Traditional farmyard manure is produced through the fermentation of manure and straw. However, due to its lengthy fermentation cycle, it often takes several months to accumulate, and its effectiveness is slower compared to chemical fertilizers. This has led to excessive use of chemical fertilizers, resulting in soil compaction and salinization. On the other hand, organic fertilizers (i.e., fully decomposed farmyard manure) can effectively improve soil structure and increase soil organic matter. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of organic fertilizers and their fermentation production cycle have always been a concern.

With the advancement of technology, certain microbial strains that can accelerate the fermentation process have been developed, also achieving odor removal effects. Some manufacturers selling fermentation strains claim their products enable rapid decomposition, though these claims are often somewhat exaggerated. Organic fertilizer equipment producers explain that fermentation primarily consists of two stages:

1. High-temperature stage:

Add bacterial strains to deodorize, break down bacterial cells, and eliminate pathogens, insect eggs, and weed seeds from feces and straw; increase the initial fermentation temperature, which can rise above 55°C within 48 hours; the foul odor gradually dissipates, while pathogens, insect pests, and weed seeds perish, followed by the growth of white mycelium covering the surface within a few days.

It should be noted that:

The entire fermentation process is aerobic, but composting primarily focuses on heating the pile, leading to a gradual decrease in oxygen levels within the compost. Additionally, excessively high temperatures can deactivate beneficial bacteria produced during fermentation, resulting in slower or even halted fermentation.

2. Medium to Low Temperature Stage:

After the initial composting stage, the next step is decomposition: primarily breaking down the high-molecular organic matter in manure and straw into smaller molecular substances. This facilitates soil absorption and utilization, further shortening the nutrient release period. This phase requires approximately 7 to 10 days, with fermentation temperatures generally maintained between 30°C and 45°C, hence the term "medium-low temperature stage.".

It should be noted that:

This stage cannot be omitted, as decomposing small molecules later will prevent the recurrence of foul odors. Additionally, organic fertilizers act slowly, and high-molecular organic matter enhances soil decomposition capacity, failing to promptly alleviate severe issues such as soil compaction and salinization in affected areas.

Every year, China produces a large amount of livestock and poultry manure. However, due to insufficient environmental awareness, approximately 3.8 billion tons of manure, along with sewage and domestic wastewater, are directly discharged into fields and rivers. This not only pollutes the local climate and environment but also affects peoples daily lives. Additionally, the annual straw production exceeds 900 million tons, yet its utilization rate remains below 50%. Persistent straw burning, which continues despite repeated prohibitions, further contributes to environmental pollution.

These fecal and straw resources are a form of environmental pollution but serve as valuable organic fertilizer sources for agricultural production. Over the past two years, the government has introduced various regulations and standards for the harmless treatment of livestock and poultry manure in farms, allowing eligible organic fertilizer production equipment to apply for subsidies.