Organic liquid fertilizer
A fertilizer derived from an organic source and a method of making are provided. The fertilizer of the present invention advantageously has a nitrogen content greater than 4%. The method of making the fertilizer also produces potable water.
1. An aqueous liquid fertilizer comprising at least 4% dissolved ammoniacal nitrogen derived from a plant or animal-sourced waste filtrate.
2. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the liquid fertilizer comprises 4-10% nitrogen, from about 1% to 10% potash, less than 10% sulfur, and is phosphate free.
3. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer comprises residues of one or more acids selected from the group consisting of citric acid, lactic acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and perchloric acid.
4. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the waste filtrate is produced by filtering an anerobically digested animal manure effluent.
5. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer comprises from 40,000 to 750,000 ppm of dissolved solids.
6. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer comprises from 0 to 20,000 ppm of suspended solids.
7. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer is free of pathogens.
8. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer meets the criteria for USDA organic certification under the National Organic Program.
9. The aqueous liquid fertilizer of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer has an acidic or neutral pH.
10. A method of enhancing the nitrogen levels in soil comprising applying to the soil an aqueous liquid fertilizer comprising at least 4% dissolved ammoniacal nitrogen derived from a plant or animal-sourced waste filtrate.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil pre-planting or at planting of a crop.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil at a level of 10 lbs N/acre.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil at thinning of a crop.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil at a level of 25-35 lbs N/acre.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil at pre-harvest of a crop.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fertilizer is applied at a level of 10-15 lbs N/acre.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer is applied to the soil at a rate of 75-100 gallons/acre.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer comprises 4-10% nitrogen, from about 1% to 10% potash, less than 10% sulfur, and is phosphate free.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer comprises:
(a) from 40,000 to 750,000 ppm of dissolved solids, or
(b) from 0 to 20,000 ppm of suspended solids.
20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fertilizer has an acidic or neutral pH.