Tag: natural fertilizer

Azolla fertilizer

Plant Azolla for Fertilizer

 

Dried azolla provides a rich source of nitrogen. Plant this in between rows of rice plants.

 

1. The rice seedlings must be about 13.2 cm and 6.6 cm apart.

2. Broadcast azolla between rows, about 53-66 cm apart.

3. If the rice seedlings are short, reduce this distance- make it 50 cm apart to provide shade for the growing azola.

4. Azola will grow and flourish in this way without disturbing the growth of the rice seedlings.

5. Azola should first be dried before using a fertilizer.

 

In the People’s Republic of China, the nitrogen fertilizer they use is dried azola. They can harvest 198 cavans of palay for every hectare, only with the use of this fertilizer.

 

From: The Philippine Farmer’s Journal

March 1980

Compost in 14 Days

Compost in 14 Days

 

Nutrients in the soil get depleted gradually, so it is necessary to replenish these with fertilizers. Natural fertilizers can be made without expenses, and their use give no harm to the environment.

 

As farm wastes decompose, the carbon and oxygen that mix together cause the wastes to heat up. Thus, six(6) part of straw and grasses(which are rich in carbon) are mixed with one(1) part nitrogen-rich materials like ipil-ipil, hagonoy, chicken manure and the like.

  Continue reading “Compost in 14 Days”

How to Make A Compost

How to Make A Compost

 

1. Make the soil firm, and dig a trench around for excess water to flow into.

2. Stack up about six(6) inches high: grass; do not compress.

3. Put over the grass about 1-2 inches thick of animal manure. Urea or ammonium sulfate, about 1-2 kilos may also be used if available.

4. Put one-inch thick of rich soil mixed with wood ashes, lime over the pile.

5. Repeat the process over the pile until about 1 1/2 meters high.

6. Water the pile to make it moist.

7. Thrust a pipe(s) or bamboo pole(s) with holes to allow air to penetrate the bottom of the pile.

8. After three weeks, turn the compost over with the aid of a garden fork. This is easily done by transferring into another pile so that the bottom layer will now be on top, etc.

9. Turn the compost again bottom up after 5 weeks. Wait for 4 weeks more to allow complete composting.

10. In hot weather, the compost must be watered. In rainy days, cover the compost with banana leaves.

11. The pile of compost will be hot. This means that the bacteria in it are working.

12. Composting can also be hastened with a chemical for this purpose.

 

From: Philippine Farmer’s Journal Supplement

Other Means of Fertilizing the Soil

Other Means of Fertilizing the Soil

 

1.       Planting Legumes: Plant mongo, soybeans, ipil-ipil, or similar legumes in areas where other plants are growing. After harvesting the fruits of these legumes, their roots leave nutrients in the soil that will benefit the next crop to be planted in their place, such as rice, corn, sugar cane, pineapple or the like. The plants to be grown in this place must be rotated as some plants use more of certain soil nutrients than others do. In this way, a rotation of different crops will be using the nutrients to the best  advantage. Continue reading “Other Means of Fertilizing the Soil”