Choosing organic fertiliser: look at composting, salt and the C:N ratio
The cartoon on the bag is not a test.
- The bag says organic; some still burn the hand and stink; some are salty.
- Houses must ask salt.
- Bag fertiliser has a clear salt number; dirty organic manure hides salt and ammonia.
- A house and a meal first, then the inoculant can live. Raw dung plus inoculant cooks the workers.
- Don’t call raw dung rotted; don’t high-rate a house without a salt check.
- What “rotted” means: Does not burn the hand, no sharp ammonia, a dark colour. If you cannot reach that, don’t go in
- Name what you see before you feed.
- If leaves, roots and the surface disagree, stop.
What you see in the field
The bag says organic; some still burn the hand and stink; some are salty. Houses must ask salt.Rub a handful next to a darker neighbour that still forms crumbs. Pale dusty soil that leaks after rain matches this page. Yellow leaves are extra — first ask whether the soil still has body.
Tap to enlarge. The caption says what to photograph. Missing field photos are marked as to-be-added.
Why it looks like this
The field looks like this because the root cannot take water or nutrients the usual way. Fix the soil condition first — drainage, salt, acidity, compaction or a salt of fertiliser — then a thin feed. Rates live in the range on this page; confirm with a local station and the label.
Easy to mix up
Looks like “Bag fertiliser”
Bag fertiliser has a clear salt number; dirty organic manure hides salt and ammonia.
Looks like “A microbial product”
A house and a meal first, then the inoculant can live. Raw dung plus inoculant cooks the workers.
Do this / don’t do that
- 1Compare the worst plants with a neighbour ridge. Photograph whole plant, close-up and soil surface before you add fertiliser.
- 2Match roots, leaves and the soil surface to this guide. If they do not line up, do not copy a bag count.
- 3Use the rate range on this page only as a range. Confirm with a local station and the product label.
Don’t do this first
- Don’t call raw dung rotted; don’t high-rate a house without a salt check.
Rate range
What “rotted” means
Does not burn the hand, no sharp ammonia, a dark colour
If you cannot reach that, don’t go in.
Salt
Stricter in a house
Ask for a test, or try a small patch first.
These are ranges. Confirm with your local extension station and the product label.
When you see The bag says organic; some still burn the hand and stink; some are salty. Houses must ask salt, test. Take soil from the bad patch and from a greener neighbour, separately.
Lesson video
2026-03-03 · Li Zeyu · For learning. Serious damage: local agronomist or a soil test.
For learning only. Fertiliser and pesticide decisions need a local agronomist and a soil test.
Not sure? Photograph the field to identify the problem