What is ‘Hydrolysate’ Fertiliser?

There are different approaches to producing a hydrolysate fertiliser. In the context of agriculture, hydrolysate refers to a type of fish fertiliser that is derived from cold processed whole fish using an enzymatic process.

The production of hydrolysate involves breaking down the fish into smaller components such as proteins, amino acids, and other organic compounds.

A pristine leaf analysis test for Wilson River Pecans, Lismore, NSW, after using a spray regime including SONIC Fish Hydrolysate, (above image).

Here at SONIC Natural Farming, a biological fertiliser company based in Australia, we use a biological fermentation process to make Fish Hydrolysate Fertiliser. Cold fermentation helps retain the nutritional value and beneficial properties of the fish, while making the liquid chelated and bioavailable—easy for plants and soil microbes to uptake.

Fish Hydrolysate Fertiliser is commonly used in agriculture as a natural and sustainable source of nutrients for plants, and provides essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as trace elements that are beneficial for soil health and plant growth.  SONIC Fish Hydrolysate Fertiliser is processed and supplied to farmers fresh, and contains no added fillers, stabilisers, preservatives or synthetic minerals.

Hydrolysate Benefits

One of the advantages of using hydrolysate as a fertiliser is its ability to release nutrients slowly over time. This gradual nutrient release ensures that plants receive a steady supply of nourishment without the risk of over-fertilisation or nutrient leaching.

Fish Hydrolysate and Fish Emulsion Differences

Two different forms of fish-based fertilisers that are commonly used in gardening and agriculture are fish hydrolysate fertiliser and fish emulsion fertiliser. While both products are derived from fish, there are some key differences between them.

Fish hydrolysate is a liquid fertiliser made in Australia by breaking down whole fish or fish parts into liquid using an enzymatic or  cold fermentation process. The fermentation process involves the use of natural bacteria and lactic acids to break down the proteins, oils, and other nutrients present in the fish into a more readily available liquid form for plants. The resulting liquid is rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, amino acids, and micronutrients.

Transferring SONIC Fish Hydrolysate Fertiliser into IBC storage container after it has finished cold processing, (above image).

Fish emulsion fertiliser is also a liquid fertiliser made from whole, or parts of, fish, however fish emulsion undergoes a different production process.

In general, fish emulsion fertiliser is produced through a heating process to extract its nutrients.  While the heating process used in production can degrade some beneficial elements, fish emulsion still provides a natural source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals to nourish plants.

Another advantage of using biological liquid fish hydrolysate fertiliser over fish emulsion fertiliser is that it tends to have a milder odour compared to the strong smell associated with fish emulsion.

Additionally, because fish hydrolysate fertiliser is produced through a cold process, to breakdown the fish, rather than heating, it retains more beneficial nutrients, enzymes, oils, and bioactive compounds.  The end result is a product that can offer a great deal of fungal and microbial food, as well as promote plant growth and soil health.

Read article – ‘Turning Fish Waste into Premium Fish Hydrolysate Fertiliser’.