate of potash – K2O (0-0-60)

b. Incomplete fertilizers
These contain only two essential
fertilizer elements.
Example:
ammonium phosphate (16-20-0)

c. Complete fertilizers
These contain all the three major
elements N (nitrogen), P
(phosphorous) and K (potassium) in
percentages indicated by the three
numerals designating the fertilizer
grade.
 Complete fertilizers are available in
granular and water soluble form.

Plants that are deficient in
nitrogen will show varying
degrees of yellowing of the
canopy and stunting appearance.

A deficiency of phosphorous is
manifested by a violet
discoloration at the leaf midrib
and, as the deficiency intensifies,
the leaf color becomes dull
grayish green, and a burning
appearance shows along the leaf
margin.

A deficiency in potassium shows a
discoloration of leaves to pale
green. Brown spots developed
from tip to the margin of the
leaves result in drying of the
margins.

Analysis of common inorganic or
commercial fertilizers (INGO 2005)
Material
Percent
N P2O5 K2O
Anhydrous ammonia 82 0 0
Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0
Ammonium phosphate 16 20 0
Ammonium chloride 25 0 0

Urea 46 0 0
Superphosphate 0 20 0
Trial
superphosphate
0 48 0
Muriate of
potash
0 0 60
Sulfate of potash 0 0 50
Complete 14 14 14

Fertilizer Computation
• According to Bautista as cited by
Nitural (Undated), fertilizer grade or
analysis refers to the minimum
guarantee of the nutrient content in
terms of percent total N, percent
available P2O5, and percent water
soluble K20 in a fertilizer.

• For example, the fertilizer grade of
ammonium sulfate contains 21 kg
available N but it does not contain
P2O5 and K2O, therefore the
remaining 79 kg represents the
materials termed as ”carriers” or
“fillers”. A mixed complete fertilizer
with a grade of 12-24-12 contains
12%N, 24% available P2O5 ,and 12%
K2O, respectively.

• The fertilizer recommendation is
expressed in kilograms N, kilograms
P2O5 and kilograms K2O per hectare,
respectively. In technical
publications, this is written as, 90-60-
30. This recommendation involves
the application of 90 kg N, 60 kg
P2O5 and 30 kg K2O5 per hectare,
respectively.

• To calculate the weight of fertilizer,
divide the recommended rate by the
nutrient content of the fertilizer
material (from the grade or analysis).
Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate X 100
% Nutrient of Fertilizer material

• To get the number of fertilizer bags, divide the
weight of nutrients required by the weight of
the nutrients per bag, thus:
Number of fertilizer bag= Weight of fertilizer material
Weight of nutrient per bag (Kg)
Or, divide the weight of fertilizer from formula
by the weight per bag, thus,
Number of fertilizer bag= Weight of fertilizer material
Weight per bag

Sample Computations:
a. Recommended rate: 90-60-30
NPK/ha
Available Fertilizer Materials:
a. Urea (46-0-0)
b. Ordinary Superphosphate (0-20-0)
c. Muriate of Potash (0-0-60)

Weight of Fertilizer Material (FM) = Weight of Nutrient x 100
% Nutrient
Step 1. Weight of Urea = 90 x 100 or 90 = 195.65 kg
46 .46
Step 2. Weight of OSP= 60 x 100 or 60 = 300 kg
20 .20
Step 3. Weight of MP= 30 x 100 or 30 = 50 kg
60 .60

b. Recommended Rate: 90-60-30 kg
NPK/ha
a. Ammonium phosphate (Ammophos)
(16-20-0)
b. Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0)
c. Muriate of potash (0-0-60)

Step 1.
Weight of Ammophos = 60 x 100 = 300 kg
20
Note: since ammophos contains two elements,
nitrogen (16%N) and phosphorous (20%P2O5)
therefore, we already satisfied the 60 kg
requirement for P2O5 and another 60 kg for
nitrogen. Again, since the recommended rate
for N is 90 kg/ha therefore, we have not
satisfied yet its amount.

