noun
post-harvest fertilizer
Agricultural term for fertilizer applied after harvesting to replenish soil nutrients as a 'thank you' to the land.
稲刈りの後、田んぼにお礼肥をまく。
After the rice harvest, we spread post-harvest fertilizer on the paddy.
お礼肥として堆肥を使う農家も多い。
Many farmers use compost as a post-harvest fertilizer.
追肥 is topdressing or additional fertilizer applied during the growing season, while お礼肥 is applied after harvest.
元肥 is base fertilizer applied before planting, whereas お礼肥 is applied after harvesting.
Compound of お礼 (おれい, 'thanks') and 肥 (ごえ, 'fertilizer'), literally 'thank-you fertilizer', reflecting the practice of giving back to the soil after harvest.