Fertilizer Manufacturing Research Articles

Программный комплекс для расчета доз компонентов тукосмесей

A methodology and a software package for calculating the fertilizer mixture component doses depending on the data on the variability of agrochemical indicators and agricultural crops planned for cultivation are discussed. The software package can be used by both agricultural enterprises and fertilizer manufacturers with fertilizer mixing plants for the production of fertilizer mixtures for the soil, climatic and economic conditions of the end consumer.

Підвищення ефективності сушіння детриту з використанням енергії сонця

In Ukraine, there is a problem of sewage sludge disposal. The volume of sediment is growing every year, and the existing silt sites of water supply systems are not able to accept their entire volume. At the same time, experts say that sludge in sewage treatment plants is not a problem, but an asset that can help farmers grow environmentally friendly products, because these fertilizers will have a number of advantages over chemicals: they can be cheaper, more useful and more efficient. At the same time, the processing of the so-called detritus (wet mixture of mineral and partially decomposed biological components) is complicated by the high initial humidity of the product. And according to the results of previous studies, if the humidity of the raw material is in the range of 45… 80 %, processing technologies can become economically feasible only if the intensification of its drying processes - as the most energy-intensive of technological processes. The aim of the work is to study the possibility of using renewable energy sources, in particular solar energy, to reduce energy consumption during pre-drying of wet material - one of the most important processes in the manufacture of granular fertilizers from waste treatment plants. A polycarbonate-coated greenhouse was used for sludge drying. The elongated side of the greenhouse is located in the east-west direction and has an angle of inclination to the horizon of 30°. The northern side of the roof covering is opaque and insulated. On the inside, it has a light-reflecting coating that directs rays at the material. The experiments were carried out in summer without additional heat, except for the heat of the sun. The experiments changed: weather conditions, the thickness of the material layer, the amount of mixing, the initial humidity of the material. Main results: Identified factors: - which lead to the most noticeable changes in the specific productivity of the laboratory dryer: ambient temperature, clarity-cloudiness; relative humidity in the environment, the amount of stirring, floor heating; - which do not lead to a significant impact: the thickness of the material layer, the initial humidity of the material. Key words: biomineral fertilizers, detritus, solar dryer

Sewage sludge as organic matrix in the manufacture of organomineral fertilizers: Physical forms, environmental risks, and nutrients recycling

The use of organomineral fertilizers (OMFs) has grown worldwide, mainly in tropical conditions, combining economics and environmental management. Our study used a sewage sludge (SS) rich in Zn as the organic matrix in the manufacture of OMFs, with the following objectives: i) to select the best OMF physical form; ii) to evaluate environmental risks associated with their application; iii) to recycle SS nutrients for soybean (Glycine max) production; iv) to verify their benefits to soil microbial activity and other soil functions. For each soil individually, a clay and a sandy clay loam, six treatments were tested: control (CT, without fertilization); mineral fertilization (MF); MF plus Zn and B (MFZn + B); and three distinct physical forms for the OMFs [powder (Pw), granule (G), and pellet (Pt)], all calculated to provide 100 kg of P2O5 and performed in four blocks. Amending SS-OMFs did not represent an environmental risk in terms of spreading pathogens and hazardous trace elements. In comparison with MFs, SS-OMFs enhanced nutrients accumulation, pod numbers, and nodulation, as well as soil microbial activity, but did not affect shoot and root dry masses and enzymatic activities at early stages of soybean development (60 d after planting). They were also capable to supply Zn and B to plants and their distinct physical forms did not affect microbiological indicators of soil quality or nutrients accumulation in plant tissues. Overall, SS-OMFs seems to be a promising alternative for sustainable use of SSs in soybeans avoiding their disposal in landfills, but field studies are still needed to ratify the findings under more realistic conditions.

