Solid wastes such as fish carcasses, viscera, skin, and heads, as well as liquid wastes, are produced in huge amounts during fish processing. Leaving these wastes unattended is a concern for the environment as well as the human populace residing in its proximity. Apprehension for environmental degradation, especially of aquatic ecosystems is associated with high organic content in fish wastes which, if discharged, will increase the productivity of waterbodies leading to pollution. On the other hand, if these wastes are leftover or dumped improperly, they result in a nauseating smell, thus making it arduous for humans to live nearby. There is however an effective alternate method by which fish wastes can be utilized, resulting in its scientific disposal and putting less stress on the environment. Fish waste can be a good source of manure and fertilizers. Crops chiefly require nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium for growth as essential nutrient elements which can be mainly drawn from fish wastes. Moreover, they can be a good source of calcium for soils that are deficient in calcium levels. Fish-based fertilizers typically include substantial levels of N, P, and Ca and essential minerals. Phosphate rock, which is a restricted resource, provides more than 85 percent of the phosphorus used in agriculture. As a result, using fish waste as a phosphorus-rich organic waste is a better option. Fish fertilizer is an organic liquid fertilizer that works quickly and is manufactured from by-products of the fishing business. It contains a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as trace minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, and sodium. Fish emulsion, when used correctly, can increase crop yields, especially in cool climes. This is because, in the cooler months, manure breaks down slowly, whereas fish emulsion fertilizes at a constant rate. The commercial fertilizers, particularly fish based, are being utilized in crops of agriculture and horticulture and a number of fertilizers can be produced by fish waste. Fish waste composting is a fantastic approach to reduce waste volume, and compost supplemented with fish waste could be a useful organic fertilizer. This book chapter will provide insight into the utilization of fish wastes that are a boon to agriculture and soothe the environment as well.
Jaies, I., Qayoom, I., Saba, F., Khan, S. (2024). Fish Wastes as Source of Fertilizers and Manures. In: Maqsood, S., Naseer, M.N., Benjakul, S., Zaidi, A.A. (eds) Fish Waste to Valuable Products. Sustainable Materials and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8593-7_15
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