MECOF (Microwave-Engineered Circular Organic Fertilizer) is a small-batch, pelletized fertilizer produced from locally recovered, mechanically separated dairy manure solids using controlled microwave processing. The process substantially reduces moisture, improves handling, and converts a livestock residual into a convenient product that recycles valuable nutrients and organic matter back to plants and soils. MECOF is designed for applications including home and community gardens, raised beds, urban agriculture, landscaping, and specialty crop production, providing a practical pathway for transforming dairy manure into a useful resource within a circular agricultural system.
MECOF builds upon microwave-based manure processing technology developed through research at the University of California, Davis. The underlying technology for producing solid dry manure was developed by Pramod Pandey and was the subject of a U.S. patent application assigned to The Regents of the University of California.
U.S. Patent Application Publication: US 2022/0155009 A1.
Title: Methods and Apparatuses for Producing Solid Dry Manure
Inventor: Pramod Pandey
Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Publication Date: May 19, 2022
website: US020220155009A120220519
Product Specifications:
MECOF transforms dairy manure into a convenient, microwave-processed fertilizer designed to recycle nutrients and organic matter, with microwave treatment achieving E. coli levels below the detection limit in our testing.
Source: Locally recovered dairy manure solids, processed through controlled microwave treatment and engineered into a convenient fertilizer product.
Form: Engineered Pellets
MECOF pellet dimension: 4 mm diameter × 8–15 mm length with a target length of ~10 mm.
Initial Moisture: 80-90%
Final moisture: 35-40%
Dry Matter: 60-65%
pH: 7-8
Estimated Total N: 1.3-1.6%
Estimated P₂O₅: 0.6-0.8%
Estimated K₂O: 1.6-1.8%
Estimated N–P₂O₅–K₂O: ~1.5–0.7–1.8
Microbial quality: E. coli was not detected following microwave treatment in multiple experimental tests.
Process: Controlled microwave treatment followed by pelletization.
Suitable Applications: Home gardens, raised beds, community gardens, urban agriculture, landscaping, and specialty crop production where nutrient recycling and organic matter addition are desired.
Application Rate: Application rates vary with plant type, soil conditions, container size, and nutrient needs.
MECOF: Small-Batch Commercial Production
Commercial Availability: MECOF is currently available in limited quantities through small-batch production. Products are made to order. Contact us for quantities, pricing, and shipping or pickup options.
Pramod Pandey; pramodiaca@gmail.com
Product Specification Note: Product specifications and nutrient composition are preliminary estimates and may vary with dairy manure characteristics and processing conditions.
Engineering Innovation and Product Novelty
MECOF applies controlled microwave processing to high-moisture dairy manure solids to simultaneously reduce moisture, improve material handling, and support microbial quality before pelletization. Starting manure solids containing approximately 80–90% moisture are processed to approximately 35–40% moisture and converted into uniform ~4-mm fertilizer pellets.