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Application of Granular and Non-Granular Organic Fertilizers in Terms of Energy, Environmental and Economic Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Egidijus Šarauskis

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Vilma Naujokienė

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Kristina Lekavičienė

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Zita Kriaučiūnienė

    (Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 11, LT-53361 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Eglė Jotautienė

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Algirdas Jasinskas

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

  • Raimonda Zinkevičienė

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania)

Abstract

Granular organic fertilizers have been increasingly used in agriculture due to the longer delivery of nutrients to plants and the milder impact on the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the energy, environmental and economic efficiency of granular and non-granular organic fertilizers. Four technological scenarios of organic fertilizer use were used for comparative assessment: (1) manure fertilization (16.0 t ha −1 ), (2) manure fertilization (30.0 t ha −1 ), (3) manure pellet fertilization (2.0 t ha −1 ), and (4) fertilization with meat and bone meal pellets (0.7 t ha −1 ). Experimental studies using the mass flow method of laser spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the comparative environmental impact of granular and non-granular organic fertilizers. Economic assessment was performed for mechanized technological operations of loading, transportation and distribution of organic fertilizers, estimating the price of aggregates used and fuel consumed, the costs of individual technological operations and other indirect costs. The results showed that for mechanized technological operations, when fertilizing with granular organic manure and meat and bone meal fertilizer, energy consumption is 3.2 to 4.0 times lower compared to fertilization with manure. The average ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions from granular organic fertilizers were found to be six times lower than from non-granular organic fertilizers. The lowest costs for mechanized works were incurred when using meat and bone meal pellets, the highest economic benefits of organic fertilizers by elements was when using manure 30 t ha −1 , and the highest costs for organic fertilizers were incurred when using manure pellets.

Suggested Citation

  • Egidijus Šarauskis & Vilma Naujokienė & Kristina Lekavičienė & Zita Kriaučiūnienė & Eglė Jotautienė & Algirdas Jasinskas & Raimonda Zinkevičienė, 2021. "Application of Granular and Non-Granular Organic Fertilizers in Terms of Energy, Environmental and Economic Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9740-:d:625476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Šarauskis, Egidijus & Romaneckas, Kęstutis & Jasinskas, Algirdas & Kimbirauskienė, Rasa & Naujokienė, Vilma, 2020. "Improving energy efficiency and environmental mitigation through tillage management in faba bean production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    2. Sharara, Mahmoud A. & Runge, Troy & Larson, Rebecca & Primm, John G., 2018. "Techno-economic optimization of community-based manure processing," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 117-123.
    3. Indrė Bručienė & Domantas Aleliūnas & Egidijus Šarauskis & Kęstutis Romaneckas, 2021. "Influence of Mechanical and Intelligent Robotic Weed Control Methods on Energy Efficiency and Environment in Organic Sugar Beet Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    4. K. M. Atikur Rahman & Dunfu Zhang, 2018. "Effects of Fertilizer Broadcasting on the Excessive Use of Inorganic Fertilizers and Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Šarauskis, Egidijus & Masilionytė, Laura & Juknevičius, Darius & Buragienė, Sidona & Kriaučiūnienė, Zita, 2019. "Energy use efficiency, GHG emissions, and cost-effectiveness of organic and sustainable fertilisation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1151-1160.
    6. Li Li & Wenliang Wu & Paul Giller & John O’Halloran & Long Liang & Peng Peng & Guishen Zhao, 2018. "Life Cycle Assessment of a Highly Diverse Vegetable Multi-Cropping System in Fengqiu County, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Jelle Van Loon & Alicia B. Speratti & Louis Gabarra & Bram Govaerts, 2018. "Precision for Smallholder Farmers: A Small-Scale-Tailored Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Kit," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-14, March.
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    1. Rebeka Pajura & Adam Masłoń & Joanna Czarnota, 2023. "The Use of Waste to Produce Liquid Fertilizers in Terms of Sustainable Development and Energy Consumption in the Fertilizer Industry—A Case Study from Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-24, February.

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    Keywords

    pellets; manure; emissions;
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