• However, we should not forget that
ammophos contains both nitrogen and
phosphorus and these two are
inseparable, therefore, from the 300kg
ammophos there is still nitrogen present.
To determine the amount of nitrogen in
300 kg ammophos, it can be computed
by multiplying the value by 16 and divide
it by 100 thus,

300 x 16 = 48 kilograms
100
Since the recommendation requires 90kg
nitrogen, 42kg N is still needed. This amount
can be supplied by ammonium sulfate which
contains 21% nitrogen, thus
42 x 100 = 200 kilograms.
21

For potassium, the amount of muriate of potash
is 30 x 100 = 50kg
60
So, to meet the 90-60-30 recommendation the
following materials should be applied:
Ammophos (16-20-0) = 300kg
Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) =200kg
Muriate of potash (0-0-60) = 50kg

2. Recommended Rate : 100-60-60
NPK/ha
Complete Fertilizer (CF) (14-14-14)
Urea (46-0-0 )
Step 1. Compute the amount of fertilizer (14-14-
14) needed.
Weight of CF = 60 x 100 = 428.57 kg
14

• From this 428.57kg of complete fertilizer, 60kg
each of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5) and
potassium (K2O) were already satisfied.
However, the recommendation for nitrogen is
100 kg, therefore, it is short of 40kg. This
remaining amount will be supplied by urea
which contains 46% nitrogen.
Step 2. Compute the remaining amount of 40kg
nitrogen which will be taken from Urea (46-0-
0).
Weight of Urea = 40 x 100 = 86.96 kg
46

Methods of fertilizer application
Villegas and Malixi (1977) stated that to
get the maximum benefit, the fertilizer
must be applied where the plant can
readily absorb it.
• Proper placement of a fertilizer will
provide an efficient and continuous
supply of plant nutrient and will prevent
salt injury to the seedlings.

The following are the different
methods of fertilizer application:
1. Broadcast method. The fertilizer
material is applied uniformly over
the entire area before planting or
while the crop is growing.
Topdressing refers to broadcast
application on growing crops.

2. Localized application. The fertilizer is
applied close to the seed or plant, either
in band adjacent to the plant rows (side
dressing) or by plow-sole application. In
the plow-sole method, the fertilizer is
covered lightly with soil before seeding
or planting.
• Localized application is essential for high
rate applications of high analysis
fertilizers. This method is commonly used
for most vegetables.

3. Foliar application. Plant nutrients
may be applied on the aerial part of
the plant. The dissolved nutrient
must penetrate the cuticle of the leaf
or the stomata and then enter the
plant cells.

• This method is usually employed
only in applying micronutrients.
Marginal leaf-burn could occur with
the application of high
concentrations of fertilizer.

4. Applied with the seed – Fertilizer is
broadcast together with the seeds or
the seeds are coated with fertilizer by
means of an adhesive such as cellofas or
gum Arabic.
5. Fertigation – This involves dissolving
the fertilizer materials in water and then
applying it with the use of a sprinkler.

Methods of determining soil fertility
Training Manual in Horticulture NC II (2007),lists
the methods of determining soil fertility as
follows:
1. Field fertilizer trials. As the term implies, field
fertilizer trial experiment is carried out in the
field. It could be conducted in different places
under different seasons. When managed and
conducted properly, the results obtained from
this method are very reliable.

2. Soil analysis. It is a rapid method of
assessing the fertilizer needs of
crops. The principle involved is that
the amounts of available nutrients in
the soil are directly related up to a
critical point with the growth and
yield of crop.

Soil analysis consists of four phases
namely:
1. Proper collection of soil samples
2. Chemical analysis
3. Interpretation of analytical results
4. Formulation of fertilizer
recommendation

3. Plant tissue analysis. This is customarily
made of fresh plant tissue in the field. It
is a quick test and is important in the
diagnosis of the needs of growing plants.
• Sap from ruptured cells is tested for
assimilated N-P-K. Tests for other
elements such as Mg and Mn are also
done.
• The concentration of the nutrients in the
cell sap is usually a good indication of
how well the plant is supplied at the time
of testing.

4. Nutrient deficiency symptom. An
abnormal appearance of the growing
plant may be caused by a deficiency
of one or more nutrient elements.
• This visual method of evaluating soil
fertility is unique and it requires no
expensive equipment.
• It can also be used as a supplement
to other diagnostic techniques.

Loss of nutrients from the soil
• The fertility of the soil is not lasting.
• It is usually lost through
mismanagement by farmers who
work in the land.
• There are many ways in which soil
fertility is depleted.

Loss of nutrient from the crops.
• Plants utilize large quantities of
nutrients from the soil for their
growth.
• The plants having reached their
maturity are harvested and sold.

The amount of soil nutrient lost
through the crops depends on the
kind of crops grown. Crops may be
classified into three categories:
1. Heavy feeders are those crops that
utilize a large quantity of all the
three essential plant food elements
or it may be a heavy feeder as
regards one element but a light
feeder as regards to another.

