Tons Of Fertilizer Research Articles

Viability of Medium-Scale Vermicompost Plant: a Case Study in Kushtia, Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, vermicomposting has been a popular environmentally friendly composting technique, primarily at small-scale levels. However, few studies have explored the feasibility of medium to large-scale operations. This study establishes a medium-scale vermicompost fertilizer plant in Kushtia, Bangladesh, processing 30 tons of waste monthly to produce 10 tons of fertilizer. Utilizing cow dung from nearby dairy farms and 0.1 million red worms (Eisenia foetida), the experiment runs for three cycles of 120 days each without indoor environmental controls. Over a year, the worm population quadruples to over 0.4 million. Lab tests confirm the fertilizer's pH level (7.69) and nutrient ratios (e.g., 1.792% nitrogen, 0.5217% phosphorus, and 1.514% potassium). The paper includes a cost-benefit analysis, suggesting the viability of such medium-scale setups for green farming in rural Bangladesh.

Farmers Purchasing Behaviour and Satisfaction towards Fertilizer in Kheda District

Fertilizers are food for plants as they provide nutrients to plants for their growth and thrive. In the financial year 2022, over 42 million metric tons of fertilizers were produced in India. The Indian fertilizer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7 per cent between 2023 and 2028, reaching a projected value of 1160.18 billion USD by 2028. So, it is needed to study the fertilizer use and purchasing behavior of paddy farmer for better production. The study covered 100 farmers from 10 villages of Kheda district and tabular analysis was used to conduct the study. The study revealed that 48 per cent of farmers in the Kheda district earn between ₹ 20001-30000 as their monthly income and 13 per cent were graduates. Out of the total 100 farmers, all the farmers use fertilizer in paddy crops, and 41 per cent grow paddy on 2.01-4 acres of land. 54 per cent of farmers were found of using fertilizer mixed with other fertilizers. Quality of the product was a major factor and past experience, price of the product, and dealer opinion were considered by farmers while purchasing any fertilizer. The study found that 68 per cent of farmers were satisfied with fertilizer price, 83 per cent satisfied with performance, and 92 per cent satisfied with quality of fertilizer.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Based Waste Management in Nepal: Technologies and Implementation Modalities

Developing countries are still facing severe challenges for providing access to clean energy, managing waste and struggling to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets. Anaerobic Digestion (AD) based waste management technologies have great potential for addressing these challenges. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are the key government's policy and strategic directions for promoting biogas as a multi-beneficiary's product and services in Nepal. Nepal's biogas promotion PPP model and technologies in domestic biogas sector have been replicated in many African and Asian countries. AD based Gobar Gas Company (GGC 2047 model) and Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) based technologies have been promoted for domestic and large applications respectively in wider scale. Comprehensive review and analysis using technological and implementation progress results through government interventions revealed that with the potential of 1.1 million of domestic biogas 433,173 systems have been installed. Quantification of outcomes of AD based technologies revealed that in addition to the energy access to more than 1.8 million people, these significantly contributed for production of gas amounting 456,282 m3 and substituted equivalent 15,578 nos. of LPG cylinders and 2229.91 tons of fertilizer daily. Under Carbon Development Mechanism (CDM), Total 21.20 million USD have been earned as carbon revenue from this sector, which has played significant role for earning revenue from carbon financing. Similarly, Developing Carbon Program for Large Scale Biogas through ITMO (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes: a new carbon mechanism) is under way. Overall, biogas sector is contributing for country' s energy security and circular economy through replacement of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers along with the waste management.

