WO2001013706A1 - Organic fertilizer containing compost - Google Patents
Organic fertilizer containing compost Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001013706A1 WO2001013706A1 PCT/CA2000/000766 CA0000766W WO0113706A1 WO 2001013706 A1 WO2001013706 A1 WO 2001013706A1 CA 0000766 W CA0000766 W CA 0000766W WO 0113706 A1 WO0113706 A1 WO 0113706A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- compost
- nutrients
- potassium
- organic fertilizer
- nitrogen
- Prior art date
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- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 43
- 239000003895 organic fertilizer Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(3-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)acetic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC1=CC=CC(Br)=C1F PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000009418 agronomic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 38
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 19
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052698 phosphorus Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000011574 phosphorus Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydridophosphorus(.) (triplet) Chemical compound [PH] BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- FGIUAXJPYTZDNR-UHFFFAOYSA-N potassium nitrate Chemical compound [K+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O FGIUAXJPYTZDNR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium nitrate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- YYRMJZQKEFZXMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium;phosphoric acid Chemical compound [Ca+2].OP(O)(O)=O.OP(O)(O)=O YYRMJZQKEFZXMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002426 superphosphate Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- LFVGISIMTYGQHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonium dihydrogen phosphate Chemical compound [NH4+].OP(O)([O-])=O LFVGISIMTYGQHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000010333 potassium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004323 potassium nitrate Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- OTYBMLCTZGSZBG-UHFFFAOYSA-L potassium sulfate Chemical compound [K+].[K+].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O OTYBMLCTZGSZBG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052939 potassium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000001120 potassium sulphate Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000011151 potassium sulphates Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Urea Chemical compound NC(N)=O XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004202 carbamide Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004254 Ammonium phosphate Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 229910000148 ammonium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 235000019289 ammonium phosphates Nutrition 0.000 claims 1
- MNNHAPBLZZVQHP-UHFFFAOYSA-N diammonium hydrogen phosphate Chemical compound [NH4+].[NH4+].OP([O-])([O-])=O MNNHAPBLZZVQHP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 abstract description 24
- 238000009264 composting Methods 0.000 abstract description 18
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 abstract description 11
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 239000005416 organic matter Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000008635 plant growth Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000010561 standard procedure Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 description 15
- 239000010871 livestock manure Substances 0.000 description 15
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 6
- 230000035558 fertility Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 241000220259 Raphanus Species 0.000 description 4
- 235000006140 Raphanus sativus var sativus Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 3
- 241000227653 Lycopersicon Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000007688 Lycopersicon esculentum Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000000813 microbial effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 240000008415 Lactuca sativa Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000003228 Lactuca sativa Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000010815 organic waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 physical Substances 0.000 description 2
- LWIHDJKSTIGBAC-UHFFFAOYSA-K tripotassium phosphate Chemical class [K+].[K+].[K+].[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O LWIHDJKSTIGBAC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 2
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000005791 algae growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910000387 ammonium dihydrogen phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonium sulfate Chemical compound N.N.OS(O)(=O)=O BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052921 ammonium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001166 ammonium sulphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011130 ammonium sulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000031018 biological processes and functions Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012272 crop production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- YWEUIGNSBFLMFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N diphosphonate Chemical compound O=P(=O)OP(=O)=O YWEUIGNSBFLMFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003912 environmental pollution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000012010 growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000006012 monoammonium phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019837 monoammonium phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen group Chemical group [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000018343 nutrient deficiency Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000021231 nutrient uptake Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011236 particulate material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009304 pastoral farming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001717 pathogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K phosphate Chemical compound [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 239000010452 phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- DLYUQMMRRRQYAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N phosphorus pentoxide Inorganic materials O1P(O2)(=O)OP3(=O)OP1(=O)OP2(=O)O3 DLYUQMMRRRQYAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000160 potassium phosphate Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000011009 potassium phosphates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002195 synergetic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035899 viability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003911 water pollution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F9/00—Fertilisers from household or town refuse
- C05F9/04—Biological compost
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F11/00—Other organic fertilisers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
- Y02A40/20—Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/141—Feedstock
- Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
Definitions
- Soil fertility involves a complex series of interactions of the numerous components in the soil, including physical, chemical and hydrological processes and phenomena. Attaining agronomic benefit from the application of compost based fertilizers to croplands requires a compost fertilizer product that interacts beneficially with all of the physical, chemical and biological processes and phenomena in the soil.
