How to make fish hydrolysate - a fermented organic fertiliser

Summary

This video tutorial teaches how to create fish hydrolysate, a powerful microbial fertilizer made from fish or fish waste, which promotes soil regeneration, supports plant health, and boosts crop yields. The process involves mixing fish, molasses, and water, followed by fermentation for 2-4 weeks. The resulting liquid can be diluted and applied five times throughout the planting season—during land preparation, seed soaking, early plant growth, flowering, and fruit development. The video emphasizes the importance of testing this method to improve farming practices and offers insights into other organic fertilizers to enhance crop quality.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fish hydrolysate is a microbial fertilizer made from fish or fish waste, enhancing soil health by providing microbes, minerals, and vital nutrients for plants.
• 😀 The method for making fish hydrolysate involves five easy steps and uses simple, low-cost ingredients.
• 😀 The equipment needed includes a 20L bucket, knife, chopping board, mixing stick, a net, and string to cover the bucket.
• 😀 Ingredients required: 1kg of fish or fish waste, 1L of sugar cane molasses, and 3L of water for a total of 5L of fertilizer.
• 😀 A farmer with one acre (less than half a hectare) requires 1L of the fertilizer per planting season.
• 😀 The preparation time for fish hydrolysate is about 1 hour, but fermentation takes 2 to 4 weeks depending on the climate.
• 😀 Smaller fish are preferred as they are easier to chop and result in less waste in the final fertilizer.
• 😀 To make the fertilizer, mix fish, molasses, and water in the correct proportions: 1 part fish, 1 part molasses, and 3 parts water.
• 😀 Once mixed, the bucket is covered with a net, tied, and allowed to ferment for 2 to 4 weeks.
• 😀 After fermentation, the fertilizer is diluted in water (2 capfuls per 1 Jerry can) before being applied to crops.
• 😀 Fish hydrolysate should be applied five times during the planting season: during land preparation, seed soaking, at seedling stage, at flowering, and when fruit or vegetables begin to form.

Q & A

What is fish hydrolysate, and how does it benefit crops?

Fish hydrolysate is a microbial fertilizer made from fish or fish waste. It helps regenerate soil with microbes and minerals, providing essential nutrients to plants, which increases crop quality and yields.

What equipment is needed to make fish hydrolysate?

The equipment required includes a 20-liter bucket, a knife, a chopping board, a stick for mixing, a net to cover the bucket, and a piece of string or something similar to tie the net onto the bucket.

What ingredients are used to make fish hydrolysate?

To make fish hydrolysate, you need 1 kilogram of fish or fish waste, 1 liter of sugar cane molasses, and 3 liters of water.

How much fertilizer does the recipe produce, and how much is needed for one acre of land?

This recipe produces 5 liters of fish hydrolysate. For a farm with one acre (just under half a hectare), 1 liter of the fertilizer is needed for a planting season.

How long does it take for fish hydrolysate to be ready for use?

Fish hydrolysate is ready in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the climate. In hotter regions, it typically takes about 2 weeks to prepare.

How is the fish hydrolysate prepared for fermentation?

To prepare the hydrolysate, chop the fish into small pieces, then mix the fish with the molasses and water in a 20-liter bucket. Stir the mixture, cover the bucket with a net, and tie it securely. Allow it to ferment for 2 to 4 weeks.

How should fish hydrolysate be diluted before use?

Before applying fish hydrolysate, dilute it with water. For one Jerry can of water, use two capfuls of the hydrolysate.

How often should fish hydrolysate be applied during the planting season?

Fish hydrolysate should be applied five times during the planting season: when preparing the land, soaking the seeds, applying to seedlings, when flowers appear, and when the first fruits or vegetables appear.

How can fish hydrolysate be applied to plants?

Fish hydrolysate can be applied to plants by splashing it over the ground, soaking seeds in it overnight, or using a backpack sprayer or broom to apply it to growing plants.

What is the purpose of setting up a trial plot when using fish hydrolysate?

Setting up a trial plot allows farmers to test the effectiveness of microbial fertilizers like fish hydrolysate on their crops and observe the difference in growth and yield. It helps them evaluate how the fertilizer impacts their soil and plants.