INSTANTANEOUS CONVERSION of AGRICULTURAL PLANT RESIDUES into ORGANIC FERTILIZER and it APPLICATION on MAIZE CULTIVATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY with NPK AND MANURE.

Inorganic fertilizers have been associated with significant environmental impact, prompting the need for sustainable alternatives. This study explores the rapid conversion of residual plant biomass into organic fertilizer, offering an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach. It effects on maize growth, development, and yield were compared to NPK 20:10:5 and rabbit manure, considering fertilizer yield and conversion time in relation to compost. Three distinct organic fertilizers were formulated using a combination of eleven types of residual dry plant biomass, incorporating calcium hydroxide, clay soil, and thiourea for maize application. Maximum plant height of 171.45 cm for synthesize fertilizer, 134.0 cm for NPK fertilizer, 121.92 cm for rabbit manure and 101.98 cm for control were observed respectively. The most promising treatment was fertilizer C with high a higher percentage of potassium 9.77% compared to NPK fertilizer 5% and with generally higher nutrient concentration compared to rabbit manure. Fertilizer C. The nutrients release for the synthesize fertilizer were both rapid as inorganic fertilizer and later slowly as manure, the synthesized fertilizer demonstrated superior results particularly when 11% thiourea by mass was included. Additionally, higher residual organic matter content in soil was observed post-harvest with the synthesized fertilizer, indicating a controlled release of nutrients without detrimental soil impact. This underscores the potential for utilizing agricultural plant residues in organic fertilization and soil improvement practices