Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of organic wastes from sugarcane distillerie...

• Author(s): Vasconcelos, E. ; Cabral, F. ; Pita, V. ; Fangueiro, D. ; Ribeiro, H.M.
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/2608
• Origin: Repositório da UTL
• Subject(s): organic waste; sugarcane distillery; vinasse; yeast waste; carbon mineralization; nitrogen mineralization
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

RAMIRAN International Conference In Madeira Island (Portugal) significant amounts of wastes are generated in sugarcane distilleries, namely vinasse (the remaining fermented must after distillation) and yeast waste (the yeast surplus produced during the alcoholic fermentation). These wastes have high organic loads and low pH, leading to serious environmental problems when released directly into natural watercourses or when poorly managed (Hati et al., 2007). As a solution to avoid expensive treatments, both wastes have been used as soil amendment, since they contain important amounts of plant nutrients and organic matter (Resende et al., 2006; Parnaudeau et al., 2008). Indeed, application to soils of vinasse is a common practice in sugarcane cultivated areas and can fully substitute K and partially P on crops fertilization. Nevertheless, additional mineral nitrogen fertilization is needed when vinasse is spread in the soils (Junior et al., 2007; Oliveira et al., 2009). On the other hand, yeast waste has been considered as an excellent potential source of nitrogen for plant nutrition when applied to soils (Rezende et al., 2004). Thus, combined application of both wastes should ensure a more balanced supply of nutrients to plants. However, scarce information is available on the combine use of both wastes as fertilizer. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of the combined application to soil of both organic materials (vinasse and yeast waste), and to evaluate its subsequent effects on nitrogen mineralization/immobilization process to supply nitrogen to crops and to preserve/restore soil carbon.