Instantaneous Agricultural Waste Valorisation: A Novel Approach to Sustainable Organic Fertilization for Enhanced Maize Yield in Comparison to NPK Fertilizer

Mathew Gideon — 2024-09-18

Inorganic fertilizers are known for their environmental harm, leading to a search for sustainable alternatives. Global population growth demands sustainable agriculture, yet dependence on synthetic fertilizers risks soil degradation, pollution, and climate change. In Nigeria, agricultural waste management is challenging, with most waste burned, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This study explores converting agricultural residues into organic fertilizers, offering an eco-friendly alternative. The effects on maize growth were compared to NPK 20:10:5 and rabbit manure. Three unique organic fertilizers were synthesized from a blend of eleven types of residual dry plant biomass. Impressively, maize plants treated with this synthesized fertilizer reached a maximum height of 171.45 cm, outperforming both NPK fertilizer (134.0 cm) and rabbit manure (121.92 cm). Moreover, maize yield was significantly enhanced with the synthesized fertilizer, particularly with fertilizer C boasting a weight of 287.38 g. Notably, this fertilizer exhibited both rapid and slow nutrient release dynamics, with 11% thiourea incorporation yielding superior results. This study demonstrates that a small amount of organic fertilizer can yield more than NPK, contrary to other reports. This highlights the potential of using agricultural residues for organic fertilization, offering sustainable waste management and soil fertility improvement. Organic fertilizers can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, decrease environmental pollution, and promote sustainable agriculture. They enhance crop yields while minimizing environmental impacts, providing a viable alternative for farmers in Nigeria and similar regions. Future research should optimize biofertilizer formulation and application methods for diverse agricultural settings.

Management of Waste Wood in the Energy and Fertilizer Industries. Case Study of Poland

Bartłomiej Igliński — 2024-08-19

The energy transition requires the provision of stable energy production, which can be ensured by the production of energy from waste biomass. Physicochemical analysis was carried out and the heat of combustion was determined for 11 different tree species. The moisture content of the biomass was within wide limits: from 9.41% for elderberry to 43.92% for sweet cherries. In turn, the ash content ranged from 0.77% for pine to 3.58% for elderberry. The lowest heat of combustion was found for oak biomass: 18.82 MJ/kg, and the highest for pine: 21.23 MJ/kg. A fertilizer called phytoash obtained from biomass combustion contains large amounts of fertilizing calcium and magnesium and has an alkaline reaction. Phytoash can be used as fertilizer in the fertilizer industry on acidic soils in Poland. The largest amounts of calcium and magnesium for fertilizer purposes can be used in the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship (2,023 Mg/year and 2.86 Mg/year), the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship (1,625 Mg/year and 2.30 Mg/year), and the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship (1,612 Mg/year and 2.29 Mg/year) and Lubuskie Voivodeship (1,609 Mg/year and 2.28 Mg/year). Calculations indicate a fairly large energy potential from waste biomass, which allows its use in the energy mix or industry, e.g. food, in Poland. The calculated amount of electricity from waste biomass would cover Poland's needs by 6% and heat by 20%.

Industrial Bioresource Engineering

Instantaneous Agricultural Waste Valorisation: A Novel Approach to Sustainable Organic Fertilization for Enhanced Maize Yield in Comparison to NPK Fertilizer

Management of Waste Wood in the Energy and Fertilizer Industries. Case Study of Poland