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Successfully enhancing fertilizer efficiency

Summary

Producing efficient fertilizers that deliver nutrients directly to crops in exactly the right amounts has clear economic and environmental benefits. Recent advances in controlled-release and stabilised fertilizer technology are highlighted.

Abstract

THYSSENKRUPP Urea product innovations Bernd Peuckmann and Rolf Weiss of thyssenkrupp Fertilizer Technology (tKFT) and Yevgeny Makhynya, Marc Wieschalla and Tobias Birwe of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (tkIS) Several innovations developed by thyssenkrupp can add value to urea and other fertilizer types and improve their efficiency. Introduction Increasingly, the fertilizer industry needs to meet new, more stringent environmental obligations and respond to calls from society for greater sustainability. In Europe, these demands are exemplified by the EU’s Green Deal – although similar pressures apply in other regions. Keywords: Smart; Fertilizers; Enhanced efficiency; EEFs; Stabilised; SFs; Controlled-release; CRFs; Urea; Polymer coated; PCUs; Elemental sulphur; Urea-ES; Urease; Nitrogen; Losses; Volatilisation; Nitrification; Inhibitors; Treatment; Technology; Thyssenkrupp; Uhde; tkIS; tkFT; BASF; Koch Agronomic Services; KAS; Stamicarbon; Pursell Agri-Tech; Anvol; Centuro; Agrotain

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New biodegradable CRF coating technology

Summary

ICL has developed a new generation of rapid biodegradable coatings for its controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) portfolio. The new coating technology reduces the environmental footprint of CRFs and will help farmers meet the requirements of Europe's Green Deal. This patented innovation, named eqo.x, coats nitrogen fertilizers for field grown crops. Eqo.x has already been fully tested in the field – and shows excellent results in terms of production, nutrient use efficiency, volatilisation and leaching reduction. Ronald Clemens, ICL Global Marketing & Portfolio Manager CRF, explains the benefits.

Abstract

CRFs rise to the sustainability challenge One of the main challenges facing today’s farmers is the changing regulations governing fertilizer inputs. For example, Europe’s Green Deal, which includes the Farm-to-Fork strategy Keywords: Smart; Fertilizers; Controlled-release; CRFs; Enhanced efficiency; EEFs; New; Products; Technology; Biodegradable; Eqo.x; Osmocote; E-Max; Nutrient use efficiency; Nitrogen; Losses; NUE; Volatilisation

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Calcium and magnesium: secondary nutrients of prime importance

Summary

The drive for ever higher crop yields is shifting the focus onto secondary nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. In this article, we look at the role of magnesium and calcium in crop nutrition and the main fertilizer product options.

Abstract

Although calcium and magnesium, alongside sulphur, are classed as secondary nutrients, they are as important for balanced crop nutrition as any of the other 14 essential plant nutrients. The calcium requirement of some crops can even exceed that of the primary nutrient phosphorus. Keywords: Secondary; Crops; Nutrients; Calcium; Ca; Magnesium; Mg; Yield; Quality; Products; Nitrate; CN; Ammonium nitrate; CAN; Thiosulphate; CaTs; Chloride; Carbonate; Nitrate; Yara; Omya; Tessenderlo; Potassium magnesium sulphate; SOPM; Kieserite; Epsom salt; Polyhalite; Intrepid Potash; Mosaic; K-Mag; K+S; ICL; Haifa; Trio; Polysulphate; POLY4; Anglo American; ESTA Kieserit,; Korn-Kali; Patentkali; EPSO top

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Fuelling balanced crop nutrition with POLY4

Summary

The fertilizer price and supply chain shocks caused by the war in Ukraine have supercharged the debate about the shift to more sustainable and efficient crop nutrition – with farmers and governments urgently looking for different approaches to maximise crop productivity.

