Monitoring of a bocashi-type fertilizer during the production process

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.973432426028

• Palavras-chave: Maduración de compost, abono orgánico, pH, conductividad eléctrica

• Keywords: Compost maturation, organic fertilizer, pH, electrical conductivity

• Abstract:

  Bocashi is an organic fertilizer that increases microbial diversity and improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Quality control during production must guarantee adequate chemical and physical properties, as well as an adequate degree of stability and maturity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the variables of temperature, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of bocashi during the production process. To fulfill this objective, bocashi was prepared according to the methodology proposed by Restrepo (2017) with some modifications and during the preparation period, the variables of pH, EC and temperature were measured. The results show that the final product (bocashi) had a pH of 7.0 ± 0.9, EC = 0.29 ± 0.2 ds/m, which are indicative of a mature bocashi that can be applied to the crop. Furthermore, regarding temperature, the maximum reached in the mixture was 63 ± 0.9 °C, a sufficient temperature for the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. Finally, the bocashi reached a final temperature of 34 ± 0.3°C, indicating that the bocashi went from a thermophilic to a mesophilic phase. In the present work it is concluded that the bocashi type fertilizer was carried out in an adequate way, obtaining a quality fertilizer that can be incorporated into the soil and provide sufficient nutrients to the crop.