How to Use Seabird Guano in the Garden
Looking for an organic fertilizer that’s high in phosphorus? Then check out seabird guano. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn more about this fertilizer and how to use it in the garden.
Contents
If your soil is low in phosphorus, seabird guano is a great product to have on hand. This all-natural and organic fertilizer is made from fossilized deposits of avian droppings. Plus, it’s easy to apply!
Adding the correct amount of this material will help your plants develop strong roots, complete photosynthesis, and fight off pests and diseases. Keep reading to learn more about this product and how to use it properly.
Phosphorous Boost: Seabird Guano
- High Phosphorus Content
- Enhanced Yields and Quality
- Beneficial Soil Microbes
- Versatile Application
- Broad Plant Benefits
What is Seabird Guano?
Seabird guano is made from droppings of birds like gulls, pelicans, and cormorants. Yep, it’s essentially bird poop.
Humans have been using this nutrient-rich substance for hundreds of years. Rather than skimming through the ocean and beaches with giant nets, we’ve learned to collect deposits from cliffs and islands that birds nest and rest on. These locations have amassed inches of guano over the years, making it easy to collect a large amount of the material at once. Many companies source their guano from rocky coastal areas of Peru or islands in Indonesia.
This material’s natural source allows it to be certified for use in organic production. However, there are still some concerns about the product’s impact on the environment. Since humans must collect it from the earth, it’s possible for habitat destruction to occur. Therefore, only buy this product from a company you trust.
Nutritional Composition
This type of guano is a good source of numerous essential plant nutrients, making it a valuable organic fertilizer. Since it is sourced from nature and not synthesized in a lab, the nutrient values may vary slightly between different products. That’s because different companies collect this material from various parts of the world.
Bird guano may or may not contain a notable amount of nitrogen and potassium. However, all of these products contain a large amount of phosphorus (P) and some calcium (Ca).
One popular type of seabird guano has an NPK ratio of 0-11-0 and contains 20% calcium. This means it’s a great way to add phosphorus to soil that already has enough nitrogen and potassium.
Benefits of Seabird Guano Fertilizer
Since this product is high in phosphorus, it helps plants complete processes that rely on this nutrient. Adding bird manure helps plants complete the following essential processes.
Flower and Fruit Production
Phosphorus is a key component of energy transfer within plants. When plants don’t have enough, they cannot transfer the energy needed to produce flowers and, therefore, fruit.
Photosynthesis and Respiration
While it isn’t an input in photosynthesis or respiration, this nutrient essential to both of these processes. That’s because this nutrient is a key component of the energy transfer molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). These molecules help plants transfer energy in the form of elections, which powers both photosynthesis and respiration.
Protein Synthesis
Phosphorus is a key component of all types of proteins, including enzymes. While the amino acids that form proteins don’t contain phosphorus, this nutrient is a key part of the molecule ribonucleic acid (RNA). These RNA molecules act as messengers within plants and help them transcribe their genetic information.
Some types of RNA carry genetic information held in the nucleus (aka the brain) of the cell to other parts of the cell that make proteins. Other types of RNA read these messages and translate them to make proteins. In short, plants wouldn’t be able to make proteins without this vital nutrient!
Root Development
Phosphorus helps stimulate root growth, which improves a plant’s ability to access and take up water and nutrients. That’s one reason why deficient plants often appear stunted.
Bat-Free
Bat guano is somewhat controversial due to its linkage to global bat declines. There is evidence that human activities in caves (while harvesting bat droppings for fertilizer) spreads a deadly bat disease called White Nose Syndrome. When you source nutrients from seabird droppings, you are reducing your contribution to potentially harming endangered bats.
When Should I Apply Seabird Guano?
Adding phosphorus can help your plants if the soil lacks this essential nutrient. However, applying fertilizer to soil that’s already chock full of nutrients will only cause harm. That’s why I always recommend conducting a soil test before adding any fertilizer.
I recommend taking a sample at home and sending it away to a lab. You can work with your local extension office to complete this test or purchase a soil test kit that works in conjunction with a qualified lab.
Once you get your results, look at the P levels. If the results indicate that it is below the ideal value, you can add seabird guano fertilizer. However, if the P level is at or above the ideal, refrain from adding any at the beginning of your growing season.
Since plants take up this nutrient as they grow, it’s possible that your soil will start with an adequate amount of phosphorus in the spring before experiencing a drop in nutrients. This is especially likely to happen with quick-growing annuals like tomatoes, beets, and peppers. It’s less likely to be a problem when growing perennials. You can always add a small amount of seabird manure to your beds between crops or while plants are growing.
How to Obtain and Store
Seabird guano fertilizer is readily available in stores and online. You can find it in various sizes ranging from five to 20+ pounds.
If you store it in the proper environment, this product has a long shelf life. Therefore, feel free to buy more material than you would use in a single year. You should always store this product in a cool, dry area out of direct sun. I recommend putting it in an airtight container to keep it safe from curious pets and wild critters.
Application Methods
Since this product comes in a granular form, you can easily sprinkle it on your raised beds and in-ground planting areas. Depending on your needs, there are a few different application methods that work well.
Adding During Bed Preparation
If your test shows that the ground is lacking P, you can add seabird guano fertilizer to your bed before sowing seeds or transplanting crops. If you’re not sure how much to add, you can apply two-and-a-half to five pounds for every 100 square feet. However, you would ideally follow your soil test results to apply the correct amount.
For example, let’s say your test results say to apply five pounds of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet. If your planting area is five feet by ten feet, it’s 50 square feet. Therefore, you need to add 0.25 pounds of phosphorus to your raised bed.
However, it’s important to remember that pounds of phosphorus are not equal to pounds of seabird guano fertilizer! Since it contains 11% P, you will need to apply 2.27 pounds of the product in order to apply 0.25 pounds of phosphorus.
After you measure out the correct amount, evenly sprinkle it across the top of the ground. Next, rake it into the top few inches of dirt.
Side Dressing
If you need to give your plants a boost of phosphorus as they grow, you can add fertilizer to the base of the plants. Add one to two ounces of seabird fertilizer along the plant’s base once a month. This method is particularly helpful for long-season, fruiting annuals like tomatoes, peppers, and okra.
Best Practices and Helpful Tips
Now that you understand the basics of using this product check out these helpful tips.
Combine with Other Fertilizers for Complete Nutrients
Since some types of seabird guano only contain phosphorus and calcium, you may need to apply additional fertilizers if your plants need other nutrients. Combining this P-rich product with nitrogen-rich blood meal or feather meal and potassium-rich langbeinite will supply your plants with all the macronutrients.
Don’t Overapply
While adding P-rich fertilizer will help your plants if the soil is low in phosphorus, it won’t help if the nutrient is already at an adequate level. Instead, it may harm your plants and the surrounding environment! Excess phosphorus can prevent plants from taking up essential micronutrients, especially iron and zinc.
It’s important to note that many manure-based composts are high in phosphorus. Therefore, it’s a good idea to complete an annual soil test if you regularly add compost and other amendments. Not only will this help you from applying missing nutrients, but it will also prevent you from adding too much.