- the factors influencing soil fertility include soil pH, the form of the available resident nutrients, temperature, moisture content, soil atmosphere and the microbial populations that are present. The incorporation of compost into soil can influence all of these factors. The indiscriminate addition of low quality compost to croplands can be counter productive, and can result in soil fertility problems.
- Mineral fertilizers tend to be simple mineral salts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, such as ammonium nitrate, and potassium phosphate.
- Composting is a common process used to recycle organic wastes.
- the composting process reduces the volume of organic material and stabilizes potential nutrients in the waste, particularly nitrogen.
- Composting curtails environmental pollution and reduces, often significantly, the amount of recyclable organic matter requiring another method of disposal, which often is to dump it into a landfill site.
- the carbon and nitrogen containing compounds in the organic wastes are transformed by successive microbial populations into more stable complex forms which chemically and biologically resemble humic substances.
- composting fertilizer to minimize the volume of waste organic material going to landfill sites has resulted in substantial quantities of compost becoming available for cropland application.
- This invention seeks to provide a multi-step process in which the compost is transformed into an enhanced organic fertilizer which will provide as much benefit as can reasonably be achieved when applied to farmland.
- Compost improve soil dilute nutrient source structure controls erosion high transport and handling cost supplies wide range may be difficult to of nutrients apply hygienic disposal of high C/N ratios may rob pathogenic waste soil N
- This invention seeks to overcome the problems that exist with the use of poor quality compost as a fertilizer on soils, such as farmland used for a crop.
- this invention seeks to provide a process for preparing chemically enhanced organic fertilizer pellets from a compostable waste material or materials comprising: (1) converting the waste material into a fine part culate mass of fully bio-stabilized compost with known levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and water under conditions which minimize losses of nutrients due to volatalization and leaching;
- step (11) passing the small particle material from step (11) through a second screen, to provide a fine material having a diameter of 1 mm or less, m which a ma or proportion of the fine particles are less than 150 microns m size;
- step (IV) mixing the fine material from step (in) un ⁇ er controlled conditions with an agronomically acceptable source of nutrients to enhance the compost fertilizer to a desired agronomic level to provide a blended mixture having a known nitrogen :phosphorus : potassium ratio; and (v) subjecting the blended mixture from step (iv) to a pelleting process at a pressure of from about 2,000 psi to about 6,000 psi to provide a pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product.
- the first step is to convert the incoming waste material into compost.
- the bio-stabilization composting process is optimized as far as is possible, and is completed under controlled conditions, so as to produce fully bio-stabilized composts with known levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
- the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in the compost can be influenced by the selection and control of the raw organic matter to be composted.
- Complete bio-stabilization m itself is not a new process.
- the bio-stabilization process is more or less fully completed during the composting process. The retention time in the composting process is thus at least sufficient to allow for complete bio-stabilization.
- steps are taken to minimize losses of nutrients due to volatilization and leaching. It is also necessary to control the water content of the incoming waste material. For example, if the incoming waste material is more or less raw liquid manure, it will typically have a water content of about 90%. Prior to composting, a dry organic material such as wood chips can be added to ensure that the composted material has the desired water content, and is obtained as a screenable dry particulate material. Alternatively, dewatering systems can be used to reduce the water to the desired level.
- the fully bio-stabilized compost is passed through a relatively coarse screen, and separated into two fractions.