2. Medium feeders consume not much
of the essential plant food elements.
3. Light feeders consume only a little
amount of the plant food elements.

Loss of nutrients through surface run-
off.
• Rain water or excess irrigation water
which runs off the surface of the
ground may carry not only soil
particles and the food they contain
but also the plant food which gets
dissolved in the running water.

Loss of nutrients through leaching.
• Even if we do not plant, the minerals
in the soil may be lost by leaching,
which is when the soluble substances
go with the water that drains down
to the lower depths of the soil
beyond the reach of the roots.

Soil erosion.
• This is the greatest enemy of the
farmer. Erosion is the removal of soil
from the field through natural forces.

Methods of conserving soil fertility
Soil is one of the most important
natural resources. We need to devise
and implement ways of conserving
soil.

Ways of conserving soil fertility according to
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/10-ways-
to-conserve-soil.html
1. Plant trees: “Roots of trees firmly hold
on to the soil. As trees grow tall, they
also keep rooting deeper into the soil. As
their roots spread deep into the layers of
soil, they hold it tightly, thus preventing
soil erosion. Soil under a vegetative cover
is saved from erosion due to wind as this
cover acts as a wind break.”

2. Build terraces:“Terracing is a very good
method of soil conservation. A terrace is
a leveled section of a hilly cultivated
area. Owing to its unique structure, it
prevents rapid surface runoff of water.
Terracing gives the landmass a stepped
appearance, thus slowing the washing
down of soil. Dry stonewalling is a
method used to create terraces in which
stone structures are made without using
mortar for binding.”

3. No-till farming (zero tillage):“The
process of preparing soil for plowing is
known as tilling. The process of tilling is
beneficial in mixing fertilizers in the soil,
making rows and preparing the surface
for planting. But the tilling activity could
lead to compaction of soil, loss of organic
matter, and the death of soil organisms.
No-till farming is a way to prevent the
soil from this harm.”

4. Contour plowing: “It is a method of
plowing across the contour lines of a
slope. This method helps in slowing the
water runoff and prevents soil from
being washed away along the slope.”

5. Crop rotation: “Some pathogens tend to
build up in soil if the same crops are
cultivated repeatedly. Continuous cultivation
of the same crop also leads to imbalance in
the fertility demands of the soil. To save the
soil from these adverse effects, crop rotation
is practiced. It is a method of growing series
of different crops one after another in a
given area. It also helps improve soil
structure and fertility”.

• “Crop rotation can also decrease the
need for inorganic supplements. Rotation
also can have beneficial effects on pest
reduction, and mulches (as in cover crops
during dry season) can decrease weeds
and increase retention of soil moisture”.

6. Apply fertilizers. This would involve
applying fertilizer only when the crop
is there (or nearly there, as when it
has just been planted or just before
that) and able to take it up.

7. Utilize crop residues more effectively.
8. Utilize manure more effectively.
9. Watering the soil: “Watering the soil is a
good measure of soil conservation.
Watering the soil along with plants
growing in it is a way to prevent soil
erosion caused by wind.”

10. Mulching. Mulch is any type of
material that is spread or laid over
the surface of the soil as a covering.
It is used to retain moisture in the
soil, suppress weeds, keep the soil
cool and make the garden bed look
more attractive. Organic mulches
also help improve the soil’s fertility,
as they decompose.

Organic Mulches and their Uses
• “Bark mulches are best used around
trees, shrubs and in garden beds where
you won’t be doing a lot of digging, like
front walkways and foundation plantings.
These woody mulches don’t mix well into
the soil and it can become a hassle to
have to keep moving them aside to make
way for new plants.”

• “Compost and Composted Manure
can be used anywhere, as long as
they are relatively well composted
and weed free. You can use them as
a coating of mulch or simply side
dress plants with them during the
growing season, to insulate and give
a boost of slow released nutrients.”

• “Grass Clippings are a mixed bag and are
best suited to remote areas of your
garden where you basically want to
suppress weeds. Grass clippings, like
most green plant debris with high water
content, decompose very rapidly and in
the process they can get somewhat slimy,
with an unpleasant odor - so use with
discretion. Grass clippings also tend to
mat down and not allow water to pass
through.

• “Newspaper as mulch is becoming more
and more popular. Most newspapers
have switched over to organic dyes,
especially for their black & white
sections. Shredded newspapers have
been used for years to keep plant roots
moist while shipping. Layered sheets of
newspaper also have great moisture
retention abilities and they act like other
organic mulches as far as suppressing
weeds and controlling soil temperatures.

