Phosphatic Fetilizers: An Alternate Approach
Naresh Aery
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 10:07 UTC
Phosphatic Fetilizers: An Alternate Approach
DMR Sekhar, NC Aery* and DK Gupta
Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited Sadul Club Building,
Bikaner 334 001 (Rajasthan)
*Department of Botany, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur
ABSTRACT
Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Single Super Phosphate (SSP), triple super phosphate and nitrophosphates are known chemical fertilizers that contain water soluble phosphorous. Plants can take up phosphorus if it is in either water soluble or citric acid (2%) soluble form. An alternate approach is to compost phosphate rock (the raw material for DAP & SSP) along with cattle dung or press mud (waste from sugar industry) or apple pomace (waste from apple juice industry) or green leaves of any origin. Organic materials while decomposing release carbon dioxide, citric, malonic, humic, fulvic and other organic acids which in turn attack tricalcium phosphate (insoluble in water and 2% citric acid) in the rock phosphate to convert some of the phosphate contents into water and citric acid soluble forms. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (e.g. Bacillus magatherium var. phosphaticum) and cellulose decomposing fungi (e.g. Phanerochaete chrysosporium) are the agents that enhance the process. We are reporting here the results of a preliminary study of producing phosphate rich organic manure (PROM) using phosphate concentrate analyzing +34% P2O5 in fine size and some organic wastes from industry.
Published in:
Sekhar, DMR, Aery, N.C. and Gupta , D.K. 2002 Phosphatic Fetilizers: An Alternate Approach. Indian Chem. Engr. Setion B. Vol.44, No. 3, July-Sept. 2002
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Replies
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I see here that you included apple pomace. So if we take apple pomace and rock phosphate (20% -3% citric acid available) we can get a significant increase in phosphate available? What other properties does apple pomace have that are beneficial as a fertilizer?
Thanks
Andrew -
Dear Andrew Allan,
Apple pomace is just another organic waste which may contain some organic acids when freshly produced. This material however needs to be composted to make it manure. The main products of composting of any organic matter that are useful in agriculture are fulvic and humic acids. All manures inadvertently host a variety of microorganism that helps the dissolution of P from rock phosphate.
I understand that the current practice is to use apple pomace [after drying?] as animal feed. And hence it may not be available for composting now.
DMR Sekhar. -
Dear DMR
I think you may suggest him slow phosphate release fertilizer, if the soil of the area is significantly acidic.
NK -
Dear Navin,
Low grade rock phosphate [LGPR]can be directly used as P fertilizer in acidic soils and LGPR mixed with organic manure [PROM]can be used as P fertlizer in alkaline soils. In both the cases it works as slow release fertilizer.
Thanks,
DMR Sekhar.
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