Microbial Solution of Growth-Promoting Bacteria Sprayed on Monoammonium Phosphate for Soybean and Corn Production

Common fertilizers present a low use efficiency caused by nutrient losses (e.g., through leaching, volatilization, adsorption, and precipitation in solution as well as through microbial reduction and immobilization) that create a significant limiting factor in crop production. Inoculation with Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) is presented as an alternative to increasing fertilizer efficiency. The goal of the study was to test the hypothesis that PGPB (solution with Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus) can be a strategy to increase the monoammonium phosphate (MAP) efficiency, root growth, and nutrient assimilation of soybean and corn cultivated in arenosol and oxisol. A greenhouse study was developed with the rates of PGPB (rates: 0, 1, 1.33, and 1.66–2.0 L per ton of fertilizer) sprayed on MAP and applied in an arenosol and oxisol cultivated with soybean and corn. Results showed that in both soils and crops, there was a variation in soil biological activity during the experiment. On day 45, PGPB + MAP promoted the beta-glucosidase and ammonium-oxidizing microorganism activities in the arenosol. The PGPB + MAP increased crop root growth in both soils and crops. Plant dry matter was associated with the phosphorous content in the soil, indicating that the phosphorous applied was absorbed by the plants, consequently resulting in a higher accumulation in the plant. Based on the results, the conclusion is that PGPB + MAP increases the growth and phosphorous accumulation of soybean and corn cultivated in the arenosol and oxisol, with a direct effect on crop rooting.

Influence of polymer modification of complex fertilizer on the efficiency of phosphorus and potassium use by winter wheat on the southern chernozem

In modern conditions of unprecedented challenges, an alternative to the technological degradation of fertilizer application systems can be the development of original forms of long-acting fertilizers. Despite significant progress in the adaptation of progressive systems of agrochemical impacts, the use of traditional forms of mineral fertilizers does not allow using the full potential of the introduced nutrients, since the processes of incomplete denitrification, immobilization and leaching (leaching) of the main macronutrients (NPK), along with the action of urease, lead to unproductive loss of nutrients in the soil. In addition to economic losses, there are negative environmental consequences – eutrophication of water bodies, emission of greenhouse gases. The studies were carried out in 2022 under production conditions in the Kursk district of the Stavropol Territory on the farm of “StavAgroCom” on southern carbonate chernozem. As a modifier of mineral fertilizers, one of the most common synthetic polymers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), was used. The polymer consumption rate was 3, 5 and 7 kg per 1 ton of fertilizer. Yield growth was positively correlated with the dose of polymer in the fertilizer. The analysis of soil properties was carried out by the method of principal components. The resulting clustering in the coordinates of the first two components (in total they explain 65% of the data variation) shows significant differences in soil properties under different experimental options. To assess the efficiency of the use of nutrients depending on the dose of the polymer, a differential indicator was proposed – the additional efficiency of the use of nutrients (E). It was estimated from the increase in yield relative to the zero dose of the polymer per unit reduction in the concentration of this element in the soil according to the proposed formula. It is shown that the polymer use in fertilizer gives a statistically significant increase in the efficiency of phosphorus and potassium use by winter wheat.

ПРОТИВОЭРОЗИОННАЯ МЕЛИОРАЦИЯ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ ТАТАРСТАН

One of the most acute problems of agriculture in the Republic of Tatarstan in modern conditions is the progressive degradation of soil cover. Every year the scale of water erosion increases, causing huge damage not only to agriculture, but also to large and small rivers of the region. The territory of the republic is characterized by a large dissection, which serves as the basis of soil erosion. The research was carried out to analyze the impact of soil erosion on the efficiency of agricultural production and the development of science-based measures to combat soil erosion in agriculture of the Republic of Tatarstan. In general, in the subject of the Federation it is necessary to carry out erosion control works on the area of more than 2 million hectares of agricultural land. Every year spring melt water and storm water runoff on average washes away up to 22 tons of fertile soil from one hectare of arable land, which leads to an annual loss of up to 700 thousand tons of humus in the scale of the Republic of Tatarstan. This is comparable to the introduction of 10 million tons of organic fertilizers. Complex of anti-erosion measures depending on the relief and objective conditions of terrain includes organizational-economic, agromeliorative, forest-meliorative and hydromeliorative works, which ensure effective regulation of storm and melt water runoff, increase moisture reserve in soil cover and reduce washout of fertile soil layer, prevent new and expansion and spread of existing erosion centers and thereby contribute to improvement of fertility of agricultural lands. Thus, in the course of scientific research it is established that on average in the Republic of Tatarstan one set of anti-erosion measures protects up to 120 hectares of land from further development of erosion processes. The cost of the complex of anti-erosion measures, including anti-erosion pond - 2.5 million rubles, the payback period is 2 years.

