Investigation of natural magnesium mineral fertilizer granulation and determination of granule qualitative indicators
2016
Jasinskas, A., Aleksandras Stulginskis Univ., Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania) | Pekarskas, J., Aleksandras Stulginskis Univ., Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania) | Kucinskas, V., Aleksandras Stulginskis Univ., Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania) | Aboltins, A., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
Research was carried out in the Aleksandras Stulginskis University with the natural magnesium mineral fertilizers – sulphate monohydrate Kieserite that was granulated in China and magnesium silicate Serpentine rocks that were grounded and granulated with impact granulation technology in Lithuania. Serpentine fertilizer granules were sieved into two groups: larger-size and smaller-size Serpentine granular fertilizers which differed in their texture. Kieserite granular fertilizers prevailed from 3.1 to 4.0 mm and from 2.0 to 3.1 mm granular fraction; larger-size granules of Serpentine fertilizers were the same fraction as Kieserite granules, and the smaller-size granules of Serpentine fertilizer prevailed from 1.0 to 2.0 and from 2.0 to 3.1 mm granular fractions. Biometric and physical-mechanical properties of natural magnesium mineral Kieserite and Serpentine fertilizer granules were investigated, and their resistance to impact forces was evaluated. It was found that the maximum moisture content was in Kieserite granules – 9.3 %; and the moisture content of Serpentine fertilizer granules was about two times lower and ranged 4.8-4.9 %. The largest average density was of Kieserite granules – 2163.2 kg·m-3 DM (dry matter), and the density of larger-size Serpentine granules was the lowest – 1255.9 kg·m-3 DM. The results on resistance to deformation of the investigated mineral fertilizers indicate that the granules made of Kieserite have the highest resistance; they decompose to 101.5 N force. The granules produced of Serpentine rock materials disintegrate to more than 10 times smaller external force: 8.7 N and 9.3 N. The research results show that the granules made of Kieserite are of the highest quality, these granules are greatly resistant to compression on a static force and they are convenient for transportation, storage and mechanical spreading.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Fundamental Library of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies