Organic

Fertilising & Pest Attenuation: DRAFT

A draft document collecting local and regional experience on the formulation and use of non-
chemical based fertilizer and pesticide.

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 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................... 3
NATURAL FERTILISER ............................................................................................................................ 4
MAKING HOT AND COLD EXTRACTIONS ................................................................................................ 7
PLANT SELECTION ......................................................................................................................................... 7
ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION ........................................................................................................................... 7
STORAGE .................................................................................................................................................... 7
PREPARING A SOP SOLUTION (SURFECTANT) ..................................................................................................... 7
ORGANIC PEST CONTROL ...................................................................................................................... 8
CITRUS OIL (LIMONENE, LINALOOL) .................................................................................................................. 8
NEEM ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
ONION/GARLIC BREW ................................................................................................................................... 8
RED PEPPER (CAPSICUM) ............................................................................................................................... 8
WOOD ASH ................................................................................................................................................. 8
KEROSENE & SOAP SPRAY .............................................................................................................................. 8
SOUR SOP ................................................................................................................................................... 8
CLOVE OIL ................................................................................................................................................... 9
GUAVA (COLD EXTRACTION) ........................................................................................................................... 9
GINGER ...................................................................................................................................................... 9
BASIL ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
GARLIC ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
MARIGOLDS ................................................................................................................................................ 9
PAPAYA/PAWPAW ....................................................................................................................................... 9
TURMERIC ................................................................................................................................................... 9
CARAILLA .................................................................................................................................................... 9
BELLYACHE BUSH (JATROPHA GOSSYPIIFOLIA) AND PHYSIC NUT (JATROPHA CURCAS) .............................................. 10
GULLY ROOT (PETIVERIA ALLIACEA) ................................................................................................................ 10
MORINGA TREE .......................................................................................................................................... 10
LEMON GRASS ............................................................................................................................................ 10
SAGE (LANTANA CAMARA) ........................................................................................................................... 10
CULTURAL CONTROL .............................................................................................................................. 10
STICKY TRAPS ............................................................................................................................................. 10

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BACKGROUND
On the labels of most premixed fertilizes, you will likely see three numbers listed. If you aren’t
familiar with what they mean, the numbers represent nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or
N – P – K. These vital nutrients are needed for strong aerial growth, root development, and
overall plant health, respectively.

However, plants cannot survive on N – P – K alone. There are thirteen additional chemical
elements that contribute to the plant health and productivity.

Aside from the primary nutrients which we have already identified (nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium), plants require three secondary minerals: calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur
(S). During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight to break water and carbon dioxide down into
hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C); the three non-mineral nutrients which they turn into
food. Boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chloride (Cl), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and
zinc (Zn) are the necessary micro-nutrients which a plant must obtain from the surrounding soil.

The preferred method of delivery is through organic fertilizer, matched to the requirements of
the plants. Inorganic fertlisers, more active than their natural counterparts, leach out of the soil
with ground water, into the water table, often increasing the NPK load in the water supply. This
collection of recipes offer some organically based nutrient solutions which are ecologically
friendly.

The scope ranges from those that will be cost effective for a garden, to those that are scalable
to use on acres.

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NATURAL FERTILISER
EPSON SALTS
Hydrated magnesium sulfate, aka Epsom salts contain two important elements that plants need
to maintain optimum health. Magnesium plays a vital role during photosynthesis and is
required by plants for the proper functioning of many enzymatic processes. Seeds also need
magnesium to germinate. Sulfur aids plants with several functions including amino acid
production, root growth, and the formation of chlorophyll. This mineral also gives cole
crops(Brassicas like cabbage and broccoli) and Alliums their signature flavors.

Fertilize your onions, broccoli, and cabbages with Epsom salts to get healthier, sweeter-tasting
vegetables. Use Epsom salts on tomatoes, peppers, and roses to grow stronger plants with
more blossoms. As a general use fertilizer, Epsom salts are an inexpensive way to give plants a
healthy boost of nutrients. An Epsom salt solution is also a great way to replenish magnesium
and sulfur levels in depleted potting soil.