- the particles greater than 1 cm are removed and returned to the composting system for further processing, and the retained smaller particles are used in the next step.
- the retained material from the second step is screened a second time, so as to separate it into specific particle size components.
- the retained material is screened for particles of 1 mm or less, to provide a material in which preferably at least approximately 95% of the fine particles are less than 150 microns in size. This is referred to as the "fine" component of the retained material, which is the most completely bio- stabilized fraction of the retained material.
- the larger particles, above 1 mm, are rejected, and are used for other purposes .
- the compost fine material is mixed under controlled conditions with an agronomically acceptable source of nutrients to enhance the compost fertilizer to the desired agronomic level.
- the amount of nutrient added to the fine material will depend on the amount of nutrient in the fine material and the level of nutrient desired in the finished enhanced organic fertilizer.
- Ammonium nitrate is a preferred source of nitrogen, although urea can also be used. Other sources include ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, and calcium nitrate.
- the preferred source of potassium is potassium nitrate and/or potassium sulphate.
- the preferred source of phosphorous is mono-ammonium phosphate. Additional sources of phosphate are ammonium orthophosphate, simple superphosphate and triple superphosphate.
- the source of nutrients will depend on the price of the nutrients, the desired levels of the guaranteed analysis of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium m the compost fertilizer and the agronomic requirements of the crop being grown.
- the added nutrients can be selected to provide a nitrogen:phosphorus .potassium ratio of 5:2:2; other known and used N:P:K ratios include 10:10:10; 5:10:10; 5:5:5; 10:2:2; 2:10:2; 3:2:10 and 20:20:20.
- other ratios are used, for example grass fertilizers often contain relatively higr. amounts of nitrogen, and the N value in the ratio can be as high as 20.
- the N:P:K ratio is selected dependant on the intended use for the final enhanced organic fertilizer product. It can thus be seen that the ranges for the N:P:K ratio is generally 1-20:1-20:1-20 in the finished enhanced organic fertilizer product.
- the blended mixture obtained in the fourth step is subjected to a pelleting process in a pelleting mill, or similar equipment, to provide a pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product.
- the organic matter in the compost fine material binds the fine particles and the added chemical nutrients together into an enhanced organic fertilizer pellet during compression in the pelleting mill.
- typical pelleting pressures are in the range of from 2,000 psi to 6,000 psi. The use of pressures beyond 6,000 psi do not provide any benefits, as optimal bonding appears to be obtained with a pressure between 2,000 and 6,000 psi.
- the thus obtained enhanced organic fertilizer pellets are then packaged by conventional methods for use.
- the enhanced organic fertilizer pellets can be sold into the commercial fertilizer market.
- Stabilised compost was sieved to recover the fine fraction having a size below 200 ⁇ m.
- This organic fertilizer material contains NPK from natural sources in the ratio 2:1:1.
- NPK from natural sources in the ratio 2:1:1.
- chemical nutrients were added to the organic fertilizer material, as follows:
- Both sets of N:P:K ratios are in grams/pet. The amounts added are as a percentage by weight of the dry compost fines.
- Each of the blended fertilizers was pelletized a- a pressure between 2, OOOpsi and 4, OOOpsi, using a carver press.
- the press was used with a 12 slot die, operated at 20, OOOpsi to overcome friction and material resistance, and to obtain pressures in the range of 2, OOOpsi to 4, OOOpsi in each of the die slots.
- Radish, lettuce and tomato were each grown in various substrates including sandy loam and greenhouse substrates .
- the prepared enhanced fertilizer pellets and conventional fertilizers were each separately applied to samples of tne three crops in different treatments, to provide the nutrient levels recommended for each crop.
- the results show that positive synergistic effects resulted from the combination of the organic source of nutrients from the composted material pellets and the conventional fertilizers.
- the enhanced fertilizer pellets produced a higher tomato fruit yield of from 8-10%, and a higher yield in the radish crop, assessed as the edible part of the radish, of 26.6% in comparison with conventional fertilizers used alone.