Unlocking employee’s green behavior in fertilizer industry: the role of green HRM practices and psychological ownership

The engineering of agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers indirectly facilitates the emissions of NO2 and CO2. The extensive use of pesticides and inorganic chemical fertilizers has drawn the world’s attention to green practices. Grounded on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, we investigated the effect of green human resource management (GHRM) practices on employees’ green behavior with the mediating role of psychological ownership. We applied the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to 279 responses acquired from the fertilizer manufacturing firm employees. The results show that GHRM practices (green competence building, green motivation enhancing, and green employee involvement practices) significantly improve employee green behavior. Additionally, GHRM practices enhance the sense of ownership of nature among employees due to which they involve themselves proactively in eco-friendly activities and behavior.

Emptying the Future, Claiming Space: The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania as a Spatial Imaginary for Strategic Coupling Processes

This article contributes an economic geography perspective on the envisioning and implementing of mega-infrastructure projects in Africa. Focusing on development corridors and their implicit spatio-temporality of “global integration,” we conceptualize corridors as spatial imaginaries for strategic coupling processes. We distinguish between emptying the future and claiming space as two fundamental mechanisms of spatial imaginaries. Together, these mechanisms can render crucial territorial and relational “insides” and “outsides” available for coupling processes. Spatial imaginaries are then sources of power in the coupling between corridor regions and global production networks.Empirically, we focus on the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) in relation to the coupling process between global fertilizer manufacturer YARA International and the Tanzanian agricultural market. Facing unfavourable coupling conditions with Tanzania’s fertilizer sector, the early mobilization of SAGCOT served to promote a narrow imaginary of Tanzania’s agrarian future, thereby making a soft claim to territorial (through the corridor) and networked space (through a network of corridor stakeholders). Although YARA and Tanzanian counterparts initially capitalized on SAGCOT’s mobilization due to its promise to transform Tanzanian agriculture, a gradual disenchantment with SAGCOT’s vision and its subsequent disintegration jeopardizes these coupling process today.Approaching corridors as spatial imaginaries reveals therefore their instrumental but fragile power in coupling processes. Such power is not about blunt domination or coercion, but rather builds on persuasion and consent. Only when spatial imaginaries succeed in maintaining persuasive arguments about the future, is their function of initiating and stabilizing otherwise unfavourable coupling processes available.

The British Fertiliser Manufacturers’ Association: Struggle for Survival 1870‒1930

Abstract Most firms in the British fertiliser industry of the 19th century were small and combined other activities, such as seed merchants, millers, manufacturers of sulphuric acid and in one case explosives. In the heyday of high farming there was almost no co-operation and no attempt to achieve economy of scale through merger and amalgamation. In 1875 just before the onset of the depression the Chemical Manure Manufacturers’ Association was formed to fix prices and address the challenges posed by proposed Government regulation of what was after all a noxious industry. This story mirrors much of British industry, where implicit (price-fixing) cartels failed and individual firms rejected collaboration in favour of what seems an irrational commitment to a free market ideology that was transparently misplaced.

Organic waste processing and its application to potato plants through hydroponic techniques

The Kalimbu market is one of the traditional markets in South Sulawesi with a very high buying and selling activity. The organic waste that is mostly generated from the activities at the Kalimbu Market is leftover vegetables and fruit. Vegetable and fruit waste provides a big advantage if it is managed properly, which is converted into liquid organic fertilizer through a fermentation process. The liquid organic fertilizers produced can help farmers overcome the high price of synthetic fertilizers and save the earth from pollution. The method used to determine the effect of types of organic waste (vegetable waste and fruit waste) on the physical and chemical quality of solid and liquid organic fertilizers used a randomized block design. Whereas the application of solid and liquid organic fertilizers to the production and nutritional content of potato plants used a treatment consisting of P0: basic fertilizer + without liquid organic fertilizer and P1: basic fertilizer + liquid organic fertilizer. The results of research on the manufacture of liquid organic fertilizer from Kalimbu market waste with vegetable and fruit samples also showed that the two samples required different storage times for composting. Plants treated with liquid organic fertilizer from the Kalimbu market waste have better stem growth, leaf number, and stem number.Keywords: Waste, organic, fermentation, hydroponic

