Organic fertilizer, as the core support of ecological agriculture, relies on the resource utilization of waste such as livestock and poultry manure and straw for its production, which has both environmental and agricultural value. However,in the production of organic fertilizer, from raw material processing to finished product delivery, many difficulties restrict production efficiency and product quality, becoming obstacles to the large-scale development of the industry.
Raw material pretreatment is the first major hurdle in organic fertilizer production, and it presents significant hidden dangers. Organic fertilizer raw materials are scattered and have diverse compositions. Taking commonly used cow manure as an example, fresh cow manure has a water content as high as 75%-85%, and contains a large amount of hair and impurities. Simple squeezing is insufficient to remove the bound water within the fibers. If dehydration is incomplete, it will lead to subsequent anaerobic fermentation, foul odor, and a prolonged fermentation period. Simultaneously, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio varies greatly among different raw materials. For example, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of cow manure is approximately 18:1, while that of straw is as high as 80:1. Imbalance in this ratio can cause composting failure. Furthermore, heavy metals, pathogens, and other impurities mixed in the raw materials, if not properly treated, will directly affect the safety of the finished product.
Fermentation and composting are the core and most problematic steps in organic fertilizer production. Fermentation requires strict control of parameters such as temperature, humidity, and aeration. Temperatures below 55℃ cannot kill insect eggs and pathogens, while temperatures above 70℃ will destroy nutrients. Home-based and small-scale enterprises lack precise control equipment, making temperature imbalances common. Furthermore, improper selection of microbial strains and untimely turning of the compost pile can lead to localized anaerobic fermentation, producing foul-smelling gases such as hydrogen sulfide, polluting the environment, reducing fertilizer efficiency, and even causing "false composting" in some materials, which can burn roots when applied to the soil.
Subsequent processing and cost control also present challenges. In the crushing and granulation stages, incompletely removed lint can clog equipment, reducing production continuity. Improper moisture and binder ratios during granulation can result in loose, easily clumped granules, affecting storage and application. Simultaneously, organic fertilizer production is energy-intensive and time-consuming. Small-scale enterprises lack professional testing equipment, making it difficult to control the nutrient content and impurity standards of the finished product. Investing in improved equipment would further compress profit margins, creating a dilemma where "quality improvement leads to increased costs."
These challenges are interconnected and mutually influential, hindering the standardized development of the organic fertilizer industry. Overcoming these difficulties requires optimizing pretreatment processes based on raw material characteristics, achieving precise control of fermentation parameters through technological upgrades, and balancing cost and quality. Only by conquering these bottlenecks can we promote the improvement of the quality and efficiency of organic fertilizer production and truly realize its important role in ecological agriculture.
