2018/09/05 by Ewald Schnug, Frank Jacobs, Kirsten Stöven · 28 citations
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Isotope Analysis in Ecology #Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies #Economic and Technological Innovation #Guano #Subtropics #Calcareous #Fertilizer #Subsoil #Environmental science #Cape #Geography #Agronomy #Ecology #Archaeology #Biology #Botany #Soil water #Soil science
paper · pdf · doi:10.5772/intechopen.79501
published in InTech eBooks
openalex publication_date 2018/09/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/03
The term “Guano” applies to natural mineral deposits consisting of excrements, eggshells and carcasses of dead seabirds found in almost rainless, hot-dry climatic regions and corresponding fertilizers. Guanos are classified according to age, genesis, geographical origin and chemical composition. Main types are nitrogen- and phosphate Guanos. Phosphate Guanos require a calcareous subsoil for the development, while nitrogen Guanos are formed only under the special climatic conditions of the subtropical-edge tropical high pressure belt with coastal deserts. The most significant nitrogen Guano is the Peru-Guano, which has been used over 2000 years as agricultural fertilizer in Peru. In Europe the application of Guano as fertilizer emerged in the 1840 as “Guano boom” and lasted until the early twentieth century when Guano was replaced by industrial manufactured fertilizers. Only a small quantity is still exported to Europe as additive to organic/mineral fertilizers, more for image boosting than for effect.