Mix a tablespoon of Epsom salts with one gallon of water and apply to garden plants as a foliar
spray once every two weeks.

When feeding roses, use one tablespoon of salts per foot of the plant’s height mixed in a gallon
of water.
For vegetables in a garden, sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsom salts around each seedling as soon
as they are transplanted. Repeat this feeding following the first bloom and fruiting.

For potted plants, dissolve two tablespoons of salts in one gallon of water and use this solution
in place of normal watering once per month.

BANANA PEELS
Roses love potassium. Throw one or two peels in the hole before planting or bury peels under
mulch so they can compost naturally.

EGG SHELLS
Wash them first, then crush. Work the shell pieces into the soil around tomatoes and peppers
(sweet and hot). The calcium helps fend off blossom end rot. Eggshells are 93% calcium
carbonate, the same ingredient as lime, and a tried and true soil amendment.

GRASS CLIPPINGS
Rich in nitrogen, grass breaks down over time and enhances the soil. Fill a 5 gallon bucket full
of grass clippings. You can even add weeds! Weeds soak up nutrients from the soil just as much
as grass. Add water to the top of the bucket and let sit for a day or two. Dilute your grass tea by
mixing 1 cup of liquid grass into 10 cups of water. Apply to the base of plants:
Pour 2 cups around the perimeter of each SMALL plant.
For MEDIUM plants pour 4 cups.
For LARGE plants pour 6 cups.

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MOLASSES
Using molasses in compost tea supposedly increases microbes and the beneficial bacteria that
microbes feed on. If you want to start out with a simple recipe for molasses fertilizer, mix 1-3
tablespoons of molasses into a gallon of water. Water your plants with this concoction and
watch them grow bigger and healthier.

FISH TEA
1. Collect fish parts and store in a freezer till need. These can be all waste fish parts including
scales, bones, heads, skin, stomach and flesh (fish offal). (20 to 40 pounds for 25 gallons of
water).
2. Using a cut 55 gallon metal drum, boil water and fish over a wood fire.
3. Stir and add water as needed.
4. Boil the mixture for eight hours then let sit and cool.
5. Top up the mixture with water, stir and apply to the stems of the plants of interest.
6. The previous step can be repeated till the contents are finished or the area is fertilized.
This fertilizer should be used fresh within 24 hours due to its strong smell.

FERMENTED FISH TEA
1. Make a fish tea as previously described.
2. Add the fish tea to a fermenter.
3. Use 1 to 2 pound sugar per 10 gallons of fish tea to the fermenter.
4. Use 10 grams yeast per 10 gallons of fish tea.
5. Mix the yeast in a bucket and let sit for 30 minutes.
6. Add chopped water grass, waste fruits or banana flowers to the fermenter.
7. Add the yeast and sugar mixture and top up the drum with water to 3⁄4 of its total capacity.
8. Cover the fermenter.
9. Place a piece of cloth in the air lock hose and bury about 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface.
10. Let sit for 3 months. Check weekly by smelling the tip the air lock hose.
11. Them extract is ready after 3 months, the fertilizer should have a sweet smell when
finished.
12. Foliar applications at 10%. Stem drench 10 to 20%.
This fertilizer can be stored for 6 months.

MANURE/COMPOST TEA

Add a quantity of finished compost to a crocus bam/sack filling only a quarter of the sack. Tie
the top of the sack with a string and hang into the drum. Add water to about three quarters of
the drum. Add sugar at about 1 pound to every 10 gallons of water. Add an aquarium pump and
airline. If no electricity is available on farm, the compost tea can be stirred manually three times
a day.

The compost tea will be ready after 7 days. It can be applied foliar at concentrations of 10 to 50
percent and as a stem drench at concentrations of 50 to 100%.

