Organic fertilizer is hailed as the "nutritionist of the soil," and its production process is a cycle of natural material transformation. Using animal and plant waste as raw materials, it transforms waste into high-quality fertilizer through scientific processing, which is both environmentally friendly and improves soil fertility. The complete organic fertilizer production process mainly consists of four core stages: raw material preparation, proportioning and mixing, fermentation and maturation, and processing and shaping.
Raw material preparation is the basic step. Common raw materials are divided into two categories: plant-based and animal-based. Plant-based materials include straw, fallen leaves, weeds, fruit peels, and vegetable residues; animal-based materials include livestock and poultry manure, fish bones, shrimp shells, and silkworm excrement. After collection, pretreatment is necessary: plant-based materials should be crushed to 5-10 cm to facilitate decomposition; animal-based materials need to be air-dried to reduce moisture content, and at the same time, remove stones, plastics, and other impurities to avoid affecting the fermentation quality.
Proportioning and mixing are crucial for successful fermentation. The core is to control the carbon-nitrogen ratio at 25:1-30:1. Carbon elements mainly come from straw and fallen leaves, while nitrogen elements come from livestock and poultry manure and soybean meal. Too much carbon will slow down fermentation; too much nitrogen will easily produce foul odors. The moisture content should be adjusted to 60%-65%, judged by whether the material forms a clump when squeezed by hand, with water visible between the fingers but not dripping. During mixing, thorough stirring is necessary to ensure even contact of the raw materials, creating conditions for microbial activity.
Fermentation and maturation is the core stage, divided into three periods: heating, high temperature, and cooling. The mixed raw materials are piled into a heap 1.5-2 meters high. Microorganisms multiply rapidly, raising the pile temperature to above 55℃, entering the high-temperature period. This stage kills pathogens, insect eggs, and weed seeds. The pile needs to be turned over once every 5-7 days to replenish oxygen and regulate temperature. After 2-3 repetitions of turning, the pile temperature gradually decreases, and the raw materials become loose, dark, and odorless, indicating that maturation is complete.
Finally, there is processing and shaping. If granular organic fertilizer is required for easier storage, transportation, and application, a granulation step needs to be added. First, the matured organic fertilizer is sieved to remove any incompletely decomposed impurities, and then fed into a fertilizer granulator. The granulator rolls the material to form uniform granules, which are then dried to ensure a moisture content below 20%, preventing mold during storage. If granular form is not required, the sieved material can be used directly. For organic fertilizers intended for sale, the granules are then bagged and packaged. The production of organic fertilizer, through scientific control, allows for the resource utilization of waste materials, providing a green power source for agricultural production.