Rare earth elements as tracers of sediment contamination by fertilizer industries in Southern Brazil, Patos Lagoon Estuary

The content of rare earth elements (REE) and their distribution in sediment cores collected from the Patos Lagoon estuary from southern Brazil were investigated. Sediment cores (ca. 44 cm) were obtained from two locations within the estuary, including a relatively unimpacted site (PI) that has not been strongly affected by human activities and a well-known polluted area within Coroa do Boi Bay (CB), located in the industrialized central part of the estuary, to capture possible features that may help to identify contamination by the local fertilizer manufacturing industry. Sediments from both coring locations are enriched in the light REEs (LREE) over the heavy REEs (HREE) when normalized to the North American Shale Composite (NASC). The PI core was collected in the mid-estuary, an area where salinity values were lower than 10 practical salinity units and where river water and seawater mixing occurs. The features observed in PI sediments likely reflect preferential removal of LREEs from the water column owing to salt-induced coagulation of river-borne colloids. Sediments samples collected from the impacted CB location have substantially higher REE contents than PI sediments. Furthermore the relatively constant REE content and measures of REE fractionation (i.e., ΣLREE/ΣHREE ratios, NASC normalized patterns, NASC normalized La/Yb ratios) with depth in sediments from the CB site suggests that the impact of fertilizer manufacturing on these sediments is a long-term phenomenon. Using sedimentation rates determined for Coroa do Boi Bay, we show that anthropogenic contamination of the CB core sediments by total urban, industrial, and port emissions of REEs can be traced to the early 1900's and was largely continuous throughout the 20th century.

Research tower composter bioactivator using buffalo dung

Buffalo dung is buffalo digestive waste, which can cause problems for the environment and health. The buffalo dung waste contains macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water which have the potential as bioactivator for the composting process. The composting process using bioactivator from buffalo dung is an alternative utilization of buffalo dung solid waste. This study aims to show the potential of buffalo dung solid waste as a bioactivator in the composting process of organic waste and to obtain degradation data of composting organic waste using bioactivator from buffalo dung. The variables observed in this study were pH, TS, TSS, and Moisture Content. This research was started from making bioactivator from buffalo dung, then continued the composting process by putting organic waste into the tower composter while adding bioactivator until the water content reached 55-65%. Results the study found that the pH, TS, and TSS values in the manufacture of liquid fertilizer from buffalo dung were 4.28; 17.68 ppm and 6.9 ppm. Composting carried out for 20 days showed that the bioactivator of buffalo dung was able to influence the composting process, namely moisture content 50.23%.

Assessment of regional greenhouse gas emissions from spring wheat cropping system: A case study of Saskatchewan in Canada

The assessment of GHG emissions from spring wheat cropping system in Saskatchewan was conducted in this study. A general emission assessment model was developed. The main sources of GHG included emissions from farming operations, emissions from the manufacturing and transportation of N/P fertilizer, emissions from herbicides usage, and direct and indirect land emissions. The total GHG emission was around 3.36 × 106 Mg CO2-eq in 2012. The total GHG emissions mainly came from the manufacturing, storage, delivery, and application of nitrogen fertilizer and environmental conditions had a significant effect on GHG emissions. From north to south Saskatchewan, the total GHG emission was decreasing as Pr/PE decreased. In high Pr/PE area, there was a GHG emission of 474 kg CO2-eq t−1 of grain, which was 41% greater than that in low Pr/PE. Through applying multivariate factorial analysis, it was found that the emission factor from direct emission had the most significant impact on the total GHG emission. The total GHG emission in higher Pr/PE area was more sensitive to the N fertilizer application. The understanding of detailed effects of these parameters and interactions can help determine what would have significant effects on total GHG emission and develop the appropriate strategy for sustainable management of agriculture.

