Challenges facing effective use of bat guano as organic fertilizer in crop production: a review
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Abstract
Bat guano is excrements of bats and it is
commonly used in agriculture as a soil amendment and
sometimes as a pesticide in organic farming. Small-scale
farmers nearby guano deposits use it for indoor and outdoor
plants as well as for hydroponic crop production. Guano in
soils acts as a source of carbon (C) and energy to drive
microbial activities as well as a precursor to soil organic
matter fractions. With all these benefits, bat guano should be
used in crop production with some precautions. Chemical
composition and properties of bat guano are not fixed and are
changing with time depending on the maturity, reaction with
the country rock and bat diet. The pH of guano changes from
alkaline to strongly acid with maturity. Similarly, guano loses
some essential plant nutrients on decomposition and
sometimes acquires potentially toxic elements as it reacts with
the host rocks. Amounts added to the soil also vary with
maturity and composition of guano. Thus, utilization of bat
guano as organic fertilizer requires a thorough and regular
characterization at the time of using it as soil amendment for
crop production
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Bat guano, Phosphorus, Organic fertilizer, Nitrogen