The product is free from biological contamination and has a lower cost than those found in the market. 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, from Seropédica in Rio de Janeiro, developed a technology for the production of fertilizers and organic substrates of 100% vegetable origin.
- 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 - explains Embrapa researcher Marco AntĂ´nio Leal, who developed the technology.
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
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.
To disseminate the technology, Embrapa Agrobiologia produced a didactic video, in partnership with the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro and Pesagro-Rio. The video lasts 15 minutes and shows the production step by step.
