Porquinaza, an organic and profitable fertilizer that improves the quality and use of the land

Fertilizers have become a controversial and central issue for Colombian agriculture this year. This, not only because of the increase in prices that this product has suffered, but also because in the face of the access and supply crisis, organic alternatives have emerged that present themselves as a profitable and beneficial option for the land and for the farmer. .

This is how pig manure is making its way into the industry, as it guarantees nitrogen and improves soil quality, making it an ideal product for use in meat and milk farming, citrus crops and some types of avocado, cocoa and coffee crops. , grains, among others.

What is porquinaza made of and how can it be made for crops? Pig manure is made up of the faeces and urine of pigs, to which is added the material used for the pig litter and the water from the washing systems and the water lost from the drinking fountains.

After being collected, it must be sent to a manure tank and, from there, to the sprinkler irrigation system; its application can be made fresh, that is, as soon as it is harvested.

Another production method is through biodigesters, which are hermetically closed containers in which manure, food waste, sowing stubble and organic matter in general enter; feces are stored there and, through an anaerobic (airless) decomposition process, all pathogenic (pathogenic) organisms are killed and the excrement itself can be used as fertilizer, as basic nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are not affected in its composition and quality.

Since the processing of this fertilizer is obtained from the waste generated by the pig farm itself and that it does not require any additional elements, its profitability and performance are one of the great advantages compared to traditional fertilizer, since a batch of 20 pigs the material can go out to pay for a farm that holds an average of 40 cows.

Jorge Andrés Estrada, a farmer from Antioquia, has been fertilizing his farm for five years with this organic fertilizer and explains that the benefits it brings to the soil are reflected in the liters of daily milk that his cows give him. “I fertilize the land with pig manure and this has improved the quality of my land, which I have allocated to the production of pastures to feed a herd of 40 jersey cows; I milk about 20 a day and each one offers me between 18 and 20 liters ”, he emphasized.

Some experts assure that, as a recommendation, soil analyzes should be carried out to determine its nutritional requirements, keep records of fertilizing areas, have a tank of sufficient capacity and not apply this fertilizer to climbing crops and vegetables.

In addition to uses to nourish the soil, entities such as Pig Colombia and CES University found that pig manure can be used to generate energy through a system that includes anaerobic reactors.

It also generates energy

Another use of this organic fertilizer is to generate electricity. Recently, CES University and Porkcolombia have inaugurated a bioreactor that treats pig manure and generates energy. As they explained, the pig manure that is evacuated from the farm is sent to a decanter to separate the settling solids. Then, this physically pre-treated pig manure is taken to the two anaerobic reactors, which have an upward stirring and flow system, where the pig manure is processed.