In the heart of South Dakota, a groundbreaking innovation is brewing that could revolutionize the way we think about nitrogen fertilizers. Robiul Islam Rubel, an assistant professor at South Dakota State University’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, has led a team to develop a novel biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) that promises to enhance nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and sustainability in agricultural production.
The team’s research, published in the journal ‘Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering’ (which translates to ‘Agricultural Science and Engineering Frontiers’) has shown that BCRUF can significantly extend the release time of nitrogen, reducing losses due to volatilization, runoff, and leaching. This is a significant step forward in addressing the environmental pollution caused by conventional nitrogen fertilizers, which often have an NUE of less than 50%.
Rubel and his team created BCRUF by pelletizing a 50:50 mixture of biochar and compost, loading it with urea, and then spray-coating it with polylactic acid (PLA). The result is a fertilizer that releases 80% of its nitrogen in just 4-6 hours in water, but extends this release to a remarkable 192 hours (8 days) in soil. This controlled release is a game-changer for the agricultural industry, as it allows for a more sustained and efficient delivery of nitrogen to crops.
The implications for the energy sector are also significant. The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is energy-intensive, accounting for a substantial portion of global energy consumption. By improving NUE, BCRUF can help reduce the demand for synthetic fertilizers, thereby lowering energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, the team’s findings suggest that the processing parameters of BCRUF fabrication can influence the microbial populations in the pellets. This opens up exciting possibilities for future research into the role of microorganisms in enhancing fertilizer efficiency and sustainability.
“Our goal was to develop a fertilizer that not only improves NUE but also preserves the microbial properties carried by the compost,” Rubel explained. “The results have been very promising, and we believe this technology has the potential to shape the future of sustainable agriculture.”
The team’s work is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary research, combining principles from agricultural engineering, microbiology, and materials science. As we look to the future, it’s clear that innovations like BCRUF will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges of food security and environmental sustainability.
The commercial impacts of this research could be substantial. Farmers stand to benefit from reduced fertilizer costs and improved crop yields, while the energy sector could see a decrease in demand for synthetic fertilizer production. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of reduced nitrogen pollution could lead to healthier ecosystems and improved public health.
As Rubel and his team continue to refine their technology, the agricultural and energy sectors will be watching closely. The future of nitrogen fertilizers is looking greener, and it’s all thanks to the innovative work being done in the labs of South Dakota State University.