IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i4p1747-d1063462.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Rebeka Pajura

    (Department of Environmental Engineering and Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland)

  • Adam Masłoń

    (Department of Environmental Engineering and Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland)

  • Joanna Czarnota

    (Department of Environmental Engineering and Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland)

Abstract

The topical challenge for the Polish, European, and global fertilizer industry is to produce sufficient nutrients for growing plants using more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods. The appropriate course of action, in terms of the challenges posed, could be the production of liquid fertilizers, made from waste materials that exhibit fertilizer properties. This solution makes it possible not only to reduce the exploitation of natural resources but above all, to implement elements of a circular economy and reduce the energy intensity of the fertilizer industry. This study shows that both in Poland and the European Union, there are current regulations aimed at elements of a circular economy and indicating the need to obtain fertilizers containing valuable plant nutrients from organic waste or recycled materials. The recognition carried out for the Polish market clearly indicates that to produce liquid organic fertilizers and soil conditioners, the most used is the digestate from the fermentation process. The preparation of liquid organic–mineral fertilizers is mainly based on algae extracts. Mine minerals are used in the production of mineral–liquid fertilizers. An analysis of data has shown that the above-mentioned waste materials, used as substrates to produce fertilizers, contain chemical substances and elements important for, among other things, stimulation of proper plant development, growth of aboveground and underground parts of plants, increased resistance to diseases and pests, and regulation of plant water management. Referring to the above information, the production of liquid fertilizers from waste materials seems reasonable and is an alternative to mineral–solid fertilizers, whose production process is energy-intensive and produces air emissions. Detailed identification of the properties of the various components made it possible to demonstrate their usefulness in terms of fertilizing plants and soils, but also to emphasize the importance of this line of research and the need to look for other groups of waste for reuse within the framework of a circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:4:p:1747-:d:1063462
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/4/1747/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/4/1747/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaodong Liu & Chengxiao Hu & Muhammad Riaz & Xiaoman Liu & Xuecheng Sun & Mulai Zhuang & Qiling Tan, 2022. "Reducing Macronutrients and Increasing Micronutrient Fertilizers Are Key to Improving the Quality of Pomelo Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck Cv. “Guanxi”," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Dawson, C.J. & Hilton, J., 2011. "Fertiliser availability in a resource-limited world: Production and recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 14-22, January.
    3. Yi Ran & Xinlu Bai & Yan Long & Ping Ai, 2022. "Yield and Quality of Rice under the Effects of Digestate Application," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-10, April.
    4. Piotr Piersa & Szymon Szufa & Justyna Czerwińska & Hilal Ünyay & Łukasz Adrian & Grzegorz Wielgosinski & Andrzej Obraniak & Wiktoria Lewandowska & Marta Marczak-Grzesik & Maria Dzikuć & Zdzislawa Roma, 2021. "Pine Wood and Sewage Sludge Torrefaction Process for Production Renewable Solid Biofuels and Biochar as Carbon Carrier for Fertilizers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Grzegorz Zając & Joanna Szyszlak-Bargłowicz & Wojciech Gołębiowski & Małgorzata Szczepanik, 2018. "Chemical Characteristics of Biomass Ashes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Jiří Velechovský & Matěj Malík & Lukáš Kaplan & Pavel Tlustoš, 2021. "Application of Individual Digestate Forms for the Improvement of Hemp Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Alejandro Moure Abelenda & Kirk T. Semple & George Aggidis & Farid Aiouache, 2022. "Circularity of Bioenergy Residues: Acidification of Anaerobic Digestate Prior to Addition of Wood Ash," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Magdalena Szymańska & Ewa Szara & Adam Wąs & Tomasz Sosulski & Gijs W.P. van Pruissen & René L. Cornelissen, 2019. "Struvite—An Innovative Fertilizer from Anaerobic Digestate Produced in a Bio-Refinery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, January.
    10. Shimaa M. Hassan & Mohamed Ashour & Nobumitsu Sakai & Lixin Zhang & Hesham A. Hassanien & Ahmed Gaber & Gamal Ammar, 2021. "Impact of Seaweed Liquid Extract Biostimulant on Growth, Yield, and Chemical Composition of Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus )," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Georgios K. Ntinas & Filippos Bantis & Athanasios Koukounaras & Panagiotis G. Kougias, 2021. "Exploitation of Liquid Digestate as the Sole Nutrient Source for Floating Hydroponic Cultivation of Baby Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ) in Greenhouses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, November.
    12. McArthur, John W. & McCord, Gordon C., 2017. "Fertilizing growth: Agricultural inputs and their effects in economic development," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 133-152.
    13. Mariangela Diacono & Alessandro Persiani & Elena Testani & Francesco Montemurro & Corrado Ciaccia, 2019. "Recycling Agricultural Wastes and By-products in Organic Farming: Biofertilizer Production, Yield Performance and Carbon Footprint Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-17, July.
    14. Fadare, D.A. & Bamiro, O.A. & Oni, A.O., 2010. "Energy and cost analysis of organic fertilizer production in Nigeria," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 332-340.
