9 Bokashi Bokashi is an organic fertilizer, which is made by fermenting organic matter. The name Bokashi is a Japanese word, which means: fermented organic matter. Bokashi contains a lot of nutrients and it serves as a rapid working fertilizer. | 9 Bokashi Bokashi is an organic fertilizer which is made by fermenting organic matter. The name Bokashi is a Japanese word which means fermented organic matter. Bokashi contains a lot of nutrients and it serves as a rapid working fertilizer. You can compare it with an artificial fertilizer like NPK. Traditionally Japanese farmers use Bokashi to improve soil fertility and supply the crops with nutrients. Bokashi is made through fermenting organic matter either in the open air or in a closed off situation. In the open air the mixture is in contact with oxygen from the air this is called an aerobic situation. It is comparable with the normal composting process. When the fermenting mixture is closed off from the air in plastic bags for example it is called an anaerobic situation. The organic matter for the Bokashi fermentation needs special selected ingredients rice bran wheat bran fish meal etc. together with organic waste materials. Bokashi has been developed in Japan by Prof. Teruo Higa. Bokashi compared to compost The fermentation process of Bokashi conserves nutrients in the organic material better than the process of decomposition that takes place when composting. The reason that nutrients are better conserved is that during the fermentation process the temperatures does not become as high as in the normal composting process. In the anaerobic Bokashi fermentation process temperatures rise to about 40 oC while in the aerobic process and in the normal composting process temperatures can rise to about 70 oC and possibly higher. This means that in the anaerobic process the conservation is even better than in the aerobic process. However when you use the anaerobic process it is difficult to prepare large quantities of Bokashi this is easier when using the aerobic process. 50 The preparation and use of compost Bokashi is made in a short period 6-8 days in a tropical climate and 23 weeks in a more temperate climate. It can be applied to the soil directly after .
