A novel circular agriculture model with low cost, easy operation, and rapid scalability in rural areas

Abstract

Plant Jiaosu, referred to as “enzyme” over the past decades, constitutes the fermentation liquid derived from organic plant matter through fermentation. Circular agriculture is a type of agricultural production mode characterized by efficient resource utilization and environmental friendliness. This paper introduces a novel, low-cost, and easy-to-operate circular agriculture model, known as the “fruit and vegetable waste–agricultural Jiaosu–compost–crop”. The results showed that the addition of agricultural Jiaosu during the composting process prolonged the thermophilic stage, promoted the humification degree of compost, and reduced nitrogen loss. As demonstrated in this study, using compost made from agricultural Jiaosu and organic wastes could replace the commercial organic fertilizer in traditional cultivation of grapes. This would promote the growth of grapes, improve yield, and enhance grape quality. This substitution directly and indirectly resulted in an increase of 1400 yuan per 666.7 m² of grape planting area. This circular agriculture model will ensure the rapid utilization of organic wastes in rural areas and improve the rural environment.