• “Shredded Leaves are nature’s
favorite mulch. Shredded leaves can
be used as mulch anywhere and have
the added bonus of being free.”

• Straw and Salt Hay are popular
mulches for the vegetable garden.
They keep the soil and soil borne
diseases from splashing up on lower
plant leaves and make paths less
muddy.

• Soil conservation is a set of
management strategies for
preventing the soil from being
eroded or becoming chemically
altered by overuse, acidification,
salinization, or other chemical soil
contamination. It is a component of
environmental soil science.

Students of the Jones Rural School performing composting (traditional
way) during their TVE class.

• Soil organisms. “When worms excrete
egesta in the form of casts, a balanced
selection of minerals and plant nutrients
is made into a form accessible for root
uptake.
US research shows that earthworm casts
are five times richer in available nitrogen,
seven times richer in available
phosphates and eleven times richer in
available potash than the surrounding
upper150 mm of soil.

• The weight of casts produced may be
greater than 4.5 kg per worm per
year. By burrowing, the earthworm is
of value in creating soil porosity,
creating channels enhancing the
processes of aeration and drainage”.

Importance of composting
Sangalang, et.al (1977) claim that the
composting process involves the
decomposition of organic materials to form
small bits of organic matter called compost.
The whole process is done by organisms that
use organic matter principally as a source of
carbon and secondarily as a source of nitrogen
and other elements for their growth and
reproduction.

What do compost organisms need?
According to INGO (2005), the needs of the
compost organisms are:
1. Balanced diet of compost materials
• “Browns” – Browns are compost materials
that are brown and dry. Examples of which are
sawdust, dried leaves, straw and small twigs,
and others. “Browns” are high in carbon,
which for microbes are energy food.

• “Greens” – Greens are compost materials
that are green and moist like kitchen
wastes, grass cuttings, and the like.
“Greens” are high in nitrogen, which
microbes need to make proteins
Composition of a balanced diet of compost
organisms
• If you add about 3 parts of browns to 1
part of greens, then the compost
organisms will have a balanced diet.

2. Right amount of air and water
• If there is the right amount of oxygen
and moisture, microbes can rapidly
grow and multiply. If there is too
much or too little water, then the
microbes die.
• Compost materials should have a
thin film of water around them, and
many pore spaces filled with air.

3. Right temperature
• Organic materials will eventually decay
even in a cold compost pile. However,
the decay process is sped up in a hot
compost pile.
• When bacteria and fungi grow rapidly,
they burn a lot of food, and give off a lot
of heat. If the compost pile is big enough,
the heat will build up inside the pile.
Bacteria that grow well at high
temperature take over and speed up the
decay process.

Methods of composting
• Composting is the rotting down of
plant and animal residues before it is
applied to the soil.

1. Sheet Composting
• also known as sheet mulching, can
be a great way to add organic matter
back into your soils.
• Essentially, this composting
technique entails spreading thin
layers of organic materials (i.e.
compost ingredients) on top of the
soil surface.

• Some also consider this technique to
be "composting in place." Using
green manure is another means of
sheet composting. This technique is
often used on a large scale; however,
it can also be done successfully in
your backyard.”

2. In-vessel Composting
• “In-vessel composting is becoming
more and more popular with large-
scale compost producers.
• This method involves composting
within an enclosed containment
system, often a large cylindrical-
shaped container.

• The equipment involved in setting up an
in-vessel composting system is typically
quite expensive, and therefore usually
limits it's usage to industrial-sized
composting operations.
• There are numerous benefits of in-vessel
composting, such as an increased
processing speed, year-round
composting, and a highly controlled
environment.”

3. Anaerobic Composting
• describes the biological breakdown
of organic materials by living
anaerobic organisms. This may not
be the most odor-rific composting
method, but it can be quite effective.

• Some of the benefits of composting
anaerobically include the following:
it is one of the most basic means of
producing compost; it can be done
on a small scale; and it typically
produces more humus per unit of
starting material than most other
composting methods.

4. Trench Composting
• involves digging holes in your garden
soil and burying raw compost
ingredients
5. Bokashi Composting
• “Bokashi is a Japanese term meaning
fermented organic matter. Therefore,
bokashi composting describes the
making of compost via fermentation.

• To achieve optimal results, your compost
materials are inoculated with a microbial
starter culture, and placed inside a
sealed container. These starter cultures
consist of several different species of
microorganisms, all of which thrive in
anaerobic conditions. One of the most
popular microbial inoculants is called
Effective Microorganisms or EM.”

