Edaphic Sustainability and Forage Productivity through the Use of Bocashi-Type Fermented Organic Fertilizers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This research evaluates the impact of Bocashi on edaphic sustainability and forage biomass productivity through a systematic review (PRISMA 2020). A total of 231 articles from Scopus were analyzed using data mining and bibliometric techniques with VOSviewer. Bocashi serves as a crucial biotechnological bridge for nutrient stabilization, offering a rapid alternative to traditional composting in tropical climate zones. Beyond yield increase, the review identified that fermented amendments trigger a systemic reactivation of soil enzymatic activity, which is directly correlated with enhanced forage protein levels and improved ruminant digestibility. The results demonstrate an exponential growth in publications since 2015, highlighting that Bocashi increases soil organic matter between 15% and 22% and elevates dry yield by >3.8 t/ha per cycle. Co-occurrence analysis identifies a synergy between the amendment and photosynthetic efficiency, mediated by biological and enzymatic reactivation. It is concluded that Bocashi optimizes plant physiological resilience, consolidating itself as a precision tool for the circular economy in tropical agroecosystems.