Europe has a strong focus on addressing the negative environmental impact of intensive agricultural activities. One of the persistent problems (nitrate leaching to groundwater, intensification of eutrophication processes, disturbances in soil composition and equilibrium, etc.) is increasing agricultural productivity through the use of concentrated (especially nitrogen rich) fertilizers to boost crop yield. Soil is an important component defining sustainability and productivity of -ecosystems, but its extent of degradation (decease in humus soil areas) is enormous due to excessive and unbalanced fertilizer use in Lithuania. A relationship between micro and macro nutrients in soil is an important factor for soil sustainability, and much of the synthesis and degradation of organic matter and the uptake of plant nutrients from fertilizers depend on the soils biological activity (microorganisms’ activity). In the beginning, the negative effect of fertilizers can pass unnoticed, because due to its composition soil is a strong buffer. However, in the long run intensive use of concentrated fertilizers destroys systems ”plant-soil” natural bonds and disturbs equilibrium of different elements in soil. The main aim of the project is to investigate the impact of microalgae enriched fertilizers on agro-ecosystems sustainability.
Project funding:
KTU Research and Innovation Fund
Project results:
The chemical composition of microalgae biomass is suitable for the production of bioactive fertilizers because they contain mineral and soluble plant nutrients and trace elements soluble in mineral acids and do not contain heavy metals. The use of microalgae suspension allows to minimize the amount of moisture used in the granular fertilizer production technology. By selecting the optimal conditions, it is possible to granulate bioactive nitrogen fertilizers that according the requirements for fertilizers. Under laboratory conditions, the use of nitrogen fertilizers enriched with bioactive substances (microalgae suspension and molasses) has been shown to increase the concentrations of bacteria important for soil fertility.
Period of project implementation: 2020-04-06 - 2020-12-31
Project partners: Vytautas Magnus University
