Challenges facing effective use of bat guano as organic fertilizer in crop production: a review

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dc.creatorMarwa, Ernest Melkiory
dc.creatorAndrew, Twisege
dc.creatorHatibu, Asha Ally
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-18T09:48:40Z
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-05T07:12:16Z
dc.date.available2023-07-18T09:48:40Z
dc.date.created2023-07-18T09:48:40Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractBat guano is excrements of bats and it is commonly used in agriculture as a soil amendment and sometimes as a pesticide in organic farming. Small-scale farmers nearby guano deposits use it for indoor and outdoor plants as well as for hydroponic crop production. Guano in soils acts as a source of carbon (C) and energy to drive microbial activities as well as a precursor to soil organic matter fractions. With all these benefits, bat guano should be used in crop production with some precautions. Chemical composition and properties of bat guano are not fixed and are changing with time depending on the maturity, reaction with the country rock and bat diet. The pH of guano changes from alkaline to strongly acid with maturity. Similarly, guano loses some essential plant nutrients on decomposition and sometimes acquires potentially toxic elements as it reacts with the host rocks. Amounts added to the soil also vary with maturity and composition of guano. Thus, utilization of bat guano as organic fertilizer requires a thorough and regular characterization at the time of using it as soil amendment for crop production
dc.identifierhttp://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/5400
dc.identifier.urihttp://repository.costech.or.tz/handle/20.500.14732/96228
dc.languageen
dc.publisherInternational Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
dc.subjectBat guano
dc.subjectPhosphorus
dc.subjectOrganic fertilizer
dc.subjectNitrogen
dc.titleChallenges facing effective use of bat guano as organic fertilizer in crop production: a review
dc.typeArticle

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