Phosphate rich organic manure as fertiliser
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- Jordan Phosphate Mines Company Limited, Jordan
- Eshidiya Mines, Jordan
- Maaden Phosphate Company, Saudi Arabia
- Al-Balqa' Applied University, Jordan
This manuscript is a preprint. A published version is available at:
http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/may102001/1113.pdf (Peer Reviewed)- Document Type:
- Manuscript
- Date:
- Received 18 October 2008 13:58 UTC; Posted 21 October 2008
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- Chemistry
- Abstract:
Certain types of rock phosphates of sedimentary origin are applied to acidic soils as fertilizer directly. Recent research in India showed that high grade rock phosphate in fine size when used as a mix with organic manure works as efficiently as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) in alkaline soils. The rock phosphate from Jhamarkotra, India (sedimentary origin), Egypt (sedimentary origin) and South Africa (volcanic origin) showed good agronomic efficiency when used as Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM). Further PROM shows equal residual effect. The results of efficiency of PROM made using two grades (+ 24% P2O5 and 34% P2O5) of rock phosphate mineral from Jordan show that low grade rock phosphate slimes are as effective as high grade phosphate concentrate when used in PROM. Also PROM is very effective even in the saline soils where DAP completely fails.
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13 comments
Dear Dr. Sekhar,
The concept of PROM itself is very exciting, in comming years the product from this concept would be replacing SSP. This is true with our product “Phoscel” manufactured by Excel Crop Care Limited, Mumbai, India. Phoscel is working equally good in both acidic as well as alkaline soils. Soil Science Department of Anand Agriculture University, Gujarat, India has done two years field trial of Phoscel [a PROM concept product] in threee crops – Cabbage, Groundnut, Maize per year, with excellent growth and yeild. The results are yet to be published.
The concept will go a long way in years to come.the phosphorus rich organic manure marketed in India as ‘Phoscel’ was tested here atAAU we found that application of Phoscel@ 0.4t/ha+10t/ha FYM saved 50% of p-fertilizers in cabbage and ground nut crops.
We need a change of heart and a new view of agriculture. PROM, which may actually harken back to techniques used thousands of years ago, may be part of both.
Keep in mind that our (USA)Representative Democracy has devolved into a Kleptocracy, where every decision of the representatives is focused on making sure the rich get richer and the poor don’t cause any trouble, In the tough times to come, as oil starts to run out, and the climate cools for 20 years or so, the Representatives (“of the people”) will concentrate on making sure the rich are hurt the least and the poor are kept powerless.
A change of heart will actually benefit everyone in the long run. There is no way that we can survive the coming upheavals unless we all, the rich, the poor, the elite and the “Joe Plumbers” target in on sustainable agriculture and grow our way out of a tremendous fuel and climate crisis.Dr. Kundu,
Single Super Phosphate [SSP] a phosphatic fertilizer that contains the element P in water soluble form was first produced in Rothamsted Experimental Station [England] in the year 1840. That is an event that introduced chemical phosphatic fertilizers to the world. The increased agricultural production world over is at least partly due to this development.The effort of M/S Excel Crop Care Ltd is a similar act that will lead the world toward natural fertilizers. Producing and marketing a fertilizer without subsidy from the Government is laudable.
Dear George Hebbard,
There is a sudden crisis for phosphatic fertilizers world over due to non availability of high grade rock phosphate mineral suitable for the production of these fertilizers. Around 150 million tons of rock phosphate is produced every year 90% of which goes into the production of di ammonium phosphate [DAP] a known phosphatic fertilizer. The crisis is mainly due to depletion of the minable reserves. Mining of Nauru deposit is no more feasible due to the problems of dewatering. The remaining deposits in Senegal are not enough to run the phosphoric acid plant there at even 50%. Israel stopped exporting rock phosphate mineral and instead opted for value added down stream products. China and South Africa stopped the export of rock phosphate. USA a rock phosphate exporting country is now importing the mineral. India is successful in producing high grade phosphate concentrate treating the low grade ores. However India’s high grade phosphate mineral production is only 10% of its requirement.
A couple of years back the cost of production of di ammonium phosphate [DAP] was rupees 12000 per ton. The Government of India used to give a subsidy of rupees 4000 per ton to the producers of DAP. The burden on Government of India due to subsidy on DAP used to be to the tune of 120000 millions of rupees per annum. Now due to the increase in the prices of rock phosphate, sulfur and ammonia the cost of production of DAP is plus 50000 rupees per ton. Subsidy???
As it can be seen that PROM shows equal residual effect which means that the consumption of rock phosphate mineral may be reduced to just half of what it is today if PROM is introduced in place of DAP. I think it is high time to turn to natural and effective technologies.
Dr. Bhatt,
Thank you for this new information.The idea of PROM or a similar concept has been discussed for many decades by many agriculture scientists. But, as world always demands the speed and volume and hence the idea was neglected. One of the blocking idea to think about PROM is the difficulty of arranging the sufficient amount of organic mater like cow dung, etc. The cultivable area is rapidly increasing and demanding more organic mater to maintain the health of soils. Just imagine, country like the USA, where huge area, almost same size of single state of India, is cultivated for massive production of corn and soybeans. Where from to bring enough organic mater for such huge land?