- the humified organic components derived from the original composted organic materials assists in soil structure improvement. Minor nutrients may also be available from the compost fine material depending on the source of raw material, or material added prior to the pelleting mill.
- pelleted chemically enhanced organic fertilizer provides a high bulk density product that minimizes trucking and application costs.
- the invention combines the advantages of both chemical and compost fertilizers as described above, and minimizes the disadvantages.
- the combination of chemical fertilizer and compost fine particles in a pellet form minimizes premature leaching of the nutrients into the soil, and maximizes the plant nutrient uptake as the incorporated nutrients are bio- modulated to best match the plant growth curve.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Fertilizers (AREA)
Abstract
A process for converting composted organic material produced by optimized composting procedures into enhanced organic fertilizer for agronomic and other uses. The raw organic matter is processed into compost by optimized standard methods. A wide variety of raw materials can be used in this invention. The finished compost isscreened to remove all particles approximately 1 cm in size or greater. This coarse material is recycled back into the composting process. In the first step of this invention, the material below 1 cm is further screened to separate out the compost fine particles of 1 mm or less. A major proportion of the particles should be below 150 microns. The particles between 1 mm and 1 cm are rejected, and may be used for other purposes. In the next step, the compost fine material is mixed with suitable forms of plant nutrients, i.e. ammonium nitrate, to bring the plant available nutrients to a fertilizer grade level in the pellet. In the final step the compost fine material is pelleted at a pressure between 2,000 and 6,000 psi to form a fertilizer pellet of an appropriate density so that the nutrients will be released into a soil medium, or plant growth substrate, at a rate required for optimum plant growth. The compression process binds the chemical fertilizer into the pellet and assists in the timed release of the nutrients from the enhanced organic fertilizer pellet. The enhanced organic fertilizer pellets can be applied to farm fields, gardens, and the like, in the normal way.
Description
ORGANIC FERTILIZER CONTAINING COMPOST
The successful production of plants, including crops, flowers, young tree saplings and the like, involves optimizing the soil fertility in order to produce growth and maturity. It is also desirable to maintain soil fertility and structure over long periods of time. Animal manures have been used as nutrient sources since ancient times; the use of animal manures also provides good soil tilth and structure. The disadvantage, however, is animal manures have relatively low nutrient value, include non-stabilized forms of plant nutrients prone to leaching and, if the manure is applied raw, the soil will have to provide nutrients for the micro-organisms involved in the manure breakdown process. This can lead to a nutrient deficiency in the soil for a crop planted in it.
The trend of modern livestock farming in North America is to use large intensive units that frequently use liquid manure systems to handle the large volumes of animal manures. These systems involve large volumes of water to flush the manure from the units, such as large barns, to manure holding tanks. The application of raw liquid manure from these holding tanks to farm fields can result in serious leaching of nutrients from the soil, to which the liquid manure is applied, into local watercourses. This can cause algae growth in these watercourses, leading to serious deterioration of water quality. The odour from such liquid manure systems also leads to complaints from local residents. Application of liquid manure to a field is little more than disposal of the manure.
Soil fertility involves a complex series of interactions of the numerous components in the soil, including physical, chemical and hydrological processes and phenomena. Attaining agronomic benefit from the application of compost based
fertilizers to croplands requires a compost fertilizer product that interacts beneficially with all of the physical, chemical and biological processes and phenomena in the soil. The factors influencing soil fertility include soil pH, the form of the available resident nutrients, temperature, moisture content, soil atmosphere and the microbial populations that are present. The incorporation of compost into soil can influence all of these factors. The indiscriminate addition of low quality compost to croplands can be counter productive, and can result in soil fertility problems.
The majority of fertilizers applied to croplands in North America for crop production are chemical or mineral fertilizers, or a combination of these. Mineral fertilizers tend to be simple mineral salts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, such as ammonium nitrate, and potassium phosphate.
