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Food insecurity is ever increasing in Southern Africa due to climatic, economic as well as other idiosyncratic shocks. Previously, this food insecurity and hidden hunger was associated with rural communities but is now affecting the urban space as well. Efforts to build the resilience of the vulnerable people must now extend to include urban communities. One way of doing that is through urban agriculture. However, urban crop production is limited by shortage of land and unavailability of water for irrigation. To offset these pertinent limitations, soilless crop production in the form of hydroponic systems emerges as a worthy alternative with immense potential. Despite this, the adoption of hydroponics is very low because most smallholder farmers do not afford liquid inorganic fertilizers. The other pertinent challenge is that these fertilizers are not easily accessible. This chapter aimed to establish the potential of using liquid bio-fertilizers for crop production under hydroponics systems. This was achieved through a systematic literature review focusing on different types of liquid biofertilizers, technologies that can be used for their production, characterization of microbial communities and potential for use under hydroponic systems. The chapter revealed that the main methods that can be used for bio or organic fertilizer production are composting and vermicomposting. The chapter suggested a myriad of waste substrates that can be used for production of organic fertilizers, and these include agricultural waste, kitchen waste, bio solids, rumen waste, slaughter house waste, market waste, foliage of vegetation as well as effluent water. Nutrients from these substrates can be extracted as compost teas (aerated or non-aerated), vermicomposting teas (aerated or non-aerated), fermentation (submerged, solid state, co-culture, bokashi) and algal tea. The chapter recommends that for optimal liquid biofertilizers formulations to be developed, it is imperative that the production processes be modified to ensure optimum nutrient availability, presence of beneficial microorganisms and absence of harmful pathogens.

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Liquid Biofertilizers: Types, Production Methods and Potential Use for Vegetable Production in Hydroponic Systems

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Farai Solomon Zirebwa,
  • Rangarirai Lucia Mhindu,
  • Loice Mhengera,
  • Blessing Mirika Ndau,
  • Tirivashe Phillip Masere

摘要

Food insecurity is ever increasing in Southern Africa due to climatic, economic as well as other idiosyncratic shocks. Previously, this food insecurity and hidden hunger was associated with rural communities but is now affecting the urban space as well. Efforts to build the resilience of the vulnerable people must now extend to include urban communities. One way of doing that is through urban agriculture. However, urban crop production is limited by shortage of land and unavailability of water for irrigation. To offset these pertinent limitations, soilless crop production in the form of hydroponic systems emerges as a worthy alternative with immense potential. Despite this, the adoption of hydroponics is very low because most smallholder farmers do not afford liquid inorganic fertilizers. The other pertinent challenge is that these fertilizers are not easily accessible. This chapter aimed to establish the potential of using liquid bio-fertilizers for crop production under hydroponics systems. This was achieved through a systematic literature review focusing on different types of liquid biofertilizers, technologies that can be used for their production, characterization of microbial communities and potential for use under hydroponic systems. The chapter revealed that the main methods that can be used for bio or organic fertilizer production are composting and vermicomposting. The chapter suggested a myriad of waste substrates that can be used for production of organic fertilizers, and these include agricultural waste, kitchen waste, bio solids, rumen waste, slaughter house waste, market waste, foliage of vegetation as well as effluent water. Nutrients from these substrates can be extracted as compost teas (aerated or non-aerated), vermicomposting teas (aerated or non-aerated), fermentation (submerged, solid state, co-culture, bokashi) and algal tea. The chapter recommends that for optimal liquid biofertilizers formulations to be developed, it is imperative that the production processes be modified to ensure optimum nutrient availability, presence of beneficial microorganisms and absence of harmful pathogens.