Effective Utilization of Stabilized Spent Wash Bio-Compost for Tomato Crop and Comparison of its Yield with Commercial Composts

India is an agro-based country and in the year 2020, about 1082 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been planted, in turn, consuming 3161 lakh tonnes of fertilizer annually. However, excessive fertilizer usage has a negative impact on the soil quality and is evident by the fact that the crop response ratio has decreased from 12.1 in the 1960s to 5.0 in the 2010s. Hence, organic compost can be used as an alternative to fertilizer, reducing its negative impact on soil quality. The present study is a part of a larger investigation and its scope is confined to the utilization of bio-composts for the growth of tomato crops. Additionally, a comparison of these bio-composts was carried out with commercial composts through assessment of yield and number of fruits. Seeds were sown on prepared land, germination was observed on the 7th day, and saplings were produced on the 30th day. The dosage of each compost was fixed at 60ml per plant and was applied on the 31st and 51st days of the study period. Commercial composts produced yields of 673 ± 32.01, 830 ± 32.19 and 1560 ± 77.62 g respectively, with 54 ± 4.16, 81 ± 11.50, and 104 ± 13.50 fruits. All the bio-composts outperformed control and commercial composts in terms of yield. With 140 ± 11.50 fruits, BC5 produced a maximum yield of 2938 ± 93.72 g, which is 723 % higher than the control. Hence, it is concluded that the use of bio-compost is more effective than commercial composts and provides a much higher yield. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the quality of yield obtained by various bioassay tests.

EuroChem seeks Borealis fertilizer unit

The fertilizer producer EuroChem, which is active in Russia and Europe, has made a binding offer to buy Borealis’s nitrogen fertilizer and melamine business for $520 million. The business has production facilities in Austria, France, and Germany providing around 5 million metric tons of fertilizer annually, some of which it distributes via the Danube River. Borealis has not disclosed if it has accepted the offer but says it hopes to complete the sale of the business by year-end.

A Cotton High-Efficiency Water-Fertilizer Control System Using Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture

Scientific researchers have applied newly developed technologies, such as sensors and actuators, to different fields, including environmental monitoring, traffic management, and precision agriculture. Using agricultural technology to assist crop fertilization is an important research innovation that can not only reduce the workload of farmers, but also reduce resource waste and soil pollution. This paper describes the design and development of a water-fertilizer control system based on the soil conductivity threshold. The system uses a low-cost wireless sensor network as a data collection and transmission tool and transmits the data to the decision support system. The decision support system considers the change in soil electrical conductivity (EC) and moisture content to guide the application of water-fertilizer, and then improves the fertilization accuracy of the water-fertilizer control system. In the experiment, the proposed water-fertilizer control system was tested, and it was concluded that, compared with the existing traditional water-fertilizer integration control system, the amount of fertilizer used by the system was reduced by 10.89% on average, and it could save 0.76–0.87 tons of fertilizer throughout the whole growth period of cotton.