Composting is a common process used to recycle organic wastes. The composting process reduces the volume of organic material and stabilizes potential nutrients in the waste, particularly nitrogen. Composting curtails environmental pollution and reduces, often significantly, the amount of recyclable organic matter requiring another method of disposal, which often is to dump it into a landfill site. During the composting process, the carbon and nitrogen containing compounds in the organic wastes are transformed by successive microbial populations into more stable complex forms which chemically and biologically resemble humic substances.
The commercial viability of existing composting facilities is primarily based on the operator receiving a fee for accepting the organic material from waste generators. The emphasis in most of these waste management composting facilities is the composting of large volumes of material to
reduce the amount of material. The retention time in the composting channels or windrows is minimized to allow the maximum flow through. Sometimes the compost is allowed to cure outside the composting system to allow completion of the bio- stabilization process. Under some commercial systems, little effort is made to maximize the quality of the compost.
The development of composting fertilizer to minimize the volume of waste organic material going to landfill sites has resulted in substantial quantities of compost becoming available for cropland application. This invention seeks to provide a multi-step process in which the compost is transformed into an enhanced organic fertilizer which will provide as much benefit as can reasonably be achieved when applied to farmland.
Dick and McCoy, in "Enhancing Soil Fertility by Addition of Compost", 1993 Science and Engineering of Composting, Design, Environmental, Microbial and Utilization Aspects, Renaissance Publications, Ohio, USA, summarize the advantages and disadvantages of compost and mineral fertilizers.
Comparison of Mineral Salts and Compost
Material Advantage Disadvantage
Mineral Salt convenient leached easily and 1ow efficiency lower transportation continuous use may lead and handling costs to soil structure breakdown and diffuse water pollution quick crop response supplies only major nutrients
Compost improve soil dilute nutrient source structure controls erosion high transport and handling cost supplies wide range may be difficult to of nutrients apply hygienic disposal of high C/N ratios may rob pathogenic waste soil N
The scientific literature records positive crop yields from the application of compost as a fertilizer to farmland. The yield decreases after the application of immature compost where the bio-stabilization process is incomplete. The addition of immature compost to soil can result in soil nitrogen being utilized to complete the bio-stabilization process .
This invention seeks to overcome the problems that exist with the use of poor quality compost as a fertilizer on soils, such as farmland used for a crop.
Thus, in its broadest embodiment, this invention seeks to provide a process for preparing chemically enhanced organic fertilizer pellets from a compostable waste material or materials comprising:
(1) converting the waste material into a fine part culate mass of fully bio-stabilized compost with known levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and water under conditions which minimize losses of nutrients due to volatalization and leaching;
(ii) passing the fully bio-stabilized and nutrient rich compost through a relatively coarse screen to provide two fractions, separating the particles greater than 1 cm for further processing;
(iii) passing the small particle material from step (11) through a second screen, to provide a fine material having a diameter of 1 mm or less, m which a ma or proportion of the fine particles are less than 150 microns m size;
(IV) mixing the fine material from step (in) unαer controlled conditions with an agronomically acceptable source of nutrients to enhance the compost fertilizer to a desired agronomic level to provide a blended mixture having a known nitrogen :phosphorus : potassium ratio; and (v) subjecting the blended mixture from step (iv) to a pelleting process at a pressure of from about 2,000 psi to about 6,000 psi to provide a pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product.
