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The physical-mechanical properties of experimental granulated fertilizers from poultry manure with biofuel ash and biochar supplement
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1  Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Academic Editor: Bin Gao

Abstract:

Intensive agriculture and chemical farming deplete the soils recently. The growing demand for organic agricultural products encourages the use of natural materials used for soil fertilization. Many farmers are already using granular organic fertilizers made from manure, meat-and-bone meal and others. Granular organic fertilizers are easier to handle, transport, store and spread in soils using standard fertilizers application machinery. Poultry manure contains all identified essential plant nutrients and its fertilizer value is widely researched. Biochar and biomass ash is also intensively researched as a substance for improving soil quality, plant growth and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from soil. Various studies of biomass ash used as fertilizer have shown beneficial effects. The ash improves the soil structure and supplies plants with nutrients The benefits of biochar are known for the physical properties of the soil, which manifests itself in changes in soil density and water holding capacity. However, the preparation of poultry manure, biomass ash and biochar for granulation has significant differences compared to other organic materials, due to the moisture, density, fractional composition and other parameters of the granulated material. This requires the determination of the physical and mechanical properties of the raw material and the final product. The article deals with the physical and mechanical properties of granular fertilizers made from poultry manure, biochar and biomass ash. Moisture of different raw organic materials was determined, which is important for the granulation process. The density, bulk density, fractional composition, moisture and compressive strength properties of manure with biochar, biomass ash raw material and granules made from it, produced in different technological regimes, were experimentally investigated. The obtained results showed that it is expedient to enrich manure granules with biochar and biomass ash.

Keywords: Granular fertilizers, physical-mechanical properties, biochar, poultry manure, biomass ash

 
 
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