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Innovative fertilizer from urban waste, bio-char and farm residues as substitute of chemicals fertilizers (Life RESAFE)
Date du début: 1 janv. 2014, Date de fin: 31 déc. 2015 PROJET  TERMINÉ 

Background Agriculture based on the use of fertilisers accounts for 40-60% of the world’s food supply. The main nutrients – nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) – are elements that occur naturally in the environment but are removed with the harvesting of crops. Fertilisers replenish the soils with N, P, K and other nutrients, thereby helping to sustain ongoing food production. The world market of chemical fertilisers is extremely large, but it has a heavy impact on the environment. The need to protect the biological characteristics of the soil has to be considered as an important environmental challenge. The scale of this challenge increases according to the length of the time (usually years) that chemical fertilisers have been applied. Chemical fertilisers are very effective in the short term, but need a suitable supplement of natural organic substances. Often, the factor that limits the wider use of organic fertilisers is the difficulty in correctly managing the maturing process of the raw materials. As a result, the final product has a poor agronomic quality. Objectives The main objective of the LIFE RESAFE project is to demonstrate the production and effective use of reduced salinity fertilisers (RSF) as a step towards replacing chemicals and mineral fertilisers through a technological route based on urban organic waste (UOW), bio-char and farm organic residues (FOR). Based on this approach, it will be possible for farmers and urban waste managers to reduce costs and benefit economically from material recovery (e.g. reduced quantities of waste sent to landfill and the related costs saving). They will also benefit financially from the use of these organic fertilisers. The environmental impact will also be significant, due to the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and to the benefits for soil structure and fertility. The use of the RSF will have the following advantages: A significant reduction in the systematic use of chemical fertilisers; A consistent improvement in soil health and fertility; Increased availability of nitrogen and phosphorus for plants; Increased “suppressive soil potential” against soil pathogens. Expected results: Process improvement: Demonstration of a process for maximising nitrogen retention in fertiliser; Demonstration of a composting process that strengthens humification (increased by 20%); Demonstration of a composting process that enhances sanitation. Product improvement (RSF): Well-humified organic matter that has a positive impact on soil; Higher nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium content (than mineral fertilisation) – by up to 3%; Reduced salinity; Higher water retention when mixed with soil (up to a 30% reduction in water consumption during crop harvesting).

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