In the process of this invention, the first step is to convert the incoming waste material into compost. In this step, the bio-stabilization composting process is optimized as far as is possible, and is completed under controlled conditions, so as to produce fully bio-stabilized composts with known levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in the compost can be influenced by the selection and control of the raw organic matter to be composted. Complete bio-stabilization m itself is not a new process. In the process of this invention,
the bio-stabilization process is more or less fully completed during the composting process. The retention time in the composting process is thus at least sufficient to allow for complete bio-stabilization. In addition, in the process of this invention, steps are taken to minimize losses of nutrients due to volatilization and leaching. It is also necessary to control the water content of the incoming waste material. For example, if the incoming waste material is more or less raw liquid manure, it will typically have a water content of about 90%. Prior to composting, a dry organic material such as wood chips can be added to ensure that the composted material has the desired water content, and is obtained as a screenable dry particulate material. Alternatively, dewatering systems can be used to reduce the water to the desired level.
In the second step of the process of this invention, the fully bio-stabilized compost is passed through a relatively coarse screen, and separated into two fractions. The particles greater than 1 cm are removed and returned to the composting system for further processing, and the retained smaller particles are used in the next step.
In the third step of this invention, the retained material from the second step is screened a second time, so as to separate it into specific particle size components. The retained material is screened for particles of 1 mm or less, to provide a material in which preferably at least approximately 95% of the fine particles are less than 150 microns in size. This is referred to as the "fine" component of the retained material, which is the most completely bio- stabilized fraction of the retained material. The larger particles, above 1 mm, are rejected, and are used for other purposes .
In the fourth step of the process of this invention, the compost fine material is mixed under controlled conditions with an agronomically acceptable source of nutrients to enhance the compost fertilizer to the desired agronomic level. The amount of nutrient added to the fine material will depend on the amount of nutrient in the fine material and the level of nutrient desired in the finished enhanced organic fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate is a preferred source of nitrogen, although urea can also be used. Other sources include ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, and calcium nitrate. The preferred source of potassium is potassium nitrate and/or potassium sulphate. The preferred source of phosphorous is mono-ammonium phosphate. Additional sources of phosphate are ammonium orthophosphate, simple superphosphate and triple superphosphate. The source of nutrients will depend on the price of the nutrients, the desired levels of the guaranteed analysis of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium m the compost fertilizer and the agronomic requirements of the crop being grown. As but one example, the added nutrients can be selected to provide a nitrogen:phosphorus .potassium ratio of 5:2:2; other known and used N:P:K ratios include 10:10:10; 5:10:10; 5:5:5; 10:2:2; 2:10:2; 3:2:10 and 20:20:20. For certain specialized uses, other ratios are used, for example grass fertilizers often contain relatively higr. amounts of nitrogen, and the N value in the ratio can be as high as 20. As is well known, the N:P:K ratio is selected dependant on the intended use for the final enhanced organic fertilizer product. It can thus be seen that the ranges for the N:P:K ratio is generally 1-20:1-20:1-20 in the finished enhanced organic fertilizer product.
The chemical nutrients and compost fine material are mixed until thoroughly homogeneous to provide a blended mixture.
In the fifth step of the process of this invention, the blended mixture obtained in the fourth step is subjected to a pelleting process in a pelleting mill, or similar equipment, to provide a pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product. In the pelleting mill, the organic matter in the compost fine material binds the fine particles and the added chemical nutrients together into an enhanced organic fertilizer pellet during compression in the pelleting mill. Depending to some extent on the size and shape of the pellets being produced, typical pelleting pressures are in the range of from 2,000 psi to 6,000 psi. The use of pressures beyond 6,000 psi do not provide any benefits, as optimal bonding appears to be obtained with a pressure between 2,000 and 6,000 psi.
The thus obtained enhanced organic fertilizer pellets are then packaged by conventional methods for use. The enhanced organic fertilizer pellets can be sold into the commercial fertilizer market.
Example .
Stabilised compost was sieved to recover the fine fraction having a size below 200μm. This organic fertilizer material contains NPK from natural sources in the ratio 2:1:1. To reach the recommended NPK levels for radish, lettuce, and tomato, chemical nutrients were added to the organic fertilizer material, as follows:
(i) nitrogen, as ammonium nitrate;
(ii) phosphorus, as phosphorus pentoxide; and
(iii) potassium, as potassium sulphate.
