Chemical analysis of elephant dung as a potential organic fertilizer in Malawian agricultural systems: a preliminary study

Abstract Soil fertility decline and land degradation threaten food security and ecosystem health across sub-Saharan Africa, including Malawi. Our preliminary study provides a chemical characterization of elephant dung to establish a foundation for evaluating its potential as an organic fertilizer in Malawian agroecosystems. We compared the nutrient content and chemical properties of elephant dung with common organic and synthetic fertilizers. Our findings indicate that elephant dung exhibits chemical properties comparable to other organic fertilizers commonly used in Malawi, including a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (7.21–7.71), moderate electrical conductivity (736–913 mS/m), and a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (21.89–25.07) suitable for slow-release soil amendment. We assess these properties against relevant standards such as those set by the European Union for organic fertilizers. This chemical analysis suggests that elephant dung merits further investigation through comprehensive field trials to determine its agricultural efficacy. Should such field trials demonstrate benefits, the application of elephant dung as a fertilizer could potentially create valuable connections between conservation and agriculture. While this study focuses exclusively on chemical properties, it provides essential baseline data to inform future research exploring whether elephant dung could contribute to both sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation efforts.