Effectiveness of fertilizers with bioremediation techniques for planting jasmine in the home industry bridal flower decoration

Bioremediation is a technique in reducing environmental pollutants. Bioremediation in this study modifies toxic pollutants by utilizing microbial waste and traditional plants that can be used to nourish the home industry jasmine flowers in the manufacture of bridal flower decorations. The study design uses qualitative research. The sampling technique was done purposively. The study was conducted at the bridal studio of Laladon Indah and Beji bridal studio in Depok, which has a special jasmine garden for bridal flower accessories. Samples were obtained through observation. The results showed that; (a) bioremediation techniques with liquid fertilizers are easy to use within the scope of the home industry, (b) bioremediation techniques are considered economical in making and processing materials, and (c) fertilizer manufacturing techniques with bioremediation are declared safe for the environment and can be used for planting and breeding buds jasmine flower which will be used as material for bridal flower accessories.

Photocatalytic Plasmon‐Enhanced Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia

Nitrogen reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions is an emerging area of research sparked by the increasing concerns over climate change which is driving the efforts to find alternatives to energy‐intensive Haber–Bosch process. Ammonia is a critical component in the manufacturing of fertilizers and is required to support the global food supply. It can also be used as a fuel source to generate electricity. Many strategies have been used to drive nitrogen reduction under milder conditions including incorporation of plasmonic nanomaterials. The ability of plasmonic nanomaterials to strongly interact with light, resulting in near‐field enhancement, hot charge‐carrier generation and injection, increase in local temperature, has made them attractive candidates for catalysis. This review provides a comprehensive survey of recent developments in photocatalytic, plasmon‐enhanced nitrogen conversion to ammonia and the proposed mechanisms for the increased catalytic activity. A brief outlook on the current challenges and future directions is also provided.

Evaluation of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels and agricultural chemicals for paste tomato cultivation in the Bursa region of Turkey.

This study was aimed to determine the fossil fuel consumption, energy use, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in per unit production area (ha) considering the petroleum products (PP) directly used and the chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the cultivation of paste tomatoes in open-field conditions in Bursa region of Turkey. The primary data of the study consisted of data collected by making face-to-face surveys with the producers of paste tomatoes in the Bursa region. The direct energy inputs and CO2 emissions related to diesel fuel and lubricant oil consumptions of engines of agricultural tractors for cultivation operations and the indirect energy inputs and CO2 emissions related to the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers and plant growth regulators used for plant nutrition and pesticides used for plant protection were determined for paste tomato cultivation. A total of 288.6 L diesel fuel and 0.067 L lubrication oil are consumed per hectare when using tools and machinery in paste tomato production. A total of 408 kg of chemical fertilizers and 15.5 kg of pesticides are used per hectare in paste tomato production in the Bursa region of Turkey. A total of 2343.45 MJ/ha and 2700.5 MJ/ha indirect energy is used in the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, respectively. A total of 792.43 kg and 0.189 kg CO2 is released as a result of diesel fuel and lubricant oil consumptions. For the production of one kilogram of paste tomato, 2.68 grams (g) diesel fuel and lubricating oil, 175.02 kilojoules (kJ) of energy is consumed, and 15.88 g CO2 is released in the Bursa region of Turkey.

