BARC has developed a process for development of Zinc (Zn) fertilizer formulation from biosludge. This will be useful for commercial preparation of advanced Zinc fertilizer for soil application. The process converts post biomethanation distillery sludge; a waste material for distilleries, into a high efficiency Zn fertilizer for soil application. The improved fertilizer helps in better Zinc 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 Zinc than conventional chemical fertilizer.
• The improved fertilizer increases the yield of the crop.

APPLICATIONS

• Agriculture sector in general.
• Molasses based alcohol industries.
• Zinc 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.

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

Zinc fertilizer from biosludge obtained from distillery waste was developed and the process was patented (No.757/MUM/2007 Dated 19.04.2007, Indian Patent No. 239929).

The new modified Zn fertilizer containing 4-5% Zn is more efficient than conventional Zn fertilizer (Zinc sulphate heptahydrate, 21-22% Zn). Keeping the Zn application rate same (5 kg Zn/ha), the modified Zn fertilizer produces higher yields and ensures better availability of residual fertilizer to the next crop as compared to the conventional zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21-22% Zn).

ADVANTAGES

• The newly developed Zn fertilizer is superior over normally available zinc fertilizer.
• Keeping the Zn application rate same (5 kg Zn/ha), the modified Zn fertilizer produces higher yields and ensures better availability of residual fertilizer to the next crop as compared to the conventional zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21-22% Zn).

APPLICATIONS

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

PROCESS

The biosludge from biogas generation unit of molasses based distilleries is a potential source of soluble organic matter. High efficiency zinc fertilizer containing 4.4 % Zn was formulated for use in soils. New formulated product uses organic matter of relatively higher solubility to compete with sites fixing fertilizer Zn and allows higher availability and diffusion to plant roots. It also allows better utilization of native soil Zn by producing organic acids during its decomposition due to presence of zinc solubilizing bacteria. With the invented Zn source even lower Zn doses supply adequate amount of Zn to crops for the realization of higher yields. 

RAW MATERIALS

1. Biosludge from molasses based distillery
2. Zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄.H₂O)
   

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 labourers 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.