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SARGASSUM SEAWEED
Sargassum seaweed contains all the nutrients that plants need to survive. Almost half of the
seaweed’s dry matter is made of beneficial nutrients, which plants can use. Seaweed also has
noticeable impact on many soil borne pests and diseases. Sargassum seaweed in its various
forms can serve as an excellent slow releasing organic fertilizer and assist with pest and disease
control as it contains probiotics, which encourage the growth of healthy microbes in the soil.
Sargassum Seaweed is also an effective nematode control.


Collection – The seaweed should be collected based on the needs and its destined use. The
seaweed
collected should be as free from sand as possible. This reduces the ability of the seaweed to
compost effectively. There are a number of organisms, which grow in the seaweed that have
agricultural potential. These should be collected only if the farmer has a use for them.
Cleaning – The seaweed will come with salt which can have very detrimental effects on the soil
and plant health. Seaweed should be allowed to sit on the farm where it can receive rainfall.
After a few days of rain it can be used.

Fermented seaweed
Place the seaweed in a fermenter. Add organic ingredients as needed. The ingredients will
determine the nutrient content of the fertilizer obtained at the end of the fermentation. Add 1
pound sugar to every 10 gallons of water. Add yeast, soil with rotten organic material, compost
or a culture of beneficial microbes. Close the fermenter, place the air lock and let sit. Based on
the ingredients the fermentation period will vary. The fertiliser is ready when the contents of
the drum have a sweet smell with a light hint of alcohol.

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MAKING HOT AND COLD EXTRACTIONS
Plant Selection
Plants selected for the extraction process should be growing vigorously and show signs of good
health. The plants to be used should be freshly harvested.
Essential Oil Extraction
There are three main methods for extraction of the essential oils contained within the plant
tissue:
1. Crushing – a mortar and pestle may be used to crush the plant parts increasing the
surface area of the plant tissue and allow for a better extraction. This method is used
with one of the previous ones. 

2. Boiling – plant parts can be boiled for 30 to 45 minutes. This liquid is then cooled and
filtered.
3. Soaking – plant parts can be soaked in water for 1 day or alcohol for a period of 1 to 28
days, in a cool dark place. They may then be filtered and used.

Storage
The solutions obtained from the extraction process should be labelled and stored in a cool dark
area. These solutions should never be exposed to sunlight for extended periods.

Preparing a Sop Solution (Surfectant)
Half of a blue soap is taken and grated, and soap is then added to 2 litres of water and the
mixture is shaken vigorously. It is then allowed to sit for 24 hours.
Alter the quantity of soap per the required volume of surfactant. This surfactant is then mixed
with the plant extraction to allow the active ingredients to adhere better (“stick”) to the surface
of the plant or the body of the pest.

Mixing the solution
(to make five gallons of mixture)
4. 250 ml of soap solution (half a soft drink bottle) 

5. One part of plant extract to zero to five parts water 

6. For alcohol mixtures the extracts are used at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 parts:
§ 10ml to .5 litres of water for 50 parts 

§ 10ml to 1 litre of water for 100 parts 

§ 10ml to 2 litres of water for 200 parts 


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ORGANIC PEST CONTROL
Citrus oil (limonene, linalool)
These are extracts from citrus peels primarily used as flea and as contact poisons against aphids
and mites.
Nicotine - concentrate is very poisonous if inhaled. Boil tobacco leaves and stems then let cool,
add soap mixture and spray. Nicotine is a fast acting contact killer for soft bodied insects, but
does not kill most chewing insects. It is less effective when applied during cool weather. Do not
spray within 7 days of harvest. This plant should never be used in a cold extraction since it can
be a source of mosaic virus which affects many plant species. The heat of the hot extraction will
kill the virus and remove the risk of transmitting this pathogen.

Neem
This is derived from the neem tree that grows in arid tropical regions. Crush and boil leaves,
seeds or bark, for an hour and let cool, then add soap
mixture. Extracts from the neem tree have been reported to control over 200 types of insects,
mites, and nematodes. The neem spray solution should not be exposed to sunlight and must be
prepared with water having a temperature between 50 and 90°F. Pregnant women should not
handle neem.

