noun
dried sardine fertilizer
Historical term for a fertilizer made from dried sardines, used in traditional Japanese agriculture. Referred to as 魚肥 (fish fertilizer) in related contexts.
See also: 魚肥
江戸時代には、干鰯が重要な肥料として使われていた。
In the Edo period, dried sardine fertilizer was used as an important fertilizer.
魚肥 is a broader term for fish-based fertilizer, while 干鰯 specifically refers to fertilizer made from dried sardines.
Compound of 干し (hoshi, 'dried') + 鰯 (ka, 'sardine'). The reading ほしか is a straightforward combination of the kun'yomi of 干す and the on'yomi of 鰯.