Traditional farmyard manure is produced by fermenting manure and straw through composting. However, due to the lengthy fermentation cycle, it often takes several months to accumulate, and its nutrient release is slower compared to chemical fertilizers. This has led to excessive use of chemical fertilizers, resulting in soil compaction and salinization. In contrast, organic fertilizers (i.e., fully decomposed farmyard manure) can effectively improve soil structure and increase soil organic matter. Therefore, the nutrient efficiency and fermentation production cycle of organic fertilizers remain persistent challenges.

With the advancement of technology, some strains that can accelerate the fermentation process have been developed, also achieving deodorization effects. Some manufacturers selling fermentation strains claim their products promote rapid decomposition, yet these claims are often somewhat exaggerated. Organic fertilizer equipment manufacturers explain that the fermentation process primarily consists of two stages:

1. High-temperature phase:

Add microbial strains to deodorize, break down bacterial cells, and eliminate pathogens, insect eggs, and weed seeds from manure and straw; increase the initial fermentation temperature to over 55°C within 48 hours; the odor gradually dissipates, while pathogens, insect eggs, and weed seeds perish; after a few days, white mycelium forms and covers the surface.

It should be noted that:

The entire fermentation process is aerobic, but composting primarily focuses on heating the pile. Consequently, oxygen levels within the pile gradually decrease. Excessive temperatures can deactivate beneficial bacteria produced during fermentation, leading to slowed or halted fermentation.

2. Medium to Low Temperature Phase:

After the initial decomposition phase, the next step is further breakdown: primarily breaking down the high-molecular organic matter in manure and straw into smaller molecular substances. This facilitates soil absorption and utilization, as well as shortening the nutrient release period of fertilizers. This stage typically takes about 7 to 10 days, with fermentation temperatures generally ranging between 30°C and 45°C, hence it is also referred to as the mesophilic phase.

It should be noted that:

This stage cannot be omitted, as decomposing small molecules in later stages will prevent the recurrence of foul odors. Additionally, organic fertilizer has a slow effect, and high-molecular organic matter enhances soil decomposition capacity, which cannot promptly alleviate severe issues such as soil compaction and salinization in affected areas.