Patterns of Chemical Pesticide Use and Determinants of Self-Reported Symptoms on Farmers Health: A Case Study in Kano State for Kura Local Government Area of Nigeria

Background: Today modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of pesticides and an astonishing 150 million tons of fertilizers and 6 million tons of pesticides are yearly and routinely applied to fields and crops with the purpose of increasing agricultural production. As many of these pesticides have only become a problem because of the direct actions to humans. Hence, instilling confidence and enriching farmers begins with recognizing the need for pesticide use modification, whether through existing or new technologies, such as efficiency, cost reduction or effective decision-making. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assesses the frequency of farmer’s self-reported symptoms in Kano State, Nigeria. Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire was established that focuses on sociodemographic characteristics, education and experience on the adverse health effects associated with the use of the pesticide, description of job practices and a list of used pesticides on the farms in the study area. Of the 400 copies of the administered questionnaires, 392 copies were retrieved and found useable, which represents 98% of the administered questionnaires. Results: Results showed that 46.2% had been using the pesticide for 1-5 years, 48.1% had used it for 10-15, regularity of these symptoms reveals that the majority of the respondents experienced these symptoms on a regular basis (56.1% for headache, 53.8% for stomach cramps, 56.5% for muscles weakness, 56.8% for vomiting, 58.3% for dizziness, 40.7% for shortness of breath, 45.5% for blurred vision and 66.7% for eye irritation. Conclusions: It is important to focus on the use of pesticides in farming practice as it speaks to the emphasis it places on farmers regarding their income, health and wellbeing as danger lurks around the corners for Kura farmers in Kano State, which are already facing challenges from all manners of long-term health risk exposure. This of course should worry the state and federal government. Government must increasingly play the critical role of intercessor for farmers, as this is very much in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) which emphasize on no poverty (goal 1), zero hunger (goal 2), ensure good health and well-being (goal 3) towards strengthening agriculture and fast-rack rural development. There is therefore need to intervene by sustaining efforts to reduce food contamination through educating the farmers.

Techno-economic assessment of energy generation through municipal solid waste: a case study for small/medium size districts in Pakistan

There is an increase in annual waste generation due to urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. The waste management crisis in developing countries and its complexity from region to region has inspired extensive research work in this area. Poor management not only results in environmental hazards, but it also causes significant socio-economic losses. Due to the absence of comprehensive studies on waste to energy (WTE) assessment, this study assesses and reports the merits of alternative technologies for converting WTE in small and medium-size districts. Quantitative analysis for waste collection data in this study uses a pilot study approach to provide useful insights and waste classification. A cantonment district of Pakistan (Wah Cantt) has been used as a case study for performing a technological and economic assessment of energy generation through the use of thermal and biological treatment processes. A mathematical modeling approach has been adopted for generating an economic value of each technology through which this waste can be processed. Further, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) based assessment has been performed to provide a methodological framework for selecting the most feasible WTE technology in a small or medium-size district. Based on the model results, anaerobic digestion appears to be the most sustainable technology due to the organic nature of waste in Wah Cantt, land legislation, and availability of area to install a waste plant. Considering all the waste collected, the district can generate approximately 14.4 MW of energy through thermal treatment, 19,110 m3 of daily biogas through anaerobic digestion, and 5 million tons of fertilizer through composting. Hence, if a proper supply chain is established for converting a portion of Pakistan’s annual waste generation, a significant amount of waste energy potential can be restored.

Planting geometry and nutrient levels affecting seed cotton yield, productivity indices and economic parameters of Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Aim: Lack of location specific information on nutrition requirement and planting geometry needs of Bt cotton hybrids is creating confusion among farmers. Growing Bt hybrids with traditional knowledge or to try different combinations of nutrition and planting geometries is often non-remunerative. Therefore, studies were initiated to find out the optimum combination of planting geometry and nutritional level for better yield to be advocated among farmers. Methodology: A field experiment comprising of 4 planting geometries (PG1 :67.5 cm x 60 cm, PG2: 67.5 cm x 75 cm, PG3:100 cm x 45 cm and PG4: 100 cm x 60 cm) in main and 3 nutrient levels {NL1 :150:30:50:25 (N: P :K :Zn in kg ha-1), NL2:150:40:20:24 and NL3 :175:60:60:25} in sub plots of split plot design was conducted during 2016 and 2017 at Faridkot. Results: Among planting geometries, PG3 (3303 kg ha-1) recorded the highest seed cotton yield (SCY), while PG4 (2728 kg ha-1) recorded least despite highest bolls per plant. Though nutrition levels varied non-significantly for SCY, yet NL2 exhibited better fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), i.e., 13.64, indicative of its advantages over NL1 (11.93) and NL3 (9.77). Interpretation: Thus, based on the present study a PG of 67.5x75 cm and NL of 150:40:20:24 ( N: P :K :Zn in kg ha-1) is recommended. Productivity indices as well as economic parameters elucidate that nutrition rates could be further reduced by 86 kg ha-1 (i.e., 25:20:40:1 kg of N, P, K and Zn) which amount to 33 $ ha-1 from what farmers (NL3) are applying, without any yield loss. Present findings can reduce fertilizer cost and could save 0.13 million ton of fertilizer in ~1.54 million ha of north India alone.

