Use Organic Fertilizers for Fertile Soil and Healthy Plants

Use organic fertilizers for fertile soil and healthy plants—this principle is at the heart of sustainable agriculture. Organic fertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing soil fertility and promoting healthy plant growth. Instead of relying on synthetic chemicals, many farmers and gardeners are turning to natural solutions like humic acid, amino acids, and natural plant hormones (ZPT). This article compiles comprehensive methods for creating effective organic fertilizers using accessible materials like coal dust, coconut coir, fish waste, water hyacinth, and even kitchen staples. Whether you’re cultivating vegetables, fruits, or ornamental plants, these formulations will help improve yield, disease resistance, and overall plant vitality.

Humic Acid (Asam Humat)

Ingredients:

• 1 gram of coal dust
• 10 ml NaOH 0.5 N

Preparation:

1. Stir the mixture thoroughly for at least 5 minutes.
2. Let it sit for 1 hour in a closed container in a cool place.
3. After 1 hour, stir again for 5 minutes.
4. Repeat this step 5 times.
5. Let it sit for 24 hours.
6. Strain the mixture using a cloth. For spraying purposes, use a finer filter.
7. Store the resulting humic acid in a sealed container.

Dosage:

• Seed treatment: Mix humic acid and water at a 1:1 ratio. Soak seeds for 10–30 minutes.
• Soil preparation (15 days before planting):
• • Soil drenching: 50 ml per liter of water
  • Foliar spray: 30 ml per liter of water
  • General soil application: 100 ml per liter of water

Note: Coal dust can be replaced with coconut coir, palm bunch waste, humus, or groundnut shell waste.

Humic Acid from Water Hyacinth (Soil Conditioner and Root Stimulator)

Ingredients:

• 1 ton of water hyacinth
• 100 kg of manure
• 10 kg rice bran
• 20 liters of clean water
• 5 kg Trichoderma sp. as a decomposer and bio-fungicide

Equipment:

• Composting bin (wood or bamboo)
• Tarp for covering

Preparation:

1. Mix water hyacinth, rice bran, and manure evenly.
2. Mix Trichoderma sp. with clean water and moisten the mixture until damp but not soggy.
3. Place into the compost bin and cover tightly with a tarp.
4. Every 7 days, open and stir. If dry, sprinkle water to maintain moisture. Cover again.
5. After 21 days, humic acid is ready for use or packaging.

Amino Acids (Asam Amino)

Fish-Based Amino Acid

Ingredients:

• 0.5 kg small fish (preferably blue-backed fish like tuna, mackerel, sardines, catfish, golden snails)
• 0.5 kg palm sugar (1:1 ratio with fish)
• Half a medium unripe papaya (or use the stem and leaves for papain enzyme)
• 10–15 starfruits (can substitute with one-third unripe pineapple)
• 10 ml EM4 or replace with MOL or Yakult

Preparation:

1. Blend all ingredients thoroughly.
2. Place in a container and ferment for one month.
3. Do not add water initially. During fermentation, liquid will form naturally.

Dosage:

• Spray: 1–2 ml per liter of water
• Drenching: 2.5 ml per liter of water

Application Frequency:

• Every 1–2 weeks. Increase dosage as the plant matures. You can enhance with other compatible ingredients.

Fish Amino Acid (FAA)

Ingredients:

• Whole fish or waste parts (guts, heads, fins, bones) or snails
• Molasses or palm sugar (1:1 ratio)

Preparation:

1. Mix 1 kg of fish with 0.5 kg of sugar.
2. Place in a container. Add the remaining sugar on top.
3. Fill only 2/3 of the container to reduce mold formation.
4. Cover with a cloth or tissue.
5. Ferment for at least 10 days (ideal: 6 months).
6. Proper fermentation should not produce foul odors.

Dosage:

• Spray/Drench: 1:1000 ratio with water
• Use once weekly
• Not recommended during the flowering stage as it promotes leaf growth.

What is FAA?

Fish Amino Acid (FAA) is a nutrient-rich liquid made from fermented fish, packed with amino acids and nitrogen. It benefits plants and soil microbes, promotes healthy growth, and works even better when combined with a pinch of urea.

Benefits:

• Enhances vegetative growth
• Improves the taste and aroma of leafy vegetables
• Boosts composting by activating microbes
• Effective against mites and whiteflies
• Can be sprayed on both sides of the leaves

Egg-Based Amino Acid

Ingredients:

• 5 eggs (adjust as needed)
• Lemon juice or starfruit juice
• 250 grams palm sugar

Preparation:

1. Place eggs in a jar and submerge in juice.
2. Ferment for 10 days with a sealed lid.
3. Crush eggs and mix with an equal amount of thick palm sugar syrup.
4. Ferment again for 10 days.

