BARC has developed a process for development of Phosphorus fertilizer formulation from bio-sludge. This will be useful for commercial preparation of advanced phosphatic fertilizer for soil application. The process converts post biomethanation distillery sludge; a waste material for distilleries, into a high efficiency P fertilizer for soil application. The improved fertilizer helps in better phosphorus availability to the plants and also improves the crop yield when applied to the soil.

 SALIENT FEATURES

• The technology is user friendly.
• The improved fertilizer contains more P₂O₅ than conventional single super phosphate fertilizer.
• Keeping the application rate of this formulation 25% less than SSP in terms of the absolute P₂O₅ level, the new modified P fertilizer produces equivalent or slightly higher yields and ensures better availability of residual fertilizer to the next crop as well.
• The improved fertilizer increases the yield of the crop.

APPLICATIONS

• Agriculture sector in general.
• Molasses based alcohol industries.
• Phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing companies.

This technology has been developed jointly by BARC and GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantanagar (Uttarakhand) under the financial support granted by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, DAE.

Phosphatic fertilizers are of great demand during recent times and the demand is increasing steadily. Chemically synthesized phosphatic fertilizers have limitations in term of availability and they are effective at certain levels. On the contrary phosphatic fertilizer derived from biosludge are slow release and increase the crop yield at the half the recommended dose.

Phosphatic fertilizer from biosludge obtained from distillery waste was developed and the process was patented (No.758/MUM/2007 Dated 19.04.2007, Indian Patent No. 238485).

The newly developed P fertilizer contains more available phosphorus and is more efficient than conventional single super phosphate fertilizer (SSP). By keeping the application rate of this formulation 25% less than SSP in terms of the absolute P₂O₅ level, the new modified P fertilizer produces equivalent or slightly higher yields and ensures better availability of residual fertilizer to the next crop as well.

ADVANTAGES

• The new modified P fertilizer containing more P₂O₅is more efficient than conventional single super phosphate fertilizer 16% P₂O₅.
• Keeping the application rate of this formulation 25% less than SSP in terms of the absolute P₂O₅ level, the new modified P fertilizer produces equivalent or slightly higher yields and ensures better availability of residual fertilizer to the next crop as well.
• When used at rate equivalent to that of SSP (50 kg P₂O₅/ha) , new formulated product gave an extra yield of about 2 q rice grain and 3.7 q wheat grain/ha.

APPLICATIONS

• Agriculture sector in general.
• Molasses based alcohol industries.
• Phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing companies.

PROCESS

The bio-sludge from biogas generation unit of molasses based distilleries is a potential source of soluble organic matter. Using bio-sludge of molasses based distilleries, which has 21 to 23 total C and 1.0 to 1.4 % P₂O₅, a high efficiency improved phosphatic fertilizer containing 17-18 % P₂O₅ can be developed by blending single super phosphate and phosphate solubilizing bacteria with the bio-sludge. 

RAW MATERIALS

1. Bio-sludge from molasses based distillery
2. Single super phosphate
3. Phosphoric acid
   

INFRASTRUCTURE

• A area of a shade or 2-3 rooms depending on the capacity of the unit for the installation of different machines, storage of raw materials (single superphosphate, phosphoric acid), incubation shade and final product would be required.

MANPOWER

• It will vary with the capacity of the installation unit. For 1 ton capacity unit 3-4 unskilled labours and 1 supervisor is required.
  

This technology has been developed jointly by BARC and GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantanagar (Uttarakhand) under the financial support granted by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, DAE.