Onion/Garlic brew
Thinly slice the roots, stems and leaves of aromatic herbs like garlic, onion, red pepper, noni
and black pepper. Add water and store overnight. Add water and a small amount of soap. Spray
to plants.

Red Pepper (Capsicum)
Pound/grind/blend several hot red peppers with water and drain. Mix the solution with water
and spray to target pests .

Wood Ash
Spray wood ash around the plant roots to control root maggots in radish, onions, cabbage and
other brassicas. Encircle plants with a 3-4inch wide trench, 1-2 inches deep and fill this with
wood ash to discourage snails, slugs, and cutworms. This measure will however increase the
level of potassium in the soil and so should be used with caution.

Kerosene & Soap Spray
Mix 1⁄4 cup of soapy water and 1⁄4 tsp of kerosene to 1 litre of water.
Use only when insect infestation is severe. Excessive kerosene in the mixture will damage or kill
crops.

Sour Sop
Crush then boil sour sop seeds in water and let cool. Add soap mixture and spray. This mixture
is useful against soft body insects.

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Clove Oil
Crush then boil cloves in water, then allow to soak overnight. The extract should then be
filtered and mixed with a soap mixture before use.

Guava (cold extraction)
Pound young leaves and filled a plastic bottle. Cover with alcohol (above 50%) and store in cool
dark place for 28 days. The alcohol extraction can be used for up to one year. Use one
tablespoon of guava extract in 200 spoons of water. This mixture controls bacterial problems.

Ginger
Grind 2 kg ginger and make into a paste. Mix this with 30 L water and filter. Add 1 tbsp liquid
soap.
Effective against caterpillars, aphids, thrips and whiteflies.

Basil
Soak 100 g leaves in 1 L water overnight. Grind/blend the mixture, mix and then filter
Effective against leafminer and red spider mite.

Garlic
Chop 100 g garlic and soak with 2 tsp mineral or cooking oil for 24 hours. Add 2 tsp soap liquid
and 1⁄2 L water and stir well. Filter and make up to 20 L with water.
Effective against caterpillars, aphids, mites, thrips and whiteflies.

Marigolds
Finely chop 1⁄2 kg whole marigold plants with 10 hot chilli peppers and add 15 L water. Soak
overnight. Filter and add a few ml of blue soap solution before spraying.
Effective against aphids and caterpillars

Papaya/Pawpaw
Shred/grind/blend 1 kg papaya leaves finely and vigorously shake with 1 L water. Squeeze this
through a cloth and dilute with 4 L water and 1tsp liquid soap.
Effective against thrips.

Turmeric
Chop 1⁄2 kg turmeric and soak overnight in 2 L water. Filter and make up to 20 L with water
Effective against aphids, caterpillars and mites.

Carailla
The whole plant extract in water is insecticidal.

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Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) and Physic nut (Jatropha curcas)
The leaf and seed extracts have insecticidal properties.

Gully root (Petiveria alliacea)
The whole plant extracts in water insecticidal against bugs and caterpillars.

Moringa tree
Water extracts made from the branches, leaves, seeds and bark are insecticidal.

Lemon grass
An extract of juice from grinding/blending the roots and diluting with water is active against
insects and mites. Planting lemon grass in nematode affected soils can suppress nematode
numbers.

Sage (Lantana camara)
A water extracs from the leaves is insecticidal against aphids and caterpillars and repellant
against the diamondback moth.

CULTURAL CONTROL
Sticky traps
• Made of a rigid material of a particular colour (construction paper and lolly sticks) and coated
with a sticky substance (Vaseline, uhu glue)
• Used to catch insects that are attracted to that color
• Yellow for whiteflies and blue for thrips
• Can be used for detecting insect pests, monitoring their populations or mass trapping

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