Economic and commercial analysis of reusing dam reservoir sediments

Abstract

Improper use of chemical fertilizers has led to land degradation. Organic crops, which are farmed using organic fertilizers to reduce the negative environmental effects, are considered an alternative solution to develop the ecosystem health and improve the soil. There are different sources of organic fertilizers. This research aimed to study the feasibility of reusing the sediments of the Latian Dam reservoir in Iran as an organic fertilizer to revitalize agricultural soil on a commercial scale. The correlation of elements to sediments was first demonstrated using the regression method. The Mann-Kendall trend test was then used to examine the data trend. The use of a time series method to predict the five-year sediment amount and its NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) content allowed for the creation of a sample year for future research. Finally, the economic value of the elements was calculated using the replacement cost method, and cost-benefit analyses were also carried out. The results indicated that the reuse of dam reservoir sediments not only leads to considerable profits but also makes it possible to save foreign exchange by restricting imports and increasing the inflow of foreign exchange through the export of organic fertilizers.