Organic Fertilizer Raw Material Procurement: Complete Practical Guide to Categories, Pricing, and Cost Calculation

1. First, look at the big picture: where do raw materials come from, and how much is available?

Before discussing specific product categories, let's examine two key resource accounts.

The first is livestock manure. China produces approximately 3.8 billion tons of livestock waste annually. According to the latest data released in January 2026 during a State Council policy briefing, the national comprehensive utilization rate of livestock manure has reached 80.1%, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs aiming to raise this figure above 85% by 2030. Behind these figures lies a clear trend: manure treatment facilities on farms are becoming increasingly standardized, transforming waste from "unwanted byproducts" into "marketable commodities." As large-scale farms tighten their manure supply, securing sources early is essential.

The second is crop straw. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs shows that China generates about 865 million tons of major crop straw annually, with 731 million tons collectible each year. The overall utilization rate remains stable above 88%, of which 57.6% is used as fertilizer. Currently, more than 30,000 enterprises across the country utilize straw, with over 1,700 processing more than 10,000 tons annually. A well-established collection, storage, and transportation system is already in place. For organic fertilizer manufacturers, straw serves as a readily available carbon source supplement, though it is highly seasonal—most collection and storage occurs within a month after autumn harvest. Missing this window means having to purchase at market prices.

There’s also a policy-driven boost. Since the release of the 2017 "Opinions on Accelerating the Resource Utilization of Livestock and Poultry Waste," nationwide initiatives such as county-level integrated promotion of manure resource utilization and pilot programs for green farming cycles (covering 299 counties) have been continuously strengthened. These project counties typically offer supporting treatment quotas and financial subsidies. If your factory happens to be located in one of these designated areas, proactively engaging with the local agriculture and rural affairs bureau often ensures access to both policy benefits and guaranteed orders. Ultimately, commercial organic fertilizers made from livestock manure sit precisely at the intersection of two policy goals—"pollution control" and "soil enrichment"—providing the industry’s most fundamental certainty.

II. Four Major Raw Materials: Characteristics and Applications

Livestock and poultry manure** is the absolute mainstay. Chicken manure has the highest nutrient concentration among animal manures and relatively low moisture content, making it the primary raw material for commercial organic fertilizers. Cattle manure, high in fiber and lower in nutrients, is abundant and inexpensive, ideal as the "skeleton" in fertilizer formulations. Pig manure falls between the two, but special attention must be paid to heavy metal and antibiotic residues—especially copper and zinc—which originate from feed additives; this is particularly important when sourcing manure from large-scale pig farms. Sheep manure is dry and well-structured, highly praised by farmers after composting, and generally priced higher than chicken or cattle manure.

In terms of procurement, the moisture content of fresh manure directly depends on the manure removal method. In farms using dry manure collection systems, the moisture level can be maintained around 60%, allowing immediate entry into fermentation processes. However, water-based manure (such as slurry or flushed manure) resembles thin soup and requires either prior solid-liquid separation or mixing with substantial amounts of dry materials to absorb excess moisture—these pre-treatment costs should be factored into the overall raw material budget. Additionally, cage-raised laying hen manure tends to be drier, while broiler manure often contains rice husks or wood shavings as bedding. While bedding materials are beneficial and help supply carbon sources, poultry manure generally has a higher salt content compared to other livestock manures, so its usage should be carefully controlled when producing seedling substrate products.

**Crop straw and agricultural/forestry waste** primarily provide carbon sources and porosity. Materials such as corn stalks, rice husks, sawdust, and mushroom compost typically have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio above 60, which makes them extremely slow to ferment alone. They must be mixed with manure to bring the overall carbon-to-nitrogen ratio into an optimal range for fermentation. At the same time, these materials absorb excess moisture from manure and improve aeration within compost piles.