6. Composting Barrels
• “Composting barrels, or compost
tumblers, are a great composting
technique for backyard growers.
They are self-contained, clean, and if
big enough, can produce a fair
amount of compost in a short
period.”

7. Vermicomposting
• is the process of converting organic
materials like leaves and animal
manure into “humus” an organic
matter through decomposition by
the action of microbes and other
organisms.
• Humus is rich in nutrients and
contributes to soil texture and water
retention.

• According to Lomat (undated),
normal decomposition of grass
cuttings can take up to six months.
However, this can be accelerated to
as short as 30 – 45 days by the use of
earthworms to digest the organic
materials.

• This is called vermicomposting
(vermis in Latin) that yield beneficial
by-products known as vermicompost
or vermicast. In a single process, two
products are produced: the
vermicast which is pure worm
excreta and the worm biomass.

Steps in vermicomposting
a. Gathering of materials
• Composting materials such as rice
straw, grass, leaves, kitchen wastes,
animal manure, and used mushroom
substrate will be collected and
shredded as the earthworm may not
be able to digest them effectively.

• After which, some animal manures
will be added to increase the
nitrogen content of the materials.
b. Selecting the site
• The site should be airy, dry, near
water source, and raw materials for
the food of the earthworms. The
temperature of the area should be
around 26˚C.

c. Selecting the worm housing
Vermi bed/Wormbed, Courtesy of Bukig National Agricultural & Technical
School (BNATS-Aparri)

• Vermi bed/wormbeds may be made
out of different materials like iron
bars, old plastic basins, split bamboo,
or hollow blocks.

Windrows
• Windrows are piles of substrates that
are decomposed before feeding
them to the worms.
• They are usually about one meter
wide and at least a meter high and
can be of any length as desired.

Preparation of beddings.
• Bedding is the living medium for the
worms and also a food source. A
wide variety of bedding materials
can be used including newspapers,
sawdust, rice straw, pre composted
manure, and dried leaves.

Anaerobic decomposition (10-14 days).
• Arrange the bedding materials or
substrate into a bed about two (2) feet
high under partial shade like a tree.
• Cover the bed with plastic for two weeks
for anaerobic decomposition by bacteria
and fungi present in the material until
the temperature will rise to about 70°C

Aerobic decomposition (30-35 days)
• Remove the plastic cover when the
temperature of the bed cools. The
media should smell sweet.

Maintenance of the worm beds
• When the bedding materials reached the
moisture content of about 60-80% (when
a fistful is squeezed a few drops of water
should fall), the earthworms will be
placed on top at the rate of 1 kg per
square meter.
• Put sidings of hollow blocks or sawali.
Protect against birds, cats, rats etc., as
well as heavy rains as nutrients will leach.

Harvesting, Drying, and Storing.
• After 45-60 days the vermin compost
can be harvested by passing the
composted materials through a sieve
to separate the worms from the
decomposed leaves.

• The worms can be recycled into
other composting beds or made into
vermi-meal.
• The compost should be spread-over
to dry for one day ready for sale.
• The vermi-cast is then prepared for
packaging.
• The final products are placed in bags
ready for storage, distribution or for
use.

TIPS:
Compost is ready to use when it is
dark brown, crumbly, and has an
earthy smell.
• Manual extraction. Pick worms by
hand and transfer them to a new
wormbed. The vermicompost may be
allowed to dry in the shade for a few
days.

• Pyramid of Egypt. Under the shade,
pile the vermicompost in such a
manner that it looks like a pyramid.
After a day, you can harvest the top
part easily because the worms have
gone to the bottom of the pile.
When you reach the bottom of the
pile, you can extract the worms
manually.

• Migration. Move the contents of the
whole bed to one side. Fill the empty
half with new substrate as food.
Allow the worms to move freely to
the new food.

PARTIAL EXTRACTION WITH NET BAG
Fill an onion bag with fresh food and bury it in the
middle of the bed. After a week or so, the bag will be
filled with worms that you can empty to a new worm
bed. This facilitates the gathering of worms.

Composting materials showing the
presence of carbon and nitrogen
Material Carbon/Nitrogen Information
table scraps Nitrogen add with dry carbon
items
fruit & vegetable
scraps
Nitrogen add with dry carbon
items
eggshells Neutral best when crushed
leaves Carbon leaves break down
faster when
shredded

Agricultural crops Production -Fertilizer.pptx

Agricultural crops Production -Fertilizer.pptx

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