Abstract

The almost threefold rise in average fertilizer prices since mid-2021 was singled out by Qu Dongyu, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, at a meeting of the G20 in July. He highlighted the risks to global food production from fertilizer supply shortfalls in the upcoming planting season. Keywords: Secondary; Crops; Nutrients; Nutrition; Trials; Agronomy; Balanced; Fertilization; Nutrients; Magnesium; Calcium; Quality; Yields; POLY4; Polyhalite; Anglo American; Sugar beet; Tomatoes; Potatoes; UK; Germany; Poland; Italy; Anglo American; Woodsmith mine; Project

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Wastewater treatment technologies

Summary

Effective and efficient wastewater management is a vital task that is being aided by the introduction of new treatment technologies. The recovery of economically-valuable nutrients from wastewaters is another priority.

Abstract

VEOLIA water TECHNOLOGIES Creating SOP from wastewater As we move to a more circular economy, companies will increasingly be looking to minimise their waste generation by investing in sustainable processes. This will shift the focus onto proven and successful production technologies that offer a triple win Keywords: Nutrients; Recovery; SOP; Potassium sulphate; Ammonia; Industrial; Wastewater; Treatment; Technology; Anaerobic digestion; AD; Air stripping; Paper; Pulp; Mills; Crystallisation; Crystallization; HPD; Veolia; Organics Group; Enhanced chloride removal process; ECRP; Hong Kong; UK; Brazil

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The role of colourants in the fertilizer industry

Summary

Nowadays, fertilizers can be produced in many different colours. But what is the significance of colour and its role in improving fertilizer product quality? In this article, Jervis Bao (Jiabin Bao), R&D director, Arkema-ArrMaz China, explores some common questions about colourants and their use in the fertilizer industry.

Abstract

The origin and importance of colour When the industrial production of fertilizers first began, their natural colour was largely a reflection of their original constituents and the manufacturing process. In single superphosphate (SSP) and calcium superphosphate manufacture, for example Keywords: Fertilizer; Additives; Colourants; Colorants; ArrMaz; Arkema; Dyes; Pigments; Caking; Dust; Moisture; Coating; Diammonium phosphate; Monoammonium phosphate; MAP; DAP; NPKs

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Rooted in Potash: Canpotex at 50

Summary

Canpotex is celebrating its 50th anniversary year in 2022. The world's premier potash exporter has been exclusively marketing and distributing Canadian potash overseas since 1972. In this article, we profile this potash export colossus and look back at its landmark achievements over the past five decades.

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Taking millions of tonnes of potash from the middle of a landlocked Canadian province, transporting it thousands of kilometres across plains and through mountains to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Keywords: Canpotex; Potash; Canada; Exports; Mosaic; Nutrien; Shipping; Transport; Distribution; Marketing; Selling

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Water-soluble fertilizer products and producers

Summary

Applying dissolved fertilizers via micro-irrigation systems or leaf sprayers offers commercial fruit and vegetable growers clear-cut gains – in terms of input costs, nutrient use efficiency, labour, time and energy.

Abstract

Water-soluble fertilizers (WSFs) occupy a niche but strongly growing segment of the global fertilizer market. The world market for WSFs – valued at $14-15 billion according to some estimates – generates around $3.6 billion in wholesale revenues annually1. Keywords: Market report; Fertilizers; Water soluble; WSFs; Fruit; Vegetables; Crops; Nutrient use efficiency; NUE; Drip; Irrigation; Micro; Potassium nitrate; NOP; Monoammonium phosphate; MAP; Monopotassium phosphate; MKP; Wentong; Monband; Migao; Prayon; SQM; Yara; Haifa; ICL; Kemapco

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The Bradley Broadfield superphosphate process

Summary

The Broadfield process has remained a mainstay of the global phosphate industry since its introduction in the 1930s. Ian Hancock, vice president sales & operations, Bradley Pulverizer, explains it continuing success in superphosphate production worldwide

Abstract

The Bradley Broadfield process is the global standard for single superphosphate (SSP) manufacturing. Its flexible and reliable design is based on more than 100 years of SSP manufacturing experience and can produce SSP economically from all known phosphate rock sources. Keywords: Phosphates; Technology; Bradley Pulverizer; Broadfield; Process; Mixer; Den; Single; Triple; Superphosphate; TSP; SSP; Production; Equipment; Manufacturing

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