Dosage:

• Spray: 1–2 ml per liter of water

Express Amino Acid

Ingredients:

• Eggs, fresh milk, and sugar (whisk until foamy)
• Dissolve yeast (Fermipan) in warm water, let it bubble for 15 minutes
• Combine both mixtures, store in a sealed bottle overnight
• Ready to use the next day

Golden Snail Amino Acid

Ingredients:

• 10 kg golden snails (with shells)
• 1 whole unripe/mature pineapple or papaya (recommend: ripe papaya)

Preparation:

1. Boil snails until cooked, then cool and drain.
2. Great pineapple or papaya.
3. Crush the boiled snails with shells.
4. Mix with grated fruit.
5. Place in an anaerobic fermentation setup (use a tube and seal it tightly).
6. Ferment for 30–40 days. Stir and strain before use.

Dosage:

• Wet soil: 30 ml per 14–15 liter tank
• Dry soil: 20 ml per tank
• Spray every 10–20 days, depending on soil type

Note: Snails can be replaced with catfish, bandeng, tuna, mollusks, or black snails.

Natural Plant Growth Regulators (ZPT – Zat Pengatur Tumbuh)

Natural Sources of ZPT:

• Coconut water: Rich in cytokinin
• Shallots: Contain auxins and gibberellins
• Bamboo shoots: Source of gibberellins
• Banana trunks: Source of cytokinin
• Sprouts: Rich in auxin
• Tomatoes: Contain auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ABA, ethylene, and kalin
• Young corn: Source of gibberellin and cytokinin
• Water hyacinth: Contains gibberellin, proteins, and carbohydrates

DIY ZPT Recipes

Auxin

Ingredients:

• 1 kg golden snails
• 5 liters of water
• 1 kg sugar/molasses
• 1 cup EM4/MOL

Preparation:

1. Boil snails, discard shells. Cool.
2. Mix with EM4/MOL.
3. Store in a sealed container for 12–15 days.
4. Dosage: 2 ml per liter of water

Cytokinin

Ingredients:

• 1 kg banana trunk
• 5 liters of water
• 1 kg sugar/molasses
• 1 cup EM4/MOL

Preparation:

1. Chop or blend the banana trunk, and mix with all ingredients.
2. Seal and ferment for 12–15 days.
3. Dosage: 2 ml per liter of water

Gibberellin

Ingredients:

• 1 kg bamboo shoots
• 5 liters of water
• 1 kg sugar/molasses
• 1 cup EM4/MOL

Preparation:

1. Peel and chop bamboo shoots.
2. Mix with other ingredients.
3. Ferment for 12–15 days.
4. Dosage: 2 ml per liter of water

ZPT from Coconut Water

Ingredients:

• 5–6 liters of coconut water
• 1 liter EM4
• 250 g white sugar
• 1 liter of rice water

Dosage:

• ¼ liter per sprayer tank

Rooting or Budding Stimulant

Ingredients:

• 0.5 kg shallots blended with 2 liters of water

Dosage: 1 glass per tank
Note: Use immediately after blending to prevent spoilage. Best applied during the vegetative phase as a plant immune booster.

Aspirin for Plant Immunity

Aspirin contains salicylic acid, a powerful plant immunity enhancer that:

• Stimulates rooting in cuttings
• Accelerates wound healing in stems
• Promotes flowering and fruiting in tomatoes, chili, paprika, potatoes, and eggplants

Application:

• Dissolve 1 tablet in 1 liter of water, and spray on plants
• For trees, inject directly into the wounded stem or spray

Baking Soda for Plant Hygiene

Keeps leaves and stems clean from bacteria, fungi, and pests.

Ingredients:

• 50g baking soda
• 50g Vanish soap
• 200g used cooking oil
• 10 liters of water

Application: Spray weekly in the evening

Strengthening Rice and Corn Stalks

Aloe vera and seaweed-based homemade fertilizer to strengthen plant stems, improve flowering, and prevent rot.

Ingredients:

• 3 kg aloe vera
• 9 g silica
• 5 g NaOH
• 7 kg green algae or water hyacinth
• 17 liters of water
• 0.5 kg white sugar
• 2 honey pineapples

Preparation:
Blend all ingredients, ferment in a 25-liter bucket covered in black plastic for 14 days.

Application: 9 ml/liter water

Speeding Up Fruit Maturation

Caution: Not suitable for short-harvest crops (<4 months) as it may cause premature flowering.

Ingredients:

• 250g Masamix (poultry feed)
• 6 eggs
• 5 liters of coconut water
• 250 ml molasses
• 6 caps EM4
• 0.5 kg shallots (mashed)

Preparation: Ferment all ingredients for at least 1 month.
Application: Dilute 100 ml in 15 liters of water. Apply every 3 days starting 2 weeks after planting.

Recommended for: Vanilla, marica, and long-fruiting ornamental plants.

Preventing Flower and Fruit Drop

Flowering and fruiting require high energy. Potassium is crucial during this phase. Use a balanced organic NPK equivalent of 2-1-4. Sources like bananas and tomatoes are rich in potassium.

Don’t overlook micronutrients like boron, which support potassium function.

Common Causes of Fruit Drop:

• Excessive water
• Too much nitrogen in ammonium form
• Inadequate fertilization (not adjusted to plant size or fruit load)