Module 4.8Excreta fertilisers in Agriculture

How can ecological fertilisers from excreta best be used?

What is the farmer applying to the field?

• Mineral Fertiliser• Animal Manure

– Slurry– Solids

• Water• Energy

How is the fertiliser applied?• Mineral fertiliser

– Spreader– By hand

• Solid manure– Spreader for solids TS>20%– Manually

• Trolley + shovel• Liquid manure

– Spreader for liquids TS<12%– Overflowing– Included in watering water– Applied bucket/tank wise

When is the fertiliser applied?

• Before plantation• Until 2/3 of season• Until Ear setting• Until one month before

harvest• 2-3 times per cropping• Every day?

Application of water

• When is it needed?– Increased water, except

during flooding• How?

– Spraying– Surface overflow – Surface application– Drip irrigation

Group question

• How can we produce these fertilisers from households– What materials do we get?– Do they need extra treatment?

• Why?

– What are the fertilising value of the fractions?

Nutrient content in wastewater

• Urine– 1-1.5L /pd 3-500L /year

• 0.3-0.7L per urination– 3-3.5kg N/py– 0.3kg P/py– 0.3kg K/py– All direct plant available

Fraction content

• Faeces– 100-400g/pd 40-100kg/year– 0.3kg N/py– 0.1kg P/py– 0.2kg K/py– Most organically bound

Nutrient content in wastewater

Treatment of urine

– Storage• 2 Month >20C• 1 Month >30C

– Not according to WHO!

– Urine to own garden direct use

– Urine from urinals only – less treatment requred

– Selected use less storage needed

Treatment of faeces

– Composting• >50C >1week + turning• Low temp composting

– Biogas• Long HRT and MRT• Additional hygiene

treatment preferable– Chemical treatment

• Ammonia• Lime• Ash

– Selected use

How to apply the urine fertiliser– Large Medium scale

• Drip irrigation• Hose spreader• Watering

– Small scale• Drip irrigation• Watering can• Watering (with GW)

– Application• Before planting• During growth

• Compost– Solid manure– Shovel– Application

• Before planting• Biogas slurry

– Hose spreader– Land overflow– Incorporation into soil– Application

• Before planting• During growth

How to apply the faecal fertiliser

• Direct application– At trees– Mulch bed– Grass land– Avoid storage (smell)

• Treated GW– Irrigation

• Spray• Drip• Overflow

How to apply the greywater

To what can I use the urine fertiliser?

• Treated urine / at home application– Unrestricted use– Salt content– High ammonia content

• Untreated urine– Fodder crop– Crop above ground

• Processed• Fruits

– Ornamental purposes

• Level of treatment– High level unrestricted

use– Low level restricted use

• Crops with long growth period

– Pineapple – Banana– Coconut

• Non food crops– Fodder– Ornamental

To what can I use the faecal fertiliser?

• Untreated GW– At home– Direct use (minimise

piping)– Applied treatment

• Mulch bed• At trees

• Treated GW– Can be stored– Watering purposes

To what can I use the greywater?

Selection of use

• Practicality• Hygiene

– Barriers• Treatment• Selection of use

– Food crop– Fodder– Other

• Composition

• Acceptance

– User– Farmer (end user)– Consumer