COFFEE NEWS, VIETNAM PRODUCTS NEWS

Process for Producing Microbial Organic Fertilizer from Coffee Husks

Posted on by content.vinahugo
18
Sep

Coffee husks are an excellent raw material for making high-quality microbial organic fertilizer. The nutrients in 1 kg of coffee husk are roughly equivalent to 3 kg of good quality farmyard manure. Because coffee husks contain over 30 % organic matter, if applied fresh without composting they can actually spread diseases to crops.

Use about 1 kg of HB-01 microbial starter for the husks from 1.2–1.5 tons of coffee cherries.

Method 1 – Standard Composting for High-Quality Microbial Fertilizer

Materials

  • Coffee husks: 1 ton

  • Animal manure: 0.5 m³ (more is even better)

  • Fused phosphate (lân nung chảy): 25–50 kg

  • Urea: 5 kg

  • Molasses or raw sugar: 0.5–1 kg

  • HB-01 microbial starter: 1 kg (or more)

Steps

  1. Moisten the husks: Water several times until the husks are soft and damp but not dripping. If watering is difficult, lightly wet when mixing the starter and add more water after one week of composting.

  2. Prepare the starter solution: Dissolve the HB-01 in molasses water. Adjust water quantity depending on the moisture of the husks so the starter evenly coats the pile without dripping through. Let the mixture sit 3–5 hours for full absorption.

  3. Build the compost pile:

    • Mix coffee husks with fused phosphate, urea and manure.

    • On a flat clean surface, spread a 40 cm layer at least 2 m wide.

    • Sprinkle the starter solution evenly.

    • Add another 30 cm layer and sprinkle again.

    • Repeat about 5 layers until the pile is over 1.5 m high.

    • Cover completely with a tarp to maintain moisture and heat.

    • Do not compact or step on the pile.

  4. Monitor and turn: After one week the pile should be hot (about 70 °C) and dark brown. If it is only light brown, add water. Both too much or too little water slows decomposition. After 20 days, turn the pile and compact it firmly. After 75–90 days the compost will be fully mature. Remove the tarp for 1–2 days, then apply directly or dry and bag.

Method 2 – Quick Composting (No Additives)

  1. Moisten the husks as in Method 1.

  2. Starter solution: Dissolve 1 kg of HB-01 in 50–100 L of water and let stand 3–5 hours. Layer coffee husks as above, sprinkling the starter solution on each 30–40 cm layer until the pile is over 1.5 m high. Cover with a tarp and do not compact.

  3. Monitor and turn: After one week check that the pile is hot (>70 °C) and dark brown. Add water if light brown. After 20 days turn and compact. After 75–90 days the husks will be fully decomposed and ready for use.

Application

  • Young coffee (establishing phase): 2–3 kg per tree.

  • Mature, bearing coffee: 4–6 kg per tree.

  • Apply when the soil is moist (ideally during the rainy season).

  • Do not mix with chemical pesticides so the microbes remain active.

  • For trees suffering from root rot or yellow leaves, apply more of this compost and reduce chemical fertilizers.

Extra Tips

  • To add water during composting, insert a hose directly into the pile and keep it adequately moist.

  • Do not use tap water containing chlorine or add other fertilizers during the composting process.

Follow these steps to produce a rich, microbe-active organic fertilizer that improves soil health and helps coffee trees resist root diseases.