The amounts of chemical nutrients added were as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Both sets of N:P:K ratios are in grams/pet. The amounts added are as a percentage by weight of the dry compost fines.
Each of the blended fertilizers was pelletized a- a pressure between 2, OOOpsi and 4, OOOpsi, using a carver press. The press was used with a 12 slot die, operated at 20, OOOpsi to overcome friction and material resistance, and to obtain pressures in the range of 2, OOOpsi to 4, OOOpsi in each of the die slots.
Radish, lettuce and tomato were each grown in various substrates including sandy loam and greenhouse substrates . The prepared enhanced fertilizer pellets and conventional fertilizers were each separately applied to samples of tne three crops in different treatments, to provide the nutrient levels recommended for each crop. The results show that positive synergistic effects resulted from the combination of the organic source of nutrients from the composted material pellets and the conventional fertilizers. In both the sandy loam and greenhouse substrates, the enhanced fertilizer pellets produced a higher tomato fruit yield of from 8-10%, and a higher yield in the radish crop, assessed as the edible part of the radish, of 26.6% in comparison with conventional fertilizers used alone.
In the enhanced organic fertilizer pellets made by the process of this invention, the humified organic components derived from the original composted organic materials assists in soil structure improvement. Minor nutrients may also be available from the compost fine material depending on the source of raw material, or material added prior to the pelleting mill. The use of pelleted chemically enhanced organic fertilizer provides a high bulk density product that minimizes trucking and application costs.
The invention combines the advantages of both chemical and compost fertilizers as described above, and minimizes the disadvantages. The combination of chemical fertilizer and compost fine particles in a pellet form minimizes premature leaching of the nutrients into the soil, and maximizes the plant nutrient uptake as the incorporated nutrients are bio- modulated to best match the plant growth curve.
Claims
1. A process for preparing chemically enhanced organic fertilizer pellets from a compostable waste material or materials comprising:
(i) converting the waste material into a fine particulate mass of fully bio-stabilized compost with known levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and water under conditions which minimize losses of nutrients due to volatalization and leaching;
(ii) passing the fully bio-stabilized and nutrient rich compost through a relatively coarse screen to provide two fractions, separating the particles greater than 1 cm for further processing;
(iii) passing the small particle material from step (ii) through a second screen, to provide a fine material having a diameter of 1 mm or less, in which a major proportion of the fine particles are less than 150 microns in size;
(iv) mixing the fine material from step (iii) under controlled conditions with an agronomically acceptable source of nutrients to enhance the compost fertilizer to a desired agronomic level to provide a blended mixture having a known nitrogen : phosphorus : potassium ratio; and (v) subjecting the blended mixture from step (iv) to a pelleting process at a pressure of from about 2,000 psi to about 6,000 psi to provide a pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product.
2. A process according to Claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source is chosen from at least one member of the group consisting of ammonium nitrate; urea; ammonium phosphate; calcium nitrate and mixtures thereof.
3. A process according to Claim 1, wherein the phosphorous source is chosen from at least one member of the group consisting of ammonium orthophosphate; simple super phosphate; triple super phosphate; potassium nitrate and mixtures thereof.
4. A process according to Claim 1, wherein the potassium source is chosen from at least one member of the group consisting of potassium sulphate; potassium nitrate and mixtures thereof.
5. A process according to Claim 1 wherein in step (iv) nutrients are added to provide a nitrogen : phosphorus : potassium ratio in the range of 1-20:1-20:1-20.
6. A process according to Claim 5 wherein the nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium ratio is chosen from the group consisting of 5:2:2; 10:10:10; 5:10:10; 5:5:5; 10:2:2; 2:10:2; 3:2:10 and 20:20:20.
7. A process according to Claim 1 wherein in step (iii) about 95% of the fine particles have a size of 150 microns or less.