On farm storage, storage losses and the effects of loss reduction in China

In China, many farmers store grains in their households, but compared with developed countries, their storage skills and facilities are limited. This results in a larger household storage losses in China than developed countries. Limited by resources, reducing postharvest losses has become an important measure to increase the food supply in China. This study used survey data from 1608 households in 28 provinces of China to measure the household storage by farmers and storage losses in 2015, then we simulated the effects of loss reduction. The results show that, first, amongst the four main crops, corn has the largest storage quantity and the highest storage loss rate in the households of Chinese farmers. The corn storage quantities reach 3220.15 kgs (kg), and the storage loss rate is 2.41%. Therefore, corn storage losses (in calories) are also the highest, at 271,317.1 kcal. Second, the household storage quantities and storage loss rates are different in various regions. The northeast experiences the highest storage loss (in calories), at 505,212.5 kcal, and the comprehensive loss rate is highest in the southwest, at 2.57%. Third, farmers generally use warehouses and bags to store grains in China. For japonica rice, wheat, and corn, storage in bags is associated with the lowest loss rate. Grains stored in cabinets are subject to more serious losses. Fourth, the loss reduction simulation under different standards shows that reducing farm storage losses has great effects that would aid in ensuring China's food security and saving resources. If the household storage loss rate falls to the advanced rate (1.00%), this can save 379,000 hectares of land, 140,600 tons of fertilizer, and 2.66 billion m3 of water, reduce carbon emissions by 510,600 tons, and meet the food consumption needs of 5.87 million people for one year.

The impact of urea on toxic diatoms – Potential effects of fertilizer silo breakdown on a Pseudo-nitzschia bloom

In spring 2016, two silos containing liquid nitrogen-containing fertilizer collapsed on a harbor in Fredericia, Denmark. More than 2,750 tons of fertilizer spilled into inner Danish waters. A bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia occurred approximately one month after the incident. The bloom caused a 5-week quarantine of numerous mussel-harvesting areas along the eastern coast of Jutland. The levels of domoic acid measured up to 49 mg kg−1 in mussel meat after the bloom. In the months following the event, the species diversity of phytoplankton was low, while the abundance was high comprising few dominant species including Pseudo-nitzschia. The main part of the liquid nitrogen-containing compound was urea, chemically produced for agricultural use.To investigate the potential impact of urea on Pseudo-nitzschia, four strains, including one strain of P. delicatissima, two of P. seriata and one of P. obtusa, were exposed each to three concentrations of urea in a batch culture experiment: 10 μM, 20 μM and 100 μM N urea, and for comparison one concentration of nitrate (10 μM). Nitrate, ammonium, and urea were metabolized at different rates. Pseudo-nitzschia obtusa produced domoic acid and grew best at low urea concentrations. Both P. seriata strains had a positive correlation between urea concentration and growth rate, and the highest growth rate in the nitrate treatment. One strain of P. seriata produced domoic acid peaking at low N loads (10 µM N urea and 10 µM N nitrate). In conclusion, the ability to adapt to the available nitrogen source and retain a high growth rate was exceedingly varying and not only species-specific but also strain specific.

