Analysis of the physical-mechanical properties of a pelleted chicken litter organic fertiliser

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Brunerová A., Müller M., Gürdil G. A. K., Šleger V., Brožek M.

Research in Agricultural Engineering, vol.66, no.4, pp.131-139, 2020 (Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 66 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.17221/41/2020-rae
  • Journal Name: Research in Agricultural Engineering
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.131-139
  • Keywords: Compression force, Densification process, Pellet strength, Poultry manure, Sustainable technology
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Pelleted fertiliser production represents improvements in fertiliser management and ensures several benefits, such as a more accurate dosing (less applications), the slow-release of long-lasting nutrients, the possible application during the whole year, easier storage and transportation and better separation of fertilisers and pesticides. The present research investigated the physical-mechanical properties of a pelleted chicken litter organic fertiliser. The pellet samples' particle density ρ (kg·m-3), mechanical durability DU (%), compressive strengths in the cleft σc (N·mm-1) and in simple pressure σp (MPa) were investigated. The last two indicators, σc and σp, demonstrated the pellets' resistance to the compressive stress. The resulting values proved ρ = 1 289.73 kg·m-3, DU = 95.5%, σc = 58.61 N·mm-1 and σp = 20.02 MPa, while all the results were evaluated positively. The observed level of the DU (%) did not achieve the mandatory level for the commercial production of pellets (DU = 97.5%), however, such a level is stated for a pellet solid biofuel intended for energy production. Therefore, the achieved level of the DU (%) represents a satisfactory result within the investigated pellet samples' mechanical quality. In general, the viability and practicability of chicken litter pellet production was proven, as well as, the suitability of such a feedstock for pellet production. Moreover, the observed results proved a high level of the investigated pellet samples' mechanical quality.