    15. Dorota Janiszewska & Luiza Ossowska, 2022. "The Role of Agricultural Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source in European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-14, September.
    16. Mirko Cucina & Patrizia De Nisi & Simone Sordi & Fabrizio Adani, 2021. "Sewage Sludge as N-Fertilizers for Crop Production Enabling the Circular Bioeconomy in Agriculture: A Challenge for the New EU Regulation 1009/2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Dawson, C.J. & Hilton, J., 2011. "Fertiliser availability in a resource-limited world: Production and recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 14-22.
    18. Aleksandra Dimitrijević & Marija Gavrilović & Sanjin Ivanović & Zoran Mileusnić & Rajko Miodragović & Saša Todorović, 2020. "Energy Use and Economic Analysis of Fertilizer Use in Wheat and Sugar Beet Production in Serbia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
    19. Marzena Smol, 2021. "Transition to Circular Economy in the Fertilizer Sector—Analysis of Recommended Directions and End-Users’ Perception of Waste-Based Products in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dániel Fróna & János Szenderák & Mónika Harangi-Rákos, 2019. "The Challenge of Feeding the World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Meyer-Aurich, Andreas & Karatay, Yusuf Nadi, 2019. "Effects of uncertainty and farmers' risk aversion on optimal N fertilizer supply in wheat production in Germany," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 130-139.
    3. Michael Barrowclough & L. Geyer, 2015. "Biofuel Policies: The Underground Limitation on Biofuels," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 21(1), pages 55-65, March.
    4. Dmitrieva, D. & Ilinova, A. & Kraslawski, A., 2017. "Strategic management of the potash industry in Russia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 81-89.
    5. Peter Horton & Steve A. Banwart & Dan Brockington & Garrett W. Brown & Richard Bruce & Duncan Cameron & Michelle Holdsworth & S. C. Lenny Koh & Jurriaan Ton & Peter Jackson, 2017. "An agenda for integrated system-wide interdisciplinary agri-food research," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(2), pages 195-210, April.
    6. Hans-Peter Weikard, 2016. "Phosphorus recycling and food security in the long run: a conceptual modelling approach," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(2), pages 405-414, April.
    7. Reijnders, L., 2014. "Phosphorus resources, their depletion and conservation, a review," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 32-49.
    8. Paul J. A. Withers & Colin Neal & Helen P. Jarvie & Donnacha G. Doody, 2014. "Agriculture and Eutrophication: Where Do We Go from Here?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Mariusz Z. Gusiatin & Dorota Kulikowska & Katarzyna Bernat, 2024. "Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Resource in the Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, May.
    10. Ami Reznik & Ariel Dinar, 2022. "Local conditions and the economic feasibility of urban wastewater recycling in irrigated agriculture: Lessons from a stochastic regional analysis in California," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 2115-2130, December.
    11. Shuangxi Li & Zhaohui Zhang & Juanqin Zhang & Xianqing Zheng & Hanlin Zhang & Haiyun Zhang & Yue Zhang & Naling Bai & Weiguang Lv, 2022. "Using Mathematical Models to Study the Influences of Different Ratios of Chemical Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium on the Content of Soluble Protein, Vitamin C, and Soluble Sugar in Melon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Olagunju, Kehinde Oluseyi & Feng, Siyi & Patton, Myles, 2021. "Dynamic relationships among phosphate rock, fertilisers and agricultural commodity markets: Evidence from a vector error correction model and Directed Acyclic Graphs," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    13. Chowdhury, Rubel Biswas & Moore, Graham A. & Weatherley, Anthony J. & Arora, Meenakshi, 2014. "A review of recent substance flow analyses of phosphorus to identify priority management areas at different geographical scales," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 213-228.
    14. Efthymios Rodias & Eirini Aivazidou & Charisios Achillas & Dimitrios Aidonis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Water-Energy-Nutrients Synergies in the Agrifood Sector: A Circular Economy Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Aleksandra Dimitrijević & Marija Gavrilović & Sanjin Ivanović & Zoran Mileusnić & Rajko Miodragović & Saša Todorović, 2020. "Energy Use and Economic Analysis of Fertilizer Use in Wheat and Sugar Beet Production in Serbia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
    16. Wassenaar, T. & Doelsch, E. & Feder, F. & Guerrin, F. & Paillat, J.-M. & Thuriès, L. & Saint Macary, H., 2014. "Returning Organic Residues to Agricultural Land (RORAL) – Fuelling the Follow-the-Technology approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 60-69.
    17. Johannes Dahlin & Verena Halbherr & Peter Kurz & Michael Nelles & Carsten Herbes, 2016. "Marketing Green Fertilizers: Insights into Consumer Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-15, November.
    18. Boldrin, Alessio & Baral, Khagendra Raj & Fitamo, Temesgen & Vazifehkhoran, Ali Heidarzadeh & Jensen, Ida Græsted & Kjærgaard, Ida & Lyng, Kari-Anne & van Nguyen, Quan & Nielsen, Lise Skovsgaard & Tri, 2016. "Optimised biogas production from the co-digestion of sugar beet with pig slurry: Integrating energy, GHG and economic accounting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 606-617.
    19. Israel Finkelshtain & Iddo Kan & Mickey Rapaport‐Rom, 2020. "Substitutability of Freshwater and Non‐Freshwater Sources in Irrigation: an Econometric Analysis," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(4), pages 1105-1134, August.
    20. Reznik, Ami & Feinerman, Eli & Finkelshtain, Israel & Fisher, Franklin & Huber-Lee, Annette & Joyce, Brian & Kan, Iddo, 2017. "Economic implications of agricultural reuse of treated wastewater in Israel: A statewide long-term perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 222-233.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:4:p:1747-:d:1063462. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.