Natural Fertilizer Additive

Utilization of waste is the need of the hour. In agriculture if agriculture waste is used properly then the same can be used as natural fertilizer additives.

To utilize the straws left over from agricultural produce after harvest since burning of straws is banned by Government to control air pollution. “The farmers can use straw to make an additive to their bio fertilizers by setting up a small plant in their field,” Shri Ashok Awasthi,SDO (research and extension) informed.

The additive using fungus is made by leaving plant waste in the form of straw or dried leaves, with the fungus culture, along with jaggery or some other form of glucose and water to sustain the tricho derma fungi. The mixture is kept in a closed bin and opened for short intervals to allow the moisture to escape. Within a period of 35 to 40 days, the tricho derma fungus decomposes the cellulose in the plant waste and the straw and converts it into a natural fertilizer.

For the first time in the country, the scientists at Indore research and extension nursery of the forest department have created a natural fertilizer additive. It has been made with a consortium of bacteria and beneficial fungi to keep the organic content high in the soil and improve its quality. The additive is one of the most recent experiments of the scientists there. It is currently in research stage and will be launched in the market only by the next sowing season.

The additive, mixed with vermicompost, is completely natural and was first produced in January 2018 and is currently being used for growing plants in the nursery as its results on the health of the plants is monitored by the team there.

“The additional benefit of using this is that its cost is almost zero and it improves the organic content of the soil where it will be used. It will help in reducing farmer’s reliance on chemical fertilizers,” scientist at the research nursery VP Singh Bundela said.

Similarly, we have used a consortium of multiple bacteria that are beneficial for the plant’s health and put them in straw along with nitrogen, phosphate and calcium. The temperature is maintained and proper moisture is given to the bacteria to multiply. This fertilizer additive also needs around 40 days to develop following which it can be added to vermicompost to improve its quality.