Production of organic fertilizer from coffee husks

With over 140,000 hectares of coffee plantations, an annual output of about 304,000 tons, over 200,000 tons of dry coffee husks will be discharged. According to farmers' practices, most of these husks are burned or dumped without any treatment or if treated, they are only superficially and not according to technical procedures, causing serious environmental pollution and causing the development of some types of fungi and harmful microorganisms that damage coffee and some other crops.

Organic fertilizer from coffee husks treated with bio-asti

To help farmers understand and make the most useful use of coffee husks, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh has built the project "Application of microorganisms in the production of organic fertilizer from coffee husks in Lam Dong" from the capital of the Lam Dong Provincial Agricultural Competition Project to gradually change the awareness and habits of coffee farmers in the province.

Below we introduce to farmers the process of producing organic fertilizer from coffee husks as a reference for their families as well as for other people in the region.

Raw materials

- Dry coffee husks: 2000 kg, Manure: 400 kg, Urea: 20 kg, Van Dien Phosphate Fertilizer: 100 kg, Potassium Chloride Fertilizer: 40 kg (optional), Lime powder: 40 kg, Sugar: 3 kg (yellow granulated sugar or molasses)

- Phase 1 yeast: Microactive decomposing yeast: 3 kg

- Stage 2 yeast: N-fixing, P-degrading yeast (Azotobacter, B. megaterium): 3 kg

Labor

4 labor costs include preparing materials, watering, wetting and moistening materials, mixing materials, piling, checking batches...

Tools needed

200 liter water tank, rake, hoe, watering can, water pump, 24m2 material cabinet (size 4 x 6 m)

Steps to follow

1. Activate yeast

Before incubating for 2-3 hours, activate the microbial decomposition yeast (Microative) phase 1: 3 kg of yeast dissolved in 150 liters of clean water in a clean tank, 3 kg of brown sugar and 300g of urea, stir until dissolved. Stir every 20 minutes.

2. Mixing raw materials and composting

The coffee husks are watered with additional water to reach a humidity of about 60% (can be determined by a moisture meter or by the method: squeeze the coffee husks tightly, if excess water flows out, then there is excess moisture, if no water flows out, when releasing the fist, the coffee husks do not stick together and come apart immediately, then the humidity is lacking, in the case of reaching a humidity of about 60%, the coffee husks are attached and come apart slowly). The coffee husks are spread in a thin layer about 50cm high, spread a layer of phosphate, manure and lime, gently stir to mix the ingredients together, spread a layer of urea and mix the ingredients evenly. Next, water the activated yeast with the mixture of materials, mix well and make the bed. The bed size is 0.9-1.2m high, the bed width is 2.5-3.0m, the bed length depends on the volume of the compost pile, trample the compost pile and cover it with a tarp.

After 1 week of incubation, check the temperature of the compost pile. If the temperature of the compost pile increases, the yeast has begun to activate. After 30 days of incubation, stir the mixture again to make it even, check and add moisture. Then incubate for another 30 days, stir again and add moisture if it is dry (dry coffee husks will decompose after 3-3.5 months).

3. Mix the yeast phase 2

Phase 2 yeast includes nitrogen-fixing bacteria N Azotobacter and P-degrading bacteria Bacillus megaterium. When the raw materials are decomposed, the temperature in the compost pile is about 35-40 degrees Celsius (after 3 months of composting), mix 3 kg of phase 2 yeast with clean water, water and mix the raw materials well, add 20 kg of KCl, compost for another 3-5 days, then fertilize or dry until the humidity reaches <25% then pack and store in a cool place or warehouse to ensure the quality of the compost (do not store it in the yard or expose it to the sun, etc.)

Currently on the market there are many yeast products used to compost organic fertilizers and coffee husks such as BIO-ASTI yeast product of Lam Dong Province Center for Science and Technology Application.

According to Khuyennongquocgia-LY