Most organic fertilizers use cattle manure and poultry litter, which, in addition to being difficult to obtain and expensive, can present chemical and biological contamination problems. But Embrapa Agrobiologia (Seropédica, RJ) has developed a technology for the production of organic fertilizers and substrates of 100% vegetable origin. And this technology is already available to producers in all regions of the country through the video "Compound 100% vegetal".
Produced by Embrapa Agrobiologia, UFRRJ and Pesagro-Rio, the video lasts 15 minutes and shows the technology step by step. In a didactic way, for example, the raw materials that can be used, the proportion of materials and the ideal way to assemble the compost pile are presented. Details such as the choice of location, formation and mixing of layers, as well as the time required for each stage are also covered.
For Embrapa researcher Marco AntĂ´nio Leal, who developed the technology and is one of the authors of the script, the video can help the farmer to produce organic fertilizer on his property, because in addition to the necessary information on the quantity and proportion of materials, the images facilitate understanding of the process. "The compost can be produced both on a large scale and on a small rural property, since it uses a simple process, which does not require large investments in infrastructure", he adds.
According to the researcher, organic fertilizers and substrates obtained from this process are of superior quality to similar ones found on the market and can also be used in organic agriculture. "These products are free from biological contamination, do not use mineral fertilizers and their cost can be much lower", reports Leal.
Composting: organic matter that becomes natural fertilizer
Composting is a natural process where the residues of the property undergo a biological transformation and become organic fertilizers or humus. In this biological process there is a decomposition of the organic matter contained in animal or vegetable remains. The final result of composting is organic compost, which can be applied to the soil to improve its characteristics, without causing risks to the environment.
The main benefits of composting are: stimulating the development of plant roots, which become more capable of absorbing water and nutrients from the soil; increased water infiltration capacity, reducing erosion; keeps soil temperature and acidity levels (pH) stable, hinders or prevents the germination of invasive (weed) plant seeds; activates the life of the soil, favoring the reproduction of microorganisms beneficial to agricultural crops.
This technique can be used not only to nourish the soil, but also as a way to recycle organic waste - cattle manure, straw, branches, tree leaves, etc.
Composting involves extremely complex transformations of a biochemical nature, promoted by millions of soil microorganisms that have in their natural organic matter their source of energy, mineral nutrients and carbon. Embrapa Agrobiologia has been studying ways to make composting even more efficient. For this, it is necessary to satisfy certain requirements related to the factors that influence the microbial activity of the soil, such as temperature, humidity, aeration, pH, type of existing organic compounds and concentration and types of nutrients available. These factors occur simultaneously, and the efficiency of composting is based on their interdependence and interrelationship.
