THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRODUCING MINERAL FERTILIZER FROM BONES IN DOMESTIC CONDITIONS AND ITS WIDESPREAD IMPLEMENTATION IN HOUSEHOLD PLOTS
Keywords:
bone meal, bone char, phosphorus fertilizer, household agriculture, circular economy, organic gardening, soil fertility, nutrient cycling, food security, sustainable agriculture.Abstract
Global phosphorus (P) supply faces mounting pressure from rising agricultural demand, geopolitical concentration of reserves, and the finite nature of mineable phosphate rock. This paper investigates the production of mineral fertilizer from animal bones under domestic conditions and evaluates the potential for widespread implementation in household plots as a contribution to circular economy principles. Drawing on evidence from Ethiopian bone-char fertilizer research, smallholder gardening practice, soil science fundamentals, and agronomic field data, the study demonstrates that home-processed bone fertilizer can deliver plant-available phosphorus at 16–39% lower cost than imported equivalents. The resulting product contains 15–31.5% phosphate (P₂O₅), supplementary calcium, and slow-release nitrogen — a composition uniquely suited to root crops, flowering plants, and long-term soil fertility building. Implementation is governed by processing method selection, soil pH management (optimal at pH 5.5–7.0), calibrated application rates, and practical mitigation of animal-attraction risks. Broader adoption of bone fertilizer production in domestic settings offers a meaningful pathway toward enhanced household food security, reduced dependence on synthetic fertilizers, and closure of nutrient cycles at the community level — aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
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