An overview of the global fertilizer trends and India’s position in 2020

The growing world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, which will increase the present demand for food by ~ 70%. Consequently, to boost agrarian production and achieve food security, within limited arable land, the effective use of fertilizers becomes critical. However, the economic efficiency of mineral fertilizers has fallen dramatically as the price hike in fertilizers became dearer than food. The current winds of global climate change due to continued emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities have been posing unprecedented challenges before the agriculture sector and fertilizer industry. The limited geological resources of raw material for the manufacture of fertilizers and market fluctuations of fertilizer minerals initiate wide-reaching competition and raise challenge of food security. It is observed since the last century that the production of fertilizer minerals has risen almost constantly; however, consumption varied greatly from one region to another. It remained constant or declined in Western Europe and North America, but increased rapidly in East and South Asia especially in China and India. The Asian share of global fertilizer consumption is more than 60% and growing rapidly. This supply-demand pattern influences mineral fertilizers’ trade-flow and thereby global competition. Hence, there is a need to develop the fertilizer mineral sector and adopt policies and strategies to ensure materials security. The sustainable agricultural intensification and the agronomical proportions, timing, and placement with the right source are crucial factors which determine the sustainable utility of fertilizer minerals. In the wake of the above, we provide a critical appraisal of fertilizer minerals.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of monolignol biosynthesis genes in Salix matsudana Koidz and their relationship to accelerated growth.

Lignin plays an important role in plant growth and development. It serves as a raw material for the manufacture of paper, animal feed, and chemical fertilizers. However, the regulation of lignin biosynthesis genes and the composition of the relevant gene families remain unclear in many plant species. Here, we identified and characterized 11 families of monolignol biosynthesis genes in Salix matsudana Koidz. Based on phylogenetic analysis of lignin biosynthesis genes from nine angiosperm species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Zea mays, Solanum lycopersicum, S. suchowensis, S. purpurea, Populus euphratica, P. trichocarpa, and S. matsudana), the 11 gene families could be divided into two classes that differed in their apparent evolutionary history. We compared the distribution of lignin biosynthesis genes between the two sub-genomes (At and Bt) of S. matsudana and found that more duplicated genes were present in the Bt sub-genome. We analyzed RNA sequencing data from two parents of contrasting height and two of their F1 progeny, and detected 23 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may regulate accelerated growth. We analyzed the promoter regions of the lignin-related DEGs and identified several hormone-related (auxin, ethylene, and cytokinin) transcription factor binding sites. These results provide an important foundation for future studies on the molecular mechanisms and genetic regulation of lignin biosynthesis and its relationship to accelerated growth in forest trees.

Development of polymer composites and encapsulation technology for slow-release fertilizers

Abstract The fertilizer manufacturing faces an ongoing challenge to develop its products to raise the effectiveness of their application, mainly of nitrogenous fertilizers, as well as to reduce any probable adverse ecological effect. In general, chemical fertilizers are very necessary for agricultural lands to provide the essential nutrients for plant growth, which are lost and leached into the surrounding environment during irrigation, which then leads to unwanted side effects, such as crop failure or increased losses to the environment. To solve this problem of nutrients being wasted, the most effective way is to use slow or controlled-release fertilizers (S/CRFs). The current review provides an insight vision into the methods used to save agricultural fertilizers from being wasted due to irrigation. The functional materials or physical techniques are used to maintain a steady release of nutrients. Fertilizers are encapsulated with various compounds based on synthetic or natural polymers to be used as SRFs. In this review paper, a comprehensive survey is presented on SRFs as an effective method in dealing with the problem of fertilizer wastage during irrigation. This review discusses the technology and applications of the latest research findings in this field.

Design and Simulation of IoT Systems Using the Cisco Packet Tracer

Design and implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) systems require platforms with smart things and components. Two dominant architectural approaches for developing IoT systems are mashup-based and model-based approaches. Mashup approaches use existing services and are mainly suitable for less critical, personalized applications. Web development tools are widely used in mashup approaches. Model-based techniques describe a system on a higher level of abstraction, resulting in very expressive modelling of systems. The article uses Cisco packet tracer 7.2 version, which consists of four subcategories of smart things—home, smart city, industrial and power grid, to design an IoT based control system for a fertilizer manufacturing plant. The packet tracer also consists of boards—microcontrollers (MCU-PT), and single boarded computers (SBC-PT), as well as actuators and sensors. The model facilitates flexible communication opportunities among things—machines, databases, and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs). Implementation of the IoT system brings finer process control as the operating conditions are monitored online and are broadcasted to all stakeholders in real-time for quicker action on deviations. The model developed focuses on three process plants; steam raising, nitric acid, and ammonium nitrate plants. Key process parameters are saturated steam temperature, fuel flowrates, CO and SOx emissions, converter head temperature, NOx emissions, neutralisation temperature, solution temperature, and evaporator steam pressure. The parameters need to be monitored in order to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency. Through the Cisco packet tracer platform, a use case, physical layout, network layout, IoT layout, configuration, and simulation interface were developed.