A sustainable biomass network design model for bioenergy production by anaerobic digestion technology: using agricultural residues and livestock manure

Scarcity of fossil fuels and their emissions have led energy policymakers to look for alternative renewable and clean energy sources. In line with this target, biomass is a promising alternative source for the generation of clean energy and the development of a sustainable society. The use of animal and agricultural wastes is one of the very promising renewable energy alternatives paving the way for a more sustainable energy network. Animal and agricultural wastes as biomass sources do not endanger food security and mitigate environmental impacts and may therefore considerably contribute to an appropriate waste management. As a result, converting animal and agricultural wastes to energy is a challenging issue that has attracted the attention of academic and industrial researchers. A multi-echelon multi-objective model is developed to design a sustainable supply chain for bioenergy generation through the anaerobic digestion process. The model maximizes economic and social objective functions, representing direct economic profits and positive social externalities such as job creation and economic development, respectively. Factors affecting the international supply chain include imports of intermediate production equipment, exports of a final product, international business terms applied, customs duties, and foreign exchange rates. Bioenergy and fertilizers are outputs considered in this study; the former to be converted to electricity in a biogas plant to meet domestic demands, and the latter to be exported. A case study for the Golestan province is used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed model. The results support the potential for three biogas power plants in Gonbad-e-Kavoos, with an annual production capacity of about 1000 tons of fertilizer and an electricity supply for 101,556 households per month. There is still a broad field of promising avenues for future research. Studying uncertainty in different supply chain parameters and using robust optimization to deal with uncertainties are recommended approaches.

Nitrogen Pollution Impact and Remediation through Low Cost Starch Based Biodegradable polymers

The world does not have too much time to ensure that the fast-growing population has enough land, food, water and energy. The rising food demand has brought a positive surge in fertilizers’ demand and agriculture-based economy. The world is using 170 million tons of fertilizer every year for food, fuel, fiber, and feed. The nitrogenous fertilizers are being used to meet 48% of the total food demand of the world. High fertilizer inputs augment the reactive nitrogen levels in soil, air, and water. The unassimilated reactive nitrogen changes into a pollutant and harms the natural resources. The use of controlled-release fertilizers for slowing down the nutrients’ leaching has recently been practiced by farmers. However, to date, monitoring of the complete discharge time and discharge rate of controlled released fertilizers is not completely understood by the researchers. In this work, corn starch was thermally processed into a week gel-like coating material by reacting with urea and borate. The granular urea was coated with native and processed starch in a fluidized bed reactor having bottom-up fluid delivery system. The processed starch exhibited better thermal and mechanical stability as compared to the native starch. Unlike the pure starch, the storage modulus of the processed starch dominated the loss modulus. The release time of urea, coated with processed starch, remained remarkably larger than the uncoated urea.

Analisis Emisi GRK dan Konversi Energi pada Produksi Minyak Jarak (Ricinus communis L.) dengan Metode Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) is a renewable, multifunction vegetable oil, used in wide range of chemical industry feedstock. Nowadays, a product derived from castor has able to replace petroleum-based chemical feedstock. In spite of its renewable characteristic, castor oil production has to meet the environmental sustainability. This study was conducted to determine numbers of input and output used, as well as, their impact to the environment in the production processes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was used to determine the input, output and environmental impacts of castor oil production. The result is, that the needs for a ton of castor oil are: 0.97 ha of land, 1.06 kg of seeds for plantation, 0.27 tons of fertilizer, 7.7 liters of petrol, 219.71 liters of diesel, 2.43 tons of seeds for processing purpose, and 1 187.54 liters of water. The production process itself emits 1.03 tons CO2-eq of greenhouse gas (GHG). Reduction to environmental pressure could be accomplished by replacing fossil fuel with castor cake during production to reduce 153.19 liters of diesel usage equals with 0.43 tons CO2-eq emission for a ton castor oil.

