Alginit essence of nature essence of future. Dr. Frank Gresens, Consultant of Alginit Kft., Budapest, Hungary

Transcription

1 Alginit essence of nature essence of future Dr. Frank Gresens, Consultant of Alginit Kft., Budapest, Hungary

2 Agenda Introduction What is Alginit Properties of Alginit Alginit - Research results Alginit - Application fields

3 Introduction Sweet water scarcity a worldwide problem Sweet water is rare, shortage is a main problem in arid and semiarid regions sweet water is one of the most important economic factors in developing countries the bulk of withdrawal of water accounts for agriculture (e.g. africa: 88%, asia:85%)

4 Introduction Soil fertility inadequate soil fertility is a problem (loose sandy soils and/or depleted soils with low water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic matter content and micrcobial activity) these soils are leading to inefficient use and high loss rates of rare and expensive resources (e.g. sweet water, fertilisers)

5 Introduction What is needed? 1. sustainable ways for using the rare sweet water resources 2. solutions for better soil fertility A very good possibility for soil amelioration in a natural way is the addition of Alginit from Gérce to these kind of soils

6 What is Alginit Alginit is a naturally occuring mineral out of the family of oil shale It contains no inorganic additives or chemicals Sediment oil shale It developed from the mixture of fossil algae-biomass and eroded tuff 4-5 million years ago in the Pannonian lake system

7 What is Alginit Alginit from Gérce is composed by nature and contains: fossil" organic matter content: up to 19 % (fossil green alga Botryococcus braunii) mineral content: at least 81 % Clay content: up to 54 % Smectit: 50 % Illitt: 40 % Chlorit/Vermiculite: 10 % Silt content: 40 % Sand content: 6 % within the fractions of clay, silt and sand a CaCO 3 - content of up to 22 % is existing It contains macro- and microelements necessary for achieving optimum, balanced soil conditions

8 Properties of Alginit Water saving by reduction of evaporation and seepage 1 t of Alginit is able to store at least 630 l water of which 410 l are in any case plant available Reduction of water demand

9 Properties of Alginit Long-term storage capacity of nutrients CEC of 35 cmol kg -1 Decreases leaching out of nutrients Decreases fertiliser demand

10 Properties of Alginit Outstanding improvement in soil quality (soil amelioration) Addition of nutrients Stimulation of root growth Formation of clay-humus complexes Stabilization of soil structure Minimization of erosion potential

11 Root number (n) and root mass (g F.M./pot) Alginit research Result: results Greenhouse pot experiment (University of Bonn and experimental station Kamperhof, H+K Kalke, Germany) Different Alginit dosages on a sandy soil Culture: spinach, two water levels (70% and 30% FC) Root number Root fresh matter More root mass (+ 60%) 50 More root numbers (+ 307%) 40 Finer roots 10 0 Alginit 0 % Alginit 10 % Alginit 15 % Alginit 20 % Liming level

12 Exchangeabel Cations (mmolc/100 g) Alginit research results Greenhouse pot experiment (University of Bonn and experimental station Kamperhof, H+K Kalke, Germany) 50,0 45,0 Ca effective CEC 40,0 Result: 35,0 30,0 effective CEC growht by a factor of 19 25,0 the main exchangeable element is 20,0 Calcium 15,0 10,0 Alginit 0% Alginit 10% Alginit 15% Alginit 20% 5,0 0, Liming level

13 Alginit research results Greenhouse pot experiment (University of Bonn and experimental station Kamperhof, H+K Kalke, Germany) Spinach fresh matter Spinach dry matter watering level Additional yield % 10 % Alginit 15 % Alginit 20 % Alginit 70 % FC % FC % FC % FC Result: more yield by application of Alginit especially under water stress

14 Alginit research results Field experiment, Cairo, Egypt (University of Cairo) Treatments control I 10 I 20 II 10 II 20 III 10 III 20 Different Alginit dosages on a sandy soil Culture: grass for landscaping F.C (Vol. % at 0.1 atm.) max. retained water (m 3 / ha) Increasing quantity (m 3 / ha) I, II and III are the application rates of 4, 8 and 16 kg/m 2 of Alginit; 10, 20 are the depths of mixing into soil, F.C. = field capacity 0.0 Plant available water Vol. % Result: more water retention (+ 62.5%) more plant available water (+ 82%)

15 Root dry matter (g/m 2 ) Alginit research results Field experiment, Cairo, Egypt (University of Cairo) Influence of different Alginit application rates on root dry matter of Grass Control I II III Application rate of Alginit F 10 C 10 F 20 C 20 I, II and III are the application rates of 4, 8 and 16 kg/m 2 of Alginit; F=fine= Result: <2 mm Alginit particle size, C= coarse= 3-4 mm Alginit particle size; 10= 10 cm soil mixture depth, 20= 20 cm soil mixture More root DM (+ 81% in average) dept More root surface area and finer roots

16 Total dry matter (g/m 2 ) Alginit research results Field experiment, Cairo, Egypt (University of Cairo) Influence of different Alginit application rates on total dry matter (DM) production of Grass Control I II III Application rate of Alginit F 10 C 10 F 20 C 20 I, II and III are the application rates of 4, 8 and 16 kg/m 2 of Alginit; F=fine= Result: <2 mm Alginit particle size, C= coarse= 3-4 mm Alginit particle size; 10= 10 cm soil mixture depth, 20= 20 cm soil mixture More total dry matter dept + 93% (16 kg/m 2 ), + 64% (8kg/m 2 )

17 Alginit research results Field experiment, Gérce, Hungary (Farmer Szélessy) Experimental conditions: Alginit dosage of 2 to/ha on an acid sandy soil culture 1: corn, 5 ha, control area 8.85 ha culture 2: oat, 4 ha, control area 8 ha control areas fertilized with 200 kg/ha NKP (3*15) Alginit areas no NPK fertilisation all other treatments equal in May-June: 27 days drought periode Results: more harvest corn: + 10%, oat: + 23% areas treated with Alginit did not suffer from drougth

18 % Alginit research results Greenhouse pot experiment (Bonn, Germany) Different Alginit dosages on a sandy soil Culture: cress Greenhouse pot trial with cress plants Total dry matter (TDM) 68,5 61,1 Water consumption per g TDM 0% Alginit 10% Alginit 20% Alginit Results: more total dry matter (up to + 65%) much better water use efficiency

19 Alginit application fields Alginit s natural optimally balanced composition makes it suitable for use in the following areas: Agriculture and forestry Tree and shrub nurseries Gardening and landscaping Combat desertification Establishment of soil substrate

20 Alginit application fields Furthermore Alginit can be used in the following areas: land reclamation (binding of heavy metals and sodium) soil ph regulation (for acid soils) manure management (ammonia fixation) filter material by beverage production hormone filtering of drinking water

21 Thank you for your attention Alginit Kft Budapest, Károly krt. 11. Tel.: 0036 (1) Fax: 0036 (1)