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The benefits of fish hydrolysate in farming
A cold-processed, amino-acid-rich liquid fertiliser for South African growers, feeding soil biology and crops at the same time, without synthetic inputs.
Quick answer
What is fish hydrolysate?
Fish hydrolysate is a liquid fertiliser made by breaking fish protein down with enzymes rather than heat. The process yields free amino acids, short peptides, fish oils, vitamins and trace minerals in forms that plants and soil microbes can take up immediately, which is why it works both as a foliar feed and as a soil biology food.
Why farmers use it
Four benefits of fish hydrolysate for crops and soil
Rich in nutrients and biologically active, fish hydrolysate builds soil fertility while lifting yield and quality: an all-natural, sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Healthier soil biology
The carbon, oils and amino acids feed microbial populations, improving fertility and cutting reliance on costly synthetic fertiliser over time.
Stronger growth and yield
Natural bio-stimulant activity supports root development and canopy growth, while improving the flavour and appearance of the final product.
Better stress tolerance
Helps plants hold up to drought and disease pressure, producing more resilient crops that need fewer rescue interventions.
Sustainable economics
Environmentally and economically sustainable at any scale, from smallholdings to large commercial operations.
The science
How fish hydrolysate is made
Enzymes break the protein in whole fish and fish by-products into smaller molecules. The result is a stable liquid rich in amino acids and micronutrients that plants and soil organisms can use straight away.
01
Enzymatic hydrolysis
Protein is cleaved into amino acids and peptides in their most bioavailable forms, with no high-heat rendering.
02
Controlled production
Consistent nutrient profiles batch to batch, so agronomic results are predictable and repeatable.
03
Fast uptake
High bioavailability means quicker uptake by leaves, roots and soil organisms, and measurable response in-season.
04
Circular sourcing
Made from fish processing by-products that would otherwise be waste: a circular-economy input for agriculture.
Application
How to apply fish hydrolysate
Rates depend on crop, growth stage, soil analysis and the rest of your programme. Our agronomists will build a schedule with you, including tank-mix compatibility and timing.
Growing systems
Fish hydrolysate in hydroponics, aquaponics and field crops
It is not only for soil-based farming. Fish hydrolysate has proven itself across soilless systems, aquaculture and conventional field production.
Hydroponic farming
An ideal nutritional supplement in soilless systems, giving plants a complete amino acid and mineral profile without synthetic inputs.
Aquaponics & aquaculture
Supports fish health and water quality as a natural alternative to synthetic additives, including in offshore and open-sea operations.
Field & row crops
Applied as a foliar spray or through fertigation to stimulate root development, microbial activity and yield in commercial crops.
Fish hydrolysate vs fish emulsion: what is the difference?
Both are fish-based fertilisers, but they are not the same product. The difference is how the fish is processed, and that determines what survives to reach your crop.
Hydrolysate
Enzyme-digested at low temperature. Retains amino acids, peptides, oils, vitamins and enzymes. Behaves as both a nutrient source and a biological stimulant, and stays in suspension for reliable spraying.
Emulsion
A heat-processed by-product of fish oil and fish meal production. Much of the oil and protein has been removed, so it is chiefly an NPK source with far less biological value.
Zylem products
Where you will find fish hydrolysate in our range
Three products in our range carry marine protein, each formulated for a different job on farm.
FAQs
Fish hydrolysate questions, answered
The questions our agronomists field most often about marine protein in a farming programme.
Is fish hydrolysate suitable for organic farming?
It is a natural, renewable input with no synthetic chemicals or harmful by-products. Certification requirements differ by scheme, so confirm your certifier’s approved-input list before use.
Does fish hydrolysate smell?
There is a marine odour on application that dissipates quickly, particularly at agricultural dilution rates and when applied to soil or through irrigation.
When should I apply it?
Most growers apply at planting to establish biology, then through vegetative growth and at stress or reproductive stages. Spray in the cooler parts of the day for best leaf uptake.
Can it replace my fertiliser programme?
It complements a balanced programme and, over time, reduces the volume of synthetic fertiliser needed as soil biology and nutrient cycling improve. Start from a soil analysis.
Which crops benefit most?
Vegetables, fruit and nut trees, sugarcane, pastures and row crops all respond. High-value horticulture usually shows the fastest visible response in quality and shelf life.
How should it be stored?
Keep containers sealed, out of direct sunlight and above freezing. Agitate before use, and check tank-mix compatibility with strongly acidic or oxidising products.
Find out more about fish hydrolysate
Whatever the size of your farm, we want to hear from you. Speak to an agronomist about rates, timing and how fish hydrolysate fits your programme.
Call us+27 33 347 2893
Emailadmin2@zylemsa.co.za
Visit usUnit 20, 3 Cascades Crescent, Chase Valley, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, 3201
Explore the range
Other raw materials we work with
Fish hydrolysate is one of several biological raw materials behind our formulations.