Production of high quality
fertilizer from poultry manure
for low input agriculture
Alice Dall’Ara - ENEA
UTTMATF Faenza, Italy
Workshop – Organic Waste and Biomass
material and energy source of the future
IFAT 2010
Munchen, September 17th 2010
1
The final product
VAP POULTRY MANURE
HIGH QUALITY FERTILIZER
Dimensions
Aggregate
Grain 5-6 mm
Subgrains < 0,5 mm
It is a mature and dry poultry manure, biostabilized
and it has no consequences in case of overdose.
2
The final product 2
• Water content optimum
• Total organic carbon
 30%
range 25-40 %
range 20-28 %DM
Total Nitrogen optimum  >3% range 2,5-4%
Total P2O5 optimum
 >2,5%
range 2,5-4%
avalaibility
an innovative organic fertilizer obtained recycling waste which
could partially substitute mineral fertilizer (i.e. urea and superphosphates)
3
Italian law on fertilizers (2010)
-- Organic NP FERTILIZER  DRIED POULTRY MANURE
(concime)
N > 2%
P2O5 >2%
N + P2O5 ≥5%
-- NATURAL ORGANIC AMENDMENT

POULTRY DUNG
C ≥ 30% DM
H20 < 30%
Organic Fertilizer in agreement with Italian law
4
The treatment 1
DEJECTION 
VAP high quality fertilizer
Bioreactor
Pile/big bag
Dejection collection
MDS
Manure Drying System
Final
fertilizer
A process of maturing and stabilizing biomasses under reduction of smelling emissions,
EP1314710, 2002, by AMEK (Ferrara, Italy) and CTI (Imola, Italy)
5
The treatment 2
pile
6
The treatment 3
Big bag
7
The treatment 4 – how apply VAP
VAP Vegetable Active Principles
A complex enzymatic mixture obtained
from vegetal raw materials processing,
according to EP
Handmade
or
semiautomatic
8
Time and process
• 120 days.
Batch static process
Microaerophilic
conditions
Bioreactor
Pile/big bag
A process of maturing and stabilizing biomasses under reduction
of smelling emissions, EP1314710, 2002
9
Results 1
Figure 1 - N percentage remaining in soil
110
110
PM-AVE
PM-AVE
100
100
PM-Comm
PM-Comm
N (%)
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
00
22
44
66
88
10
10
12
12
14
14
16
16
Times
Times (weeks)
Nitrogen less available for leakage, surface and deep water
10
Results 2
salinity
Age (Days)
EC (mS/cm)
0
4.5 ±
40
6.7 ±
80
9.0 ±
120
3.3 ±
High field capacity in treated soil
Electric conductivity (connected to salinity) increases,
reach a maximum and later get below initial value
11
X-ray diffraction
SI0
SI120
7000
6000
Struvite
Counts
5000
4000
3000
Calcite
amorphous
2000
1000
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
o
Position [ 2 theta] (Copper(Cu))
Phase identification for PM samples turned out the presence of Calcite
(CaCO3) and a partial presence of Struvite (NH4)MgPO4 x 6H2O = a complex
compound containing N and P)
12
Thermogravimetric analysis
TG/DTA measurements for SI40 - PM sample
13
Results agriculture 2
Chemical Analyses
Parameter
Soil n. 1
Soil 1 + VAP
fertilizer
TOC (%)
0,473
1,062
TN (%)
0,113
0,25
C/N
4,18
4,25
864
1748
K
5981
6747
P
4,37
121
K
570
1815
pH
7,25
7,6
E.C.
173
609
21,7
27,6
Total (mg kg-1) P
Available (mg
kg-1)
S/cm
meq/100g
14
Environmental performances
Environmental performances and Use of resources
1000 t of final fertilizer in comparison with mineral fertilizers
(the same nutrients) afford:
Emisssion
reduction
- 530 t CO2,eq
Water
Saving
Energy
Saving
- 80%
- 15.000 m3
15
European Project FERPODE
CIP Eco-Innovation 2008
Pilot and market replication projects
process is sustainable (matter recovery,
waste prevention, low environmental impact)
and final product (special poultry manure)
is environmentally friendly
FERPODE  coordinator: Amek s.c.r.l.
patners: Italian and Spanish SMEs
OBIECTIVE: to place on the market a new high quality
organic fertilizer obtained by the combined use of:
- poultry dejection, Laying Hens Manure (LHM),
- Vegetable Active Principles (VAP).
VAP poultry
manure
16
FERPODE PROJECT
EU patent  “A process of maturing and stabilizing biomasses under
reduction of smelling emissions” Amek (Ferrara) e CTI (Imola)
PRODUCTION  ON FARM:
No pellets
Bulk or big bag
Short chain
Transport “km 0”  maximum distance : 100-150 km
strategy
17
FERPODE PROJECT
Poultry dejections are:
• Very rich in nutrients, in comparison with dung,
• Has almost as much organic matter as a compost.
(source EUROSTAT)
 ~ 60 millions laying hen (LH) in Italy
 ~ 500 millions laying hen in Europe
 900.000 t/y of LH manure in Italy
 7.500.000 t/y of LH manure in Europe
18
FERPODE PROJECT
Animal
by-products
High quality fertilizer
for sustainable
agriculture
VAP from vegetables (no food)
Fertilizer for soils and plants
• Reduced salinity
• N slow release
• Water and energy
saving
19
Thank you for your time
www.ferpode.com
alice.dallara@enea.it
20
The project
MIDA
Manure hygIenisation Development
and Application
21
Dimostrare efficacia tecnica del trattamento di
stabilizzazione ed igienizzazione pollina (Reg. (CE)
n. 208/06) e definire parametri standardizzati per
la produzione del fertilizzante a base di pollina, che
consentano di:
 massimizzare il contenuto di N, P, C;
 minimizzare la salinità;
 minimizzare i rischi biologici (patogeni).
22