Fish Emulsion Fertilizer - Fertilizing Gardens with Fish Emulsion

Fish emulsion is generally considered to be one of the better organic fertilizers available. And these days there are not only deodorized emulsions but other formulations that take the smell out of the fish. Here’s a look at fish emulsion fertilizers, where they come from and where to get them.

As with most organic fertilizers, if you judge it by just the NPK ratings, fish emulsion doesn’t pack a big punch. The natural formulation has and NPK of 5-1-1 or 5-2-2. But fish emulsion has many micronutrients and some of the trace elements have been found to be effective in some types of pest control, for example in controlling some types of nematodes.

Much, but not all, comes from one of two sources- the fish meal trade or the fish canning industry. In the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, there is a small fish called the menhaden. These menhaden are small and bony, and are not fished for eating, but are harvested for their protein values.

Bonide Products Fish Emulsion Concentrate 1 Pint - 080 $15.67 Store: UnbeatableSale, Inc. pH & Fertilizer Soil Analyzer $28.99 Store: Nature Hills Nursery Hydrolized Fish Fertilizer - Quart $13.95 Store: Yardiac.com Neptunes Harvest Fish Fertilizer $6.25 Store: Yardiac.com

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After they are cooked and pressed for their fish oil, the liquid is centrifuged and the fish soluble, are boiled down to a thicker, gummier solution that is sold as fish emulsion. While fish emulsion is sold as 100% organic, there is less than 1% of phosphoric acid added to keep the emulsion from fermenting and outgassing in storage. Typically a deodorizing agent is added as well, since it does have a fishy smell to it.

Fish emulsion is typically used by mixing it with water, and spraying it on as a foliar spray. It’s a great boost in the middle of the growing season, as a foliar spray is taken up by the plant very quickly. Care needs to be taken to make sure that the nozzle doesn’t clog up, as the solids in the fish emulsion are often drawn up into the spray head. Mix 1-4 tsp. to 1 gallon of water for most applications. Avid the heat of the day when applying, as is can release fairly quickly, and the heat will make any smell worse.

There are other types of fish fertilizer available. The emulsion above would be considered Natural Organic fish emulsion. There are also amended fish emulsion, and enzymatic fish fertilizer.

Amended fish emulsion is produced using the same basic process, but it has other synthetic materials added like urea and so is not considered completely organic.

Enzymatic fish fertilizer whill have a NPK of somewhere around 2-5-3. This fertilizer is made by having fish scraps placed in a stainless steel vat, and enzymes are added to break it down. Once again it is not considered completely organic.

Often you will find fish emulsion sold as a mix with seaweed extract.