Technology Title
AeroSpore — Self-Fertilizing Crop Spray
AeroSpore — Self-Fertilizing Crop Spray
Project Title
Aerospore Adaptationfor Lagos-Low cost Self-Fertilizing Spray for Small Farms
Aerospore Adaptationfor Lagos-Low cost Self-Fertilizing Spray for Small Farms
Category
Geoscience
Geoscience
Authors
nelleuchariadavid@gmail.com
nelleuchariadavid@gmail.com
Short Description
AeroSpore Lagos is a low-cost self-fertilizing bio-spray adapted for smallholder farmers in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry, Lagos. It converts agricultural waste from Mile 12 market, cassava peels, plantai
AeroSpore Lagos is a low-cost self-fertilizing bio-spray adapted for smallholder farmers in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry, Lagos. It converts agricultural waste from Mile 12 market, cassava peels, plantai
Long Description
PROJECT OVERVIEW: AeroSpore Lagos adapts the self-fertilizing crop spray concept for Nigerian smallholder farmers who cannot afford chemical fertilizers. The project converts agricultural waste in Lagos (cassava peels, plantain peels, sawdust) into a nutrient-rich bio-spray. PROBLEM: 1. Chemical fertilizer is too expensive - N45,000 per bag. 2. Soil in Lagos / Ogun is degraded due to overuse of chemicals. 3. Farmers burn waste, causing air pollution. SOLUTION: We produce a liquid bio-fertilizer containing: - Biochar from cassava peels (holds nutrients in soil) - Compost tea from organic waste - Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter) isolated from local soil - Moringa leaf extract as growth booster The spray self-fertilizes because bacteria continue to fix nitrogen from air after spraying, so soil becomes better after each use. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Collect cassava peels from markets in Mile 12, Lagos. 2. Convert to biochar using low-smoke drum method. 3. Mix biochar powder with compost tea and bacteria culture in water. 4. Spray on maize, cassava, and vegetable farms using normal knapsack sprayer. 5. Soil test before and after to show improvement. INNOVATION: Unlike chemical fertilizer, our spray is 90% cheaper (N3,500 per 20L), made from waste, and improves soil for next season. It fits TeraOpenScience goal of sustainable open science. TARGET USERS: Smallholder farmers in Epe, Ikorodu, and Badagry with 1-2 acres. EXPECTED IMPACT: - 40% increase in maize yield in trials - 80% reduction in fertilizer cost - Waste recycling, cleaner environment - Can be made by student cooperatives in schools. PROJECT TEAM: Vic Engineers, Lagos - Student-led team focused on sustainable agriculture. We need mentorship and lab testing support from TeraOpenScience.
PROJECT OVERVIEW: AeroSpore Lagos adapts the self-fertilizing crop spray concept for Nigerian smallholder farmers who cannot afford chemical fertilizers. The project converts agricultural waste in Lagos (cassava peels, plantain peels, sawdust) into a nutrient-rich bio-spray. PROBLEM: 1. Chemical fertilizer is too expensive - N45,000 per bag. 2. Soil in Lagos / Ogun is degraded due to overuse of chemicals. 3. Farmers burn waste, causing air pollution. SOLUTION: We produce a liquid bio-fertilizer containing: - Biochar from cassava peels (holds nutrients in soil) - Compost tea from organic waste - Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter) isolated from local soil - Moringa leaf extract as growth booster The spray self-fertilizes because bacteria continue to fix nitrogen from air after spraying, so soil becomes better after each use. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Collect cassava peels from markets in Mile 12, Lagos. 2. Convert to biochar using low-smoke drum method. 3. Mix biochar powder with compost tea and bacteria culture in water. 4. Spray on maize, cassava, and vegetable farms using normal knapsack sprayer. 5. Soil test before and after to show improvement. INNOVATION: Unlike chemical fertilizer, our spray is 90% cheaper (N3,500 per 20L), made from waste, and improves soil for next season. It fits TeraOpenScience goal of sustainable open science. TARGET USERS: Smallholder farmers in Epe, Ikorodu, and Badagry with 1-2 acres. EXPECTED IMPACT: - 40% increase in maize yield in trials - 80% reduction in fertilizer cost - Waste recycling, cleaner environment - Can be made by student cooperatives in schools. PROJECT TEAM: Vic Engineers, Lagos - Student-led team focused on sustainable agriculture. We need mentorship and lab testing support from TeraOpenScience.
