Mexican SunFlower(වල් සුරියකාන්ත): Great Fertilizer

Found out a couple of months ago from a visitor here that Mexican Sunflower (වල් සුරියකාන්ත) Tithonia Diversifoliais a very good fertilizer. Thanks Anil Ratnayake.

Mexican Sunflower is fast growing, not fast enough here because we would like to use it extensively as soil conditioner and fertilizer. It is a weed and invasive species that originated from Central America.

• High in Pottasium (low in Mg).  As fertilizer contains 1.76% N, 0.82% P, and 3.92% K.
  In comparison cattle manure 0.6% N 0.4% P 0.5% K
  Giliricidia 3.26% N 0.41% P 2.76% K
• Soil conditioner, i.e. loosens soil.
  Much needed here because of clayey soil that becomes like rock when dry and prevents root growth.
• Decomposes fast, so nutrients available quickly.
  That means can be used for short duration crops such as vegetables.
• Grows from plant cuttings. i.e. easily propagated.
  The plant cuttings seem to be tolerant of hard water (High Mg, Ca).
• Attracts Butterflies and Bees (a big plus).
• Beautiful Flowers

 Anecdote:  My sister has a Rambutan plant that has barely grown in two years. Probably because the garden has been filled with gravel/gritty soil (බොරලු). About two-three months ago she had planted a Mexican sunflower next to a Rambutan plant.  This was before we knew about the soil conditioning properties. Anyway within the last two months the Rambutan plat has grown by about 2 feet.

References and Links 

Study  of Mexican Sunflower on Rice
http://www.agrilearning.goviya.lk/Paddy/Paddy_Research/Paddy_pdf/A27.pdf

NPK values of Manures
http://www.allotment-garden.org/compost-fertiliser/npk-manures-compost.php


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