When Urban and Agricultural Activities Favor the Proliferation of Mosquito Nuisance and Vectors of Pathogens to Humans

Big cities have thrived on all continents, so have domestic and industrial wastes not to mention the often irrational use of agricultural inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) detrimental to plants and animals. One hundred and eighty million tons of fertilizers and 2.4 million tons of pesticides are spread every year worldwide. Such pollutions, whether urban or rural, have a significant impact on the biology of mosquitoes. Today some urban spaces have properly become a land of plenty for mosquitoes. The combined use of fertilizer and pesticides in the country, quite paradoxically also favor their proliferation. Ironically the very reasons that account for the multitudes of mosquitoes are the exact reasons responsible for the depletion of biodiversity.

Sourse degradation - global environmental problem

Based on generalization of literary sources, normative legal, stock materials and experimental data, the complex situation of soil degradation is highlighted. Different types and intensity of the manifestation of soil degradation, their distribution and characteristics are described. The threatening situation of manifestation of degradation processes in some regions of Ukraine is shown, among which soil erosion occupies the leading place. More than 4.5 million hectares are occupied by medium and strongly ground soils, including 68 thousand hectares completely lost their humus horizon. Particularly large areas of eroded soils are distributed on arable land in the Vinnytsia, Luhansk, Donetsk, Odesa, Chernivtsi and Ternopil regions, where the average annual ground wash is 24.5–27.8 t/ha with a tolerance of 2.5–3.7 t/ha. As a result of erosion processes from the total area of agricultural land, about 500 million tons of fertile soil layer is washed out on average annually, which contains about 24 million tons of humus, 0.96 million tons of nitrogen, 0.68 million tons of phosphorus and 9.4 million tons of potassium equivalent to 320–333 million tons of organic fertilizers, and ecological and economic losses due to erosion exceed 9 billion UAH. Flat soil was associated with linear erosion. The main indicators characterizing the degree of damage to land by linear erosion are the density of ravines, the distance and area between them, the slope, the properties of soils and rocks, the morphometric parameters of the ravines and their catchment areas. According to various estimates, the area of land affected by linear erosion in the country increases by 5–10 thousand ha annually. The effect of the ravines on the complete destruction of the land, deformation of the soil cover is highlighted. Information on various types of soil pollution by poison chemicals, industrial waste is given. According to the prediction of scientists in such a situation, 120–150 years on the planet can destroy the fertile soil layer. Key words: erosion, dehumidification, pollution, waterlogging, acidity, degraded land.

Comparison of rotary fertilizer dryer efficiency using electrical generator waste heat and liquefied petroleum gas as a heat source

This research compared rotary dryer efficiency using waste heat from an electrical generator and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a heat source. A fertilizer drying experiment was conducted using residues from bio-gas production with a 3-ton/day capacity fertilizer dryer. Flow drying and drying efficiency was tested concurrently and measured together with water evaporation, energy consumption, and an economic analysis of data was conducted. Two heat sources were applied at the rates of 10, 15, and 20 rpm, drying cylinder with inclination angles of 1°, 3°, and 5°, and hot gas flow rates of 60, 120, and 180 m3/h. The tests showed that dryer inclination of 1°, heat flow rate of 180 m3/h, and dryer rotation speed at 10 rpm were the most optimal drying conditions. When waste heat from the electrical generator was applied, thermal efficiency was 79.19%, while the fertilizer's moisture content could be reduced from 57.84% dry weight standard to 12.45%, with an evaporation rate of 56.93 kg/h. The energy consumption was 23.78 kW h/1 ton of fertilizer. LPG drying yielded a heat efficiency of 72.69%, while moisture content went from 56.16% to 12.77%. Water evaporation from the fertilizer was 54.24 kg/h, and heat consumption was 986.33 kW h per 1 ton of fertilizer. Analysis revealed that fertilizer drying by waste heat from an electrical generator yields better efficiency and saves more energy than using LPG as the heat source. The cost of drying is also approximately 3.14 times lower.