GUANO

History of Guano

 

The word guano originated from the Quicua language of the Incan civilization and means “ the droppings of seabirds”. It is a misnomer to refer to bat droppings as guano. As the word is used today guano describes both bat and seabird manure. The most famous guano was that used be the Inca. The guano would collect on the rainless islands and the coast of Peru. Atmospheric conditions in the region insured a minimal loss of nutrients. The Incans guarded over and regulated this treasured soil enricher. Access to the material was carefully regulated and violations were punishable by death.

 

Guano had become a very important commodity in the development of agriculture in the United States. During the peak of the guano age drastic steps were taken to maintain the supply for the U.S. farmer. In 1856 congress passed laws allowing citizens to take procession of unoccupied islands containing guano. During the periods of 1864 and 1866 and again in 1879-1993 wars were fought for control of the guano.  The commercial importance of guano dwindled in the early 1900’s with the synthesis of ammonia and the development of chemical fertilizers. With the invention of chemical fertilizers  the use of organic fertilizers dwindled based on the promises of the chemical companies  trying to profit from their use. All seemed well at first till the adverse      effects of over fertilization of single compound chemical fertilizers gradually became apparent.

 

Over time the use of chemical fertilizers destroys the structure of the soil and kills the complex network of living organisms that make up a healthy soil . This creates  a downword  spiral of soil fertility requiring an ever increasing load of chemicals to try and maintain yields. The use of organic manures and plant residues helps keep the soil structure healthy by feeding the millions of micro organisms that make up a healthy soil and allowing the soil to feed your plants.

 

Properties of various Guanos

 

A chemical analysis of guano will give only a partial indication of its  value as a plant food. Beyond it’s nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium  levels this completely natural substance contains trace elements, micro nutrients and food for a healthy living soil.  The nutrients in guano are derived from the varied diet of the birds and bats which produce the various types of guanos available for use. Seabird guano benefits from the rich diet of fish consumed by the birds. Bat guanos nutrients are mostly derived from insects or fruit eating bats. The age of the guano also plays a pert in the composition of the final product.

 

Seabird guano is a well balanced blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds  which is well suited to the plants growth stages and fruiting stages as well. The Peruvian seabird guano will normally test out to 10% NITROGEN  10% PHOSPHORUS and 2% POTTASIUM.

 

Bat Guano is available both in a high nitrogen content normally testing out at 10% NITROGEN  2% PHOSPHORUS and 1% POTTASIUM and a high phosphorus blend usually testing at 1% NITROGEN 10% PHOSPHORUS AND .5% POTTASIUM. The high phosphorus blend works great on plants in the flowering stage and plants setting fruit. All types of guano provide a complex blend of nutrients to feed the micro organisms and keep your soil teeming with life. 

 

 

Applications

Average application rate for a vegetable or flower garden is .5 to 2 pounds per 100 sq feet applied once per season. A liquid guano tea can be made by mixing 1 cup of guano with 5 gallons of water and letting it soak for a few days then mixing 1 to 2 cups of this mixture with 5 gallons of water. This can be applied every few weeks throughout the growing season. You can also just sprinkle a small handful around your plants once they are well established. Never apply guano directly to roots or small seedling as it is strong enough to burn the delicate roots. For container gardening a 1/4 cup application should be adequate for a 3 to 5 gallon container. Never over fertilize!!. Too much of  a good thing can overwhelm and kill plants with small root systems. Also do not place large amounts of the material directly against the plants stem. You are much better off using too little then too much, a little goes a long way!.

 

In my 40 plus years of gardening  experience I have never found anything that works as ell as Peruvian Seabird Guano and I have tried hundreds of them. I have been using it for over 25 years and it is still my favorite fertilizer. There are plenty of other good organic fertilizers available  that will help build soil fertility and grow great plants but there is something about guano that makes it the best.