PREPARATION OF BIOORGANIC LIQUID FERTILIZER FROM CHICKEN MANURE AND GROUNDNUT HUSK

Natural organic fertilizers used in plant cultivation are characterized by low efficiency and soil-applied in large quantities to obtain high yield. The bioorganic fertilizer obtained through anaerobic fermentation comprises number of growth substances, vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids and useful micro-organisms. Bioorganic liquid fertilizer not only increases bioorganic fertility of crops (in comparison to the control and prototype fertilizer), but also accelerates their maturation and nutrient quality. Thus, the present study was aimed to produce bioorganic liquid fertilizer from chicken manure and groundnut husks through aerobic fermentation in open containers. The fermentation process was carried out under aerobic conditions in two replications based on the method suggested by PCT (2013) as follow: clamps of chicken manure and groundnut were formed in the open container covered with cotton cloth (the proportion of the manure: husk = 1:1). The starting clamp components were successively arranged in layers with a height of 0.4 m each. The formed clamps were sprayed with diluted activated microbiological formulations including yeast and lactic bacteria. The microbial formulations were prepared from yeast powder and coagulated milk (as a source of lactic acid bacteria) with non-chlorinated water in the proportion of 1:50. Mixing and spraying water on the clamp was done periodically. The fermentation process was done in open container at ambient temperature for aerobic microbiological fermentation, until cycle of a fertilizer production completed (being without any flavor).The result indicated that Phosphorus, Potassium (K) and Calcium (Ca) were found to be significant between bioorganic liquid fertilizer and compost tea (used as a control) solutions. However, there were no significance differences with respect to Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Magnesium (Mg), and Sodium (Na) contents of the solutions. It was also indicated that percentage macronutrient compositions of bioorganic fertilizer solution was found to be greater than those of compost tea solution in all studied macronutrients. It was also indicated that both compost tea and bioorganic liquid fertilizer solutions fulfills the basic requirements of plant macronutrients with respect to electrical conductivity and C:N ratio as a quality standard for organic fertilizers. Comparison of mineral composition of bioorganic liquid fertilizer and compost tea solutions with the standard for major macronutrients requirement of plants indicated that the composition of both fertilizer solutions in the present study satisfies the standard with bioorganic liquid fertilizer being higher in mean values for most of the studied mineral plant nutrients. The performance of lettuce irrigated with bioorganic fertilizer solution indicated that above ground biomass per plant was found to be significant with the highest mean weight being 101.6g for pot irrigated with bioorganic liquid fertilizer. It can be concluded from the present study that bioorganic liquid fertilizer can be produced locally available substrates. Small holder farmers can get economic relief, because by using this technology, they can minimize the use of chemical fertilizer which is being expensive and not environmentally friendly.