Potential Applications
Potential Applications of AeroSpore Lagos:
1. Food Crop Farming: For maize, cassava, rice, yam and okra farms in Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry and Ogun State to increase yield by 40% without chemical fertilizer.
2. Vegetable and Urban Farming: For small urban farms and school gardens in Lagos mainland growing tomatoes, pepper, ugu and lettuce where soil is poor.
3. Soil Restoration: To restore degraded and acidic soils damaged by years of chemical fertilizer use, increasing organic matter from <1% to 3% and storing carbon for 100 years.
4. Waste Management: To recycle cassava peels, plantain peels and fish waste from Mile 12 and Oyingbo markets, reducing open burning and canal blockage that causes flooding in Lagos.
5. Youth and School Enterprises: Students can produce it as a science practical and cooperative business,
Potential Applications of AeroSpore Lagos:
1. Food Crop Farming: For maize, cassava, rice, yam and okra farms in Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry and Ogun State to increase yield by 40% without chemical fertilizer.
2. Vegetable and Urban Farming: For small urban farms and school gardens in Lagos mainland growing tomatoes, pepper, ugu and lettuce where soil is poor.
3. Soil Restoration: To restore degraded and acidic soils damaged by years of chemical fertilizer use, increasing organic matter from <1% to 3% and storing carbon for 100 years.
4. Waste Management: To recycle cassava peels, plantain peels and fish waste from Mile 12 and Oyingbo markets, reducing open burning and canal blockage that causes flooding in Lagos.
5. Youth and School Enterprises: Students can produce it as a science practical and cooperative business,
Open Questions
Open Questions We Need Help With From TeraOpenScience:
1. Bacteria Viability: How long will Azotobacter and Bacillus megaterium survive in liquid biochar mixture in hot Lagos climate (30-35C) without refrigeration? We need low-cost preservation method.
2. Safety Testing: How to safely isolate bacteria in secondary school lab? We have access to University of Lagos microbiology lab but need protocol for confirming bacteria are non-pathogenic.
3. Dosage Optimization: What is optimal dose per hectare for Lagos loamy-sand soil? We plan 400L per hectare but need guidance on soil testing.
4. Regulatory Approval: What is NAFDAC and SON approval process for bio-fertilizer in Nigeria? Can TeraOpenScience provide letter to support our farmer trials?
5. Shelf Life: Can we make dry powder version for easier transport to farms in Badagry and Epe?
6. Long-term Impact: How to measure carbon sequestration and soil health improvement over 2 planting seasons with low-cost tools?
We are student team and welcome mentorship on these questions.
Open Questions We Need Help With From TeraOpenScience:
1. Bacteria Viability: How long will Azotobacter and Bacillus megaterium survive in liquid biochar mixture in hot Lagos climate (30-35C) without refrigeration? We need low-cost preservation method.
2. Safety Testing: How to safely isolate bacteria in secondary school lab? We have access to University of Lagos microbiology lab but need protocol for confirming bacteria are non-pathogenic.
3. Dosage Optimization: What is optimal dose per hectare for Lagos loamy-sand soil? We plan 400L per hectare but need guidance on soil testing.
4. Regulatory Approval: What is NAFDAC and SON approval process for bio-fertilizer in Nigeria? Can TeraOpenScience provide letter to support our farmer trials?
5. Shelf Life: Can we make dry powder version for easier transport to farms in Badagry and Epe?
6. Long-term Impact: How to measure carbon sequestration and soil health improvement over 2 planting seasons with low-cost tools?
We are student team and welcome mentorship on these questions.
AI Assistant
We used AI Assistant to help formulate low-cost biochar production method from cassava peels and to calculate cost comparison between chemical fertilizer (N45,000 per bag) and our bio-spray (N3,500 per 20L). AI helped us design open-source protocol for compost tea brewing with aquarium pump and to draft Yoruba and Pidgin translation for farmer manual. We will continue using AI for soil data analysis and yield prediction.
We used AI Assistant to help formulate low-cost biochar production method from cassava peels and to calculate cost comparison between chemical fertilizer (N45,000 per bag) and our bio-spray (N3,500 per 20L). AI helped us design open-source protocol for compost tea brewing with aquarium pump and to draft Yoruba and Pidgin translation for farmer manual. We will continue using AI for soil data analysis and yield prediction.
Keywords
Proposal, Analysis, #IdealInnovationBusiness
Proposal, Analysis, #IdealInnovationBusiness
Email
nelleuchariadavid@gmail.com
nelleuchariadavid@gmail.com