Interest in organic fertilizers has grown noticeably in recent years — both in small-scale gardening and commercial crop production. Biohumus and compost are two of the most common types. But is it correct to think of organic matter as an alternative to mineral fertilizers? No. It is more accurate to view it as a complement that increases the effectiveness of the entire nutrition system.

Biohumus and Compost: Key Differences

Biohumus
Vermicompost · processed by Eisenia fetida earthworms
Nitrogen (N)1.5–3%
Phosphorus (P₂O₅)1.5–2.5%
Potassium (K₂O)1.0–2.0%
Humic acids15–30%
Application rate200–500 kg/ha
Forms availableDry, liquid
Compost
Product of microbial decomposition of organic matter
Nitrogen (N)0.5–1.5%
Phosphorus (P₂O₅)0.3–0.8%
Potassium (K₂O)0.5–1.0%
Humic acids3–8%
Application rate5–30 t/ha
Forms availableDry (mature)

What Is Biohumus and How Does It Work

Biohumus (vermicompost) is the product of organic substrates processed by red earthworms (Eisenia fetida). The worms pass the substrate through their digestive tract, where organic matter is broken down by enzymes and enriched with microbial biomass. The result is stabilised organic matter with a high content of humic substances, available macro- and microelements, and beneficial soil microbiota.

Key active components of biohumus:

  • Humic and fulvic acids (15–30%) — improve soil structure, increase cation exchange capacity, enhance nutrient availability
  • Soil microbiota — 10⁸–10¹⁰ CFU/g of live bacteria, including nitrogen fixers, phosphate mobilisers, and pathogen antagonists
  • Available NPK — in forms readily absorbed by plants, without the need for hydrolysis
  • Growth regulators — auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins in small amounts

Advantages of Organic Fertilizers Over Mineral Ones

Long-lasting Effect
Nutrients are released gradually over 2–3 seasons — lower risk of leaching
Improved Soil Structure
Humic acids aggregate soil particles, improving water and air permeability
Biota Stimulation
Microorganisms introduced with biohumus increase the biological activity of soil
Stress Reduction
Humic substances increase plant resistance to drought, cold and disease
Mineral Fertilizer Efficiency
Biohumus improves plant uptake of mineral fertilizers by 15–25%
Produce Quality
Improves flavour, shelf life of vegetables and fruit, reduces nitrate accumulation in produce

Limitations of Organic Fertilizers

Despite all the benefits, organic matter has significant limitations in commercial agriculture:

  • Low nutrient concentration — to supply 120 kg/ha of nitrogen, you need 5–8 t/ha of biohumus or 80–120 t/ha of manure, versus 350 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate
  • Slow nutrient release — mineralisation takes weeks and months, making organic matter ineffective for urgent nutritional correction
  • High transport costs — with large volumes and low active ingredient concentration, transport costs per unit are many times higher than for mineral fertilizers
  • Variable composition — NPK content in compost and manure varies widely depending on the feedstock

Conclusion: Organic + Mineral = Maximum Results

The optimal nutrition system combines both approaches: organic matter creates the soil "foundation" — improves structure, activates biota, increases nutrient use efficiency. Mineral fertilizers provide precise dosing of N, P, K at the right moment in the growing season. Combined use allows mineral inputs to be reduced by 20–30% without yield loss.

Biohumus and Compost Application Rates by Crop

Crop Dry Biohumus, kg/ha Compost, t/ha Timing and Method
Grain crops (wheat, barley) 200–400 10–15 Autumn before ploughing or spring before tillage
Maize 300–500 15–20 Autumn/spring before primary tillage
Potato 400–600 20–30 Spring, incorporated before ploughing or in furrow at planting
Vegetables (tomato, pepper, cucumber) 500–800 20–40 Before primary tillage + in planting hole
Orchards 300–500 (in tree circle) 15–25 Autumn, incorporated into soil
Seedlings (substrate) 10–20% of substrate volume — Mix with peat or growing medium

Combined Application Scheme: Organic and Mineral Fertilizers

Sample scheme for grain crops (target yield 5 t/ha)
Organic
Autumn before ploughing: biohumus 300 kg/ha or compost 10 t/ha. Goal — improve soil structure and activate microbiota before spring.
Mineral
Autumn before ploughing: nitroammophoska 150 kg/ha (30% reduction from standard rate of 220 kg/ha). Phosphorus and potassium — full dose.
Mineral
Spring, pre-sowing: ammonium nitrate 150 kg/ha (nitrogen for growth initiation). Rate reduced by 20% thanks to biohumus.
Mineral
Top-dressing (stem extension, flag leaf): UAN-32 40–50 L/ha or urea 25 kg/ha. Foliar feeding — for grain quality.
Organic
Foliar application: liquid biohumus (humates) 20–30 L/ha combined with fungicide applications. Increases stress tolerance at critical growth stages.

Liquid Biohumus: In-Season Application

Liquid biohumus (extract, humates) is a concentrate of humic and fulvic acids. Used for:

  • Seed treatment before sowing: soaking 12–24 hours in 0.01–0.1% solution. Accelerates germination, increases germination energy by 10–20%
  • Root irrigation of seedlings: 0.1–0.5% solution with every watering
  • Foliar application during the growing season: 20–50 L/ha working solution at label concentration. Compatible with most pesticides
  • Injection into irrigation water with drip systems: 2–5 L/ha per season of concentrated product
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Comparison: Organic vs Mineral Fertilizers

Parameter Biohumus / Compost Mineral NPK
Nutrient concentration Low (N 0.5–3%) High (N 18–46%)
Speed of action Slow (months) Fast (days)
Soil structure improvement Pronounced No effect
Nitrogen leaching risk Low High (nitrates)
Dosing precision Difficult Precise (% on label)
Cost per kg N High Low
Organic farming compatibility Permitted Restrictions in OF
Long-term soil benefit Cumulative Insignificant