ADVANCED RECOVERY OF CALCIUM CARBONATE WASTE AS A FILLER IN WATERBORNE PAINT

The industry generates large quantities of waste, which must be capitalized and transformed in compounds with high added value. The objective of the present study is to obtain white waterborne paint using calcium carbonate as filler, a waste results from Romanian plant fertilizer manufacturing. The paints are used for protection of surfaces, with the focus on durability. Natural or synthetic calcium carbonate can be successful used as filler in paints, they have an alkaline pH-value and low oil absorption, very important technological properties. The calcium carbonate can significantly improve paint properties as sheen, opacity, viscosity, density and wear resistance. This study is focused on the possibility to replace commercial filler with calcium carbonate waste and establishes the optimal content for obtaining waterborne paints with imposed properties. For obtaining white paint, the resin was mixed with 5-30 g precipitated calcium carbonate /300 mL resin. The properties of paints obtained were determined and comparison with witness. Experimental data demonstrated that precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) with particle diameters over 0.5 m influenced negative opacity properties. For improved this property grinding for obtaining particles smaller than 0.5 m is necessary. Using calcium carbonate waste, experimentally were obtained for waterborne paint properties close properties with witness. The PCC content can be increased to 30 g/300 mL resin, without affecting the paint properties, less the viscosity which is 14% above the required value.

POTENSI KONSORSIUM BAKTERI PEMACU PERTUMBUHAN SEBAGAI BAHAN AKTIF PUPUK ORGANIK HAYATI PADA TANAMAN JAGUNG

The purpose of this research are to determine the potential of consortium of plant growth-promoting bacteria as an active ingredients of bio-organic fertilizers and to determine the effect of bio-organic fertilizers on growth and production of maize. The research was carried out at the Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Payakumbuh Experimental Field, Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra in March-July 2020. The research was starting with the manufacture of water hyacinth bio-organic fertilizer (POH) which inoculated with a consortium of bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus. POH observations were carried out on species, population size, and nutrient content of bio-organic fertilizers. The POH application research was using a factorial design in a randomized block design with treatment I at POH 40, 80, 120, 160 ml / l water and treatment II with frequency of 2, 3, 4 times giving POH. The variables observed were N, P, K nutrient content, plant dry weight, and dry maize seed production. The results of the POH study contained P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, and B. cereus with a total population of 2,8,107–2,8,108, potentially as active ingredients for bio-organic fertilizers. POH water hyacinth can increase plant N, P, K nutrients, plant dry weight, and dry maize seed production. The optimal POH dose for all observed variables is 80 ml / l of water.

Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on stock prices and profits in the food supply chain.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shocked financial and commodity markets around the world. We are analyzing stock prices and information from financial reports to examine the impact of the pandemic on stock price volatility and profits of companies in the food supply chain. We use a data set of 71 major listed companies in the food value chain from stock indices in the US, Japan, and Europe. We calculate the annualized volatility per sector, screen the contents of the reports for stated effects of the pandemic on profits, and analyze stock price reactions in four different phases of the pandemic. The results show that stock markets have reacted with an increased price volatility. Manufacturers of fertilizers and agrochemicals as well as food distributors show particularly high volatilities in their stock prices. Low price volatility was observed in the stocks of food retailers. This pattern is also reflected in the profits of companies published in financial reports. Our regression analyses indicate that stocks of more profitable companies exhibited higher cumulative returns during the outbreak. In the phases thereafter, riskier stocks received higher discounts on returns. EconLit citations: G01, G12, E44, Q01.