8. A pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product produced by the process of Claim 1.
9. A pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer product according to Claim 8, wherein the nitrogen:phosphorus : potassium ratio is in the range of 1-20:1-20:1-20.
10. A pelleted enhanced organic fertilizer according to Claim 9 wherein the nitrogen:phosphorus :potassium ratio is chosen from the group consisting of 5:2:2; 10:10:10; 5:10:10; 5:5:5; 10:2:2; 2:10:2; 3:2:10 and 20:20:20.
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CA002376096A CA2376096A1 (en) | 1999-06-25 | 2000-06-27 | Organic fertilizer containing compost |
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US34453899A | 1999-06-25 | 1999-06-25 | |
US09/344,538 | 1999-06-25 |
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WO (1) | WO2001013706A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002085815A1 (en) * | 2001-04-23 | 2002-10-31 | Iup Institut Für Umweltpflege Ag | Method for producing a material with a ground clay and ground rock base that promotes plant growth and the resultant product |
US8007558B2 (en) | 2006-06-13 | 2011-08-30 | Maxeco Organo-Mineral (Canada) Inc. | Organo-mineral soil amendment |
US9756798B2 (en) | 2004-11-19 | 2017-09-12 | Patti D. Rubin | Burrow filling compressed growing medium |
Citations (5)
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FR2279458A1 (en) * | 1974-07-24 | 1976-02-20 | Centrale Exploit Commerce | Organic manure granulation - by drying, and compacting, granulating after rehydrating to 15-20 percent moisture |
GB1485236A (en) * | 1974-12-05 | 1977-09-08 | Ecology Patent | Process for the compacting and granulation of compost |
EP0123570A1 (en) * | 1983-03-11 | 1984-10-31 | S.A. "Union Technique Elf Generale De Chauffe - Utec" | Production of an organic soil additive, and products so obtained |
EP0759323A2 (en) * | 1995-08-21 | 1997-02-26 | Green Top Wood Recycling Ltd. | Agglomerate and a method for its manufacture |
DE19750951A1 (en) * | 1997-11-17 | 1999-06-02 | Harzmann Optima Marketing Und | Plant granulate for cultivating plants e.g. pot grown plants on roof terraces |
-
2000
- 2000-06-27 CA CA002376096A patent/CA2376096A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-06-27 WO PCT/CA2000/000766 patent/WO2001013706A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2279458A1 (en) * | 1974-07-24 | 1976-02-20 | Centrale Exploit Commerce | Organic manure granulation - by drying, and compacting, granulating after rehydrating to 15-20 percent moisture |
GB1485236A (en) * | 1974-12-05 | 1977-09-08 | Ecology Patent | Process for the compacting and granulation of compost |
EP0123570A1 (en) * | 1983-03-11 | 1984-10-31 | S.A. "Union Technique Elf Generale De Chauffe - Utec" | Production of an organic soil additive, and products so obtained |
EP0759323A2 (en) * | 1995-08-21 | 1997-02-26 | Green Top Wood Recycling Ltd. | Agglomerate and a method for its manufacture |
DE19750951A1 (en) * | 1997-11-17 | 1999-06-02 | Harzmann Optima Marketing Und | Plant granulate for cultivating plants e.g. pot grown plants on roof terraces |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002085815A1 (en) * | 2001-04-23 | 2002-10-31 | Iup Institut Für Umweltpflege Ag | Method for producing a material with a ground clay and ground rock base that promotes plant growth and the resultant product |
US7080481B2 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2006-07-25 | Iup Institut Umweltpflege Ag | Method for producing a material with a ground clay and ground rock base that promotes plant growth and the resultant product |
US9756798B2 (en) | 2004-11-19 | 2017-09-12 | Patti D. Rubin | Burrow filling compressed growing medium |
US8007558B2 (en) | 2006-06-13 | 2011-08-30 | Maxeco Organo-Mineral (Canada) Inc. | Organo-mineral soil amendment |
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