A New High-Efficiency Fertilization System from Waste Materials for Soil Protection: Material Engineering,...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Improving nutrient use efficiency is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
• Circular economy principles encourage the valorization of production residues.
• Conventional fertilizers can lead to nutrient loss and environmental issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop sustainable and low-cost N-P-K slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) from production residues.
• To evaluate the nutrient release characteristics of the developed SRFs under simulated environmental conditions.
• To assess the agronomic effectiveness of the best-performing SRF formulation.

Main Methods:

• Formulations were created using pumice scraps, blood, and bone meal via mixing and granulation.
• Nutrient release was tested in citric acid (simulating rhizosphere) and acetic acid (simulating acid rain).
• Agronomic trials were conducted on lettuce to evaluate biomass production.

Main Results:

• The most effective formulation (WBF6) demonstrated a progressive macronutrient release from 8% at 24h to 73% over 90 days.
• Release tests indicated controlled nutrient availability under acidic conditions.
• Lettuce trials showed WBF6 significantly increased biomass compared to control and conventional fertilizer.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable N-P-K SRFs can be effectively produced from livestock waste and mineral residues.
• The developed formulations offer controlled nutrient release and improved crop yield.
• These SRFs represent a scalable and promising alternative to conventional fertilizers, aligning with sustainable agriculture and circular economy goals.