Organic growers are more careful about what and where their liquid organic fertilizers come from. Hence, this article discusses how liquid fish emulsions are made. First of, they are mostly made from the Menhaden fish which is not considered a human food source. However this fish is used for making oil and animal feeds. The waste from the production of this fish into oil or animal feed is the ingredient used for making liquid fish fertilizers.
The process of making liquid fertilizer starts with cooking the fish and pressing out the oils and liquids. The solids are made into fishmeal, animal feed, and other products. The oil, which is literally worth its weight in gold, is skimmed off. The liquid is boiled down until it thickens, making fish emulsion.
To prevent decay and gas fermentation, a minute quantity of phosphoric acid is mixed with the fish emulsion. However, this mixture is still considered organic since the preservative is below 1%.
Standard composition of organic fish emulsion fertilizers is about 5% Nitrogen, 2% Phosphorous, and 2% Potassium. It also contains micronutrients that are vital for promoting plant growth.
Some organic farmers and gardeners that can easily and cheaply source for fish parts, find it practical to produce their own homemade fish emulsions. It is quite a dirty job but these farmers are not adverse to such tasks, which are generally part of organic farming.
Liquid organic fish emulsions are an exception to other organic fertilizers because they release nutrients to the plant immediately. Hence, liquid fish emulsions are used for transplanting seedlings because it makes them more viable. To use as fertilizer, the liquid fish emulsion is diluted in water and sprayed on plants or used to water the soil.
Fish emulsion is a fairly mild liquid fertilizer, but it can burn if applied too strong, so it's important to follow mixing directions. It has a definite fishy odor, but the odor goes away in a day or two after application. Some manufacturers add a deodorizer to their products. Fish emulsion must be used when it's mixed; it can't be stored after it is diluted. By the way, the undiluted liquid must be stored at room temperature because it degrades if it gets too hot.
Fish emulsion is made from fish waste that comes largely from fishmeal manufacturing and fish canning. Because fish are not caught specially for making liquid fertilizer, fish emulsion does not contribute to the depletion of fish supplies. This is one liquid fertilizer that is good for plants and good for the environment.
The process of making liquid fertilizer starts with cooking the fish and pressing out the oils and liquids. The solids are made into fishmeal, animal feed, and other products. The oil, which is literally worth its weight in gold, is skimmed off. The liquid is boiled down until it thickens, making fish emulsion.
To prevent decay and gas fermentation, a minute quantity of phosphoric acid is mixed with the fish emulsion. However, this mixture is still considered organic since the preservative is below 1%.
Standard composition of organic fish emulsion fertilizers is about 5% Nitrogen, 2% Phosphorous, and 2% Potassium. It also contains micronutrients that are vital for promoting plant growth.
Some organic farmers and gardeners that can easily and cheaply source for fish parts, find it practical to produce their own homemade fish emulsions. It is quite a dirty job but these farmers are not adverse to such tasks, which are generally part of organic farming.
Liquid organic fish emulsions are an exception to other organic fertilizers because they release nutrients to the plant immediately. Hence, liquid fish emulsions are used for transplanting seedlings because it makes them more viable. To use as fertilizer, the liquid fish emulsion is diluted in water and sprayed on plants or used to water the soil.
Fish emulsion is a fairly mild liquid fertilizer, but it can burn if applied too strong, so it's important to follow mixing directions. It has a definite fishy odor, but the odor goes away in a day or two after application. Some manufacturers add a deodorizer to their products. Fish emulsion must be used when it's mixed; it can't be stored after it is diluted. By the way, the undiluted liquid must be stored at room temperature because it degrades if it gets too hot.
Fish emulsion is made from fish waste that comes largely from fishmeal manufacturing and fish canning. Because fish are not caught specially for making liquid fertilizer, fish emulsion does not contribute to the depletion of fish supplies. This is one liquid fertilizer that is good for plants and good for the environment.
About the Author:
Tina Hull specializes in working with small farms and is a respected authority in liquid organic fertilizer. Get more information by going to her website about liquid organic fertilizer.
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