Knowledge Base

Hydrolysate

Amino acid · Soil Land Food

High-protein scraps smashed up and slow-fermented with LAB Serum and molasses into an amino-acid-rich tonic — fertiliser and biostimulant in one barrel.

Grow (N)All stages
Moderate to make
42–56 days ferment
1:10 dilution
nitrogen, amino-acids, organic-acids supplied
＋ Start a batch from this recipe

Dilution calculator

Dilution 1:10

Enter a water volume to see how much to add.

Ingredients

  • High-protein biomass (fish/animal or veg scraps), macerated80 quarts (by volume)
  • Clean non-chlorinated water80 quarts
  • LAB Serum16 quarts
  • Molasses11 quarts

How to make it

  1. Step 1

    Macerate the high-protein biomass — macerator, insinkerator, or smash it with a spade; add a little water if needed.

  2. Step 2

    Fill the barrel or IBC with the biomass.

  3. Step 3

    Carefully add the water.

  4. Step 4

    Add LAB Serum and molasses and mix thoroughly through.

  5. Step 5

    Leave 3–6 inches of headspace for gases and fit the fermentation lock (airlock).

  6. Step 6

    Ferment somewhere warm and undisturbed for at least 6–8 weeks.

  7. Step 7

    Filter before use; done when mild-smelling, mid-to-dark brown, pH around 4.

What it is

A hydrolysate is a bioferment made from high-protein material — fish, animal carcasses, or vegetable scraps — macerated (smashed up) and slow-fermented with LAB Serum, water and molasses. As the protein breaks down it releases amino acids and organic acids, giving a product with both real fertiliser value and a range of biostimulants that research shows plants love.

On the Nutritive Cycle: Hydrolysate is a vegetative / all-stages input. Its amino acids and nitrogen feed the C→N push of young, leafy growth, while the organic acids and microbes support the plant across the whole season.

When to use it

  • Vegetative growth — the amino-acid nitrogen drives strong early leaf and root building.
  • Rate — 5–10 pints per acre, diluted at least 1:10 in water. Foliar or soil.
  • Timing — for foliar sprays, early morning or late afternoon is best.

Materials

Base 50-gallon barrel batch (scales to a 260-gal IBC — recipe is by volume, not weight):

  • High-protein biomass, macerated — 80 quarts
  • Water — 80 quarts
  • LAB Serum — 16 quarts
  • Molasses — 11 quarts
  • Barrel or IBC with a fermentation lock (airlock)

How to make it

  1. Macerate the biomass; add a little water if it needs it to break down.
  2. Fill the barrel with the biomass.
  3. Add water carefully.
  4. Add LAB Serum and molasses and mix thoroughly.
  5. Seal with the airlock — leave 3–6 inches headspace for gases.
  6. Ferment 6–8 weeks minimum, warm and undisturbed. Filter before use.

Signs it worked / troubleshooting

  • ✅ Good: mild smell, mid-to-dark brown, pH around 4.
  • ⚠️ Still smelling raw or sharp = not finished → reseal and give it more time.
  • 🚫 Black and/or purple/green colour with a strong smell = putrefied → do not use, discard.

How to store

Shaded, cool place with the lid sealed. Keeps 12 months or more if properly stored. After long storage, check pH, colour and odour before using.

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