But, the practice of chemical fertilizers cannot be continued any more. Already symptoms of problems are surfacing. Symptoms like drop rate of yield, quality, and interestingly, world economy is now troubling it. Fertilizers are becoming costly, and the supply is also irregular nowadays.
The idea of PROM will help the farmers to lower the cost of P source.
Use P economically, do not waste as it is no more cheaper.Dear Shinji Takara,
dissolution of phosphate in the PROM is due to microorganism which is naturally present in the organic matter or advertently added to it and also is due to the microorganism of the soil. [2] I wish to draw your attention to the result of treatment 2 in the table 1. As we can see rock phosphate with urea also showed out standing efficiency. Rock phosphate is unlikely to react with urea. The addition of urea to the soil enhances the growth of soil microorganism which in turn is expected to dissolve the phosphate. [3] PROM as a compact commercial product may be designed to contain + 14% P2O5 by mixing high grade rock phosphate and well composted organic matter in the ratio 1:1. This product may be used by the farmers either with urea or with large quantity of farm yard manure.
Coming to the availability of the organic matter, I say farmers should recycle all the organic farm waste to the soil after composting. And I think the best way is composting by anaerobic method so that biogas is produced which in turn may be used to generate power.
Also a variety of organic wastes can be used for making PROM. Oil cakes, press mud from sugar plants, wool wastes, municipal solid waste [MSW] are all already tested by various scientists working in this area. Thanks.
Dear Dr. Sekhar,
I have read with interest the comments by Dr. Kundu, Vimal Bhatt, George Hebbard, Shinji Takara and yourself. I am of the affirmed opinion that PROM can certainly be used in place of chemical fertilizers (Ref. 1-5). Further there is no dearth of organic matter in India. It rather goes waste and many times indiscriminately burnt or thrown. If rock phosphate is made freely available to the farmers they can make PROM at their own at a very nominal cost. This will not only save money but will also help in improving the soil structure. Though the organic material itself contains some nitrogen PROM can be further enriched by adding some nitrogen source.N.C. AERY
Professor
Dept. of Botany
Mohanlal Sukhadia University
Udaipur- 313001
IndiaRef. 1. Sekhar, DMR and Aery, N.C. 2001. Phosphate Rock with Farmyard Manure as P Fertilizer in Neutral and Weakly Alkaline Soils. Current Science vol. 80, no.9, 10 May 2001.
http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/may102001/1113.pdf
Ref. 2. 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
Ref. 3. Aery, N.C., D.K. Rana, K.A. Sangeet and D.M.R. Sekhar. Studies on the agronomic effectiveness of prom in weakly alkaline soils. In: Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (Ed. by MS Shaktawat, NC Aery, BN Swami and MK Katewa), Himanshu Publications, Udaipur, 111-119.
Ref. 4. Aery, N.C., D.M.R. Sekhar, D.K. Rana and K.A. Sangeet, 2004. Studies on the use of high grade rock phosphate as a direct ‘p’ fertilizer in neutral and weakly alkaline soils. In: Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (Ed. by MS Shaktawat, NC Aery, BN Swami and MK Katewa), Himanshu Publications, Udaipur, 11-22.
Ref. 5. Rana D. K. and Aery N.C. (2009) Studies on the Relative Agronomic Efficacy of Phosphate Rock from Different Sources in Weakly Alkaline Soils. In: PROM Vol. 2 (Eds. NC. Aery, M.K. Porwal, U.V.S. Rana, M.K. Katewa, and C.M. Narayan). Apex Publ. House, Udaipur, 7-13.Thanks, Prof. NC Aery.
DMR Sekhar.Dear sekhar,
I read your research paper its interesting. which suits to the present context of world. where phosphoric acid price is very high and prod. cost of DAP too. while going through the paper I got few question in my mind.. can you please clear those.
What percent of phosphate present in manure proir mixing with rock phosphate?
How this phosphate present in manure dissolve in soil and avialable to plant for its uptake? waiting for your kind reply.Dear Vinay Das,
Thanks for the comment. P2O5 in manures is generally around 2%. Manures [and soils] naturally contain phosphate solublising microorganism and plants roots also release organic acids that dissolve phosphates in the soil. But release of P is slow and very effective. PROM works for two successive crops. Extensive research was carried out on PROM in India. There are four published volumes on PROM today. There is at least one commercial producer of PROM in India.
May kindly see these links.
[1] http://www.promsociety.org/books.htm
[2] http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/may102001/1113.pdf
May I request you to join this forum and write on cost effective farming techniques?
http://network.nature.com/groups/naturalfarmingscience/forum/topicsThanks.
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Sekhar, DMR, Dassin, Y, Momani, Lutfi, and Hamatteh, Abu . Phosphate rich organic manure as fertiliser. Available from Nature Precedings <http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2411.1> (2008)
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sekhar dmr on 29 October 2008 08:54 UTC
Treatment at serial no. 4, may please be read as “ 32.4 gms of P2O5 from DAP per M 2”.
DMR Sekhar.