Introduction:
Few liquid organic fertilizers have been prepared following process of making from different
sources like Korean natural firming, global natural firing and from other resources. Main
purpose of preparation of these fertilizers is application on field to study the results.
Advantages of organic / bio -fertilizers:
- Organic fertilizers reduce the risk of plant diseases.
- The health of the people consuming the vegetables grown by the addition of chemical fertilizers is more at risk.
- Organic fertilizers do not cause any type of pollution.
Market potential of organic fertilizer – present scenario
Organic fertilizers have recently gained importance in developed as well as developing
countries with the growing awareness about adverse effects of agricultural chemicals on
human health. Crops with a label of ‘organically grown’ have much higher value in domestic
and international market.
In North Bengal, cultivation of different crops and tea production control the economy of this
region. There exists a readily available market for organic fertilizer in this northern part of
West Bengal. In addition to farmers, local tea gardens also purchase huge quantity of bio-
fertilizer.
In the present project report, process of mass production of three types organic fertilizers is
described. All these three types can be manufacture under one roof. These organic fertilizers
are-
- Vermi-wash
- Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)
- Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ)
VERMI-WASH PLANT
Vermi-wash:
Vermi-wash is a brown colored liquid fertilizer which is collected after the water passes through the different layers of worm culture unit.
Procedure to make vermin-wash unit:
First to collect a 250 to 300Lts capacity one end open polythene tank. A drain cock is to be attached near the bottom of the container to collect the vermi wash.
- First fill gravels up to a height of 10 to 15% the container.
- Then fill coarse sand 10 to 15% height of the container.
- Loamy soil is then filled up to 30 to 45% height of the container.
- Put red earthworms (Eisenia Fetida) on the soil layer at the rate of 2000 worms per sq.mt surface area.
- Place hay and betel nut leaves above the soil layer.
- Dry cow dung is then to place at the top of hay and betel nut leaves layer.
Vermi-wash production:
- The bottom tap is kept open for the next 15 days. Water is added every day to keep the unit
moist. - From 16th day, the tap is closed and on top of the unit a large diameter pot with perforated
base is to place above the tank. Wicks are fitted in the holes of perforated bottom so that,
water can sprinkle slowly on the plant tank. - 5 Lts of water (plant tank capacity 300Lt with 2000 red worms) is poured into the
perforated pot every evening and allowed to gradually sprinkle on the tank overnight. - The tap of the unit is opened the next day morning and the vermiwash is collected. The tap
is then closed and the suspended pot is refilled with 5Lts of water that evening and to be
collected again the following morning. - Dung and hay is replaced periodically based on need. The entire set up may be emptied
and reset after 10 and 12 months of use.
Note:
- Red Wiggler worms life cycle and stages start as eggs, and ends after death. So
their life span may go as long as 4 to 5 years. - Measured PH value of prepared vermin-wash is 8.
Field application:
- Spray 1 part of vermi-wash with 6 part of water at afternoon to plant leaves once in a
week. Vermi-wash is not the fertilizer of land; it works as vitamins for plant leaves.
Shelf life: 1 (one) year.
Materials (FPJ)
A. Plant materials: leaves, grass, buds, young fruits, etc. Plant parts should be harvested
while the plants are in respiration mode (before sunrise) and not in photosynthetic mode
(during daylight), due to the effects these processes have on plant chemistry. Avoid collecting
plant parts during or after rainfall (ideally, wait two sunny days after rain stops) and do not
rinse collected plant parts to conserve their surface microbial populations (lactic acid-
producing bacteria and yeast), which will carry out the fermentation process.
B. Brown sugar- Equal weight of plant material.
Procedure (FPJ)
- Without washing, mix the picked plants with equal weight of brown sugar.
- Pack them in a pot until the pot is full.
- Put a stone on top of the material for 1 day to remove air.
- Upon removing the stone, materials should fill about 2/3 of the pot.
- Cover the pot with paper and string.
- Keep in a cool dark place for 7 – 8 days. The plant juice will be extracted and fermentation
will occur in the pot. - The color of the juice will change from green to brown.
- The smell should be sweet and alcoholic.
- Add water equal to the weight of brown sugar added previously.
- Filter out and discard the plant residues and retain the juice.
- The FPJ can be stored in a glass bottle or fruit grade polythene bottle in a cool, dark place
for up to 6 months. It is important not to tighten the cap completely on the bottle to allow
aeration. Shake the bottle once a week to provide air to the microorganisms. - Once a month feed the juice with 20 % of its volume of sugar.
PH value of plant juice prepared is measured. It is 3.
Application guidelines (FPJ)
Concentration: 3 tea spoonful (15ml) with 5Lt water, (say, half teaspoonful with 1Lt water).
Application instructions:
Spray on soil and plant leaves once in a week for 2 to 3 weeks.
Shelf life:
3 (three) months.
Materials:
- Cut banana, papaya and squash and mix in 1:1:1 ratio.
- Then Mix fruits with same weight of brown sugar.
- Mash up this mixture.
- Keep mixture in a plastic / glass jug and cover loosely. The volume of the mixture
should settle to 2/3 of the container after 24 hours. If the container is too full, the
microbes will not have enough air to properly ferment. If the container is less than 2/3
full mold will grown. - It should ferment for 7-10 days. .7-10 days is normal for fairly warm (25-30 Celsius)
temperatures. In colder temperatures it might take longer. - Drain the juice after fermentation, into a glass/plastic jar for storage.
- Fit the cap of the jar loosely for minimum one week to vent the gas then tighten the
cap. Periodically vent deposited gas by opening cap.
PH value: 3
Application guidelines
Dilute 20ml of FFJ with 5Lts of water.
Application instructions:
Apply as a foliar spray or soil drench. Apply during bloom phase and fruiting phase.
Shelf life:
4months in winter. 3months in summer. Keep juice bottle in dark cool place.
Shelf life inside of freeze: 6months minimum.
Early growth of tea plants after application of vermi-wash
Growth of bay leaves after application of fermented plant juice
Contact Details:
Parama Dutta M.Sc (Microbiology)
(Woman Entrepreneur)
Postal Address:
C/O – Sankha Subhra Datta
Mohanta Para
(Lane opp. to Senior Citizens Park)
Jalpaiguri- 735101. West Bengal
E-mail: [email protected]
M: 8250880297 / 8250281766