RU2849613C1 - Method for preparing organic fertiliser in form of compost and increasing sugar content of sugar beets in northeast of republic of belarus - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: method of preparing organic fertiliser in the form of compost to increase the sugar content of sugar beet in the north-eastern part of the Republic of Belarus consists of mixing organic components, namely post-alcohol distiller's grains and plant waste, such as straw and chaff, with additional water, taken in the following ratio by mass: straw – 1, chaff – 1, distiller's grains – 4, water – 1. A mound is formed and composting is carried out for 1-3 months at a humidity of 60-65%, followed by ageing for 2 months until the composted mixture reaches a temperature of 60-75 °C. Then cover with black film, keep the mixture for one month at a temperature of 25-30 °C. During the first three weeks, the mixture is stirred 2-3 times at intervals until compost is obtained, followed by maturation for one month. Fermentation and decomposition of the mixture are carried out at atmospheric pressure and above zero temperature.

EFFECT: increased environmental safety in alcohol production areas, as well as increased yield and sugar content of sugar beets.

2 cl, 3 dwg, 14 tbl

Description

The invention relates to agriculture and is intended for the preparation of compost and methods of applying fertilizers, in particular when cultivating sugar beets with a high sugar content.

In global practice, manure, bird droppings, sewage sludge, and household and industrial waste containing organic matter are mainly used to prepare compost.

The most common technologies offered by well-known companies are peat-manure and peat-dung, subject to the necessary condition of maintaining the mixture moisture content of no more than 70%.

An important indicator of composting intensity is the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N), since excess carbon in the compost mass slows down the decomposition of organic matter, and excess nitrogen leads to large losses of ammonia nitrogen.

In the Republic of Belarus, sugar beet is one of the main industrial crops, producing carbohydrate-rich roots from which sugar is extracted. Sugar beet roots contain 16-20% sucrose. With high beet yields (40-50 t/ha), sugar yields can reach 7-8 t/ha or more. New highly productive hybrids are characterized by a more intensive metabolism, which requires additional supplies of all nutrients, including microelements (Plant production / G.S. Posypanov, V.E. Dolgodvorov, B.Kh. Zherukov et al.; Ed. G.S. Posypanov. - M: Kolos, 2007. - 612 p.; Agronomist's Handbook / I.R. Vildflush et al.; Ed. I.R. Vildflush, P.A. Saskevich. - Gorki: BSHA, 2017. - 315 p.). Sugar beet crops (industrial) with a main crop yield of 400-500 c/ha remove from the soil per hectare: 180-250 kg of nitrogen, 55-60 kg of phosphorus, 250-400 kg of potassium, 50-100 kg of sodium and calcium, 60-100 kg of magnesium, and 25-40 kg of sulfur. The need for these nutrients is satisfied primarily by the primary application of compost. Considering the importance of specific organic fertilizers in the form of compost, the decomposition of which releases carbon dioxide, essential for plant life. These substances not only provide crop nutrition but also support biological processes, stimulating the development and activity of microorganisms, which play a significant role in plant soil nutrition, and counteracting the negative impact of acidity in podzolic soils. The addition of plant waste from distillery dregs to compost, with additional dilution with water, ensures their importance and enhances the decomposition of organic matter. The resulting compost contains: shives, chaff, stillage, and water. Many of these organic fertilizers are universal, particularly for growing sugar beets.

Currently, the range of organic fertilizers in the form of compost requires further expansion and optimization.

The use of compost fertilizers to increase the yield of sugar beet roots, improve their quality, and reduce losses during harvesting and storage is highly relevant.

At the same time, sugar beet, as a plant that accumulates carbon, requires a significant amount of potassium (Gureev I.I., Agibalov A.V. Production of sugar beet without labor costs. - Kursk, VNIIZ i ZPE, 2000. - 124 p.).

Potassium is a vital element, for example, in the mineral nutrition of beets. Potassium deficiency leads to increased transpiration, especially in dry conditions, which leads to a decrease in plant turgor and promotes the accumulation of amino nitrogen, which in turn reduces the sugar content of root crops. Potassium, present in the plant in ionic form, creates a difference in electrical potential between the cell and the environment, facilitating the active transport of sugars from the leaves to the roots. In addition, the potassium level affects the pH of the crude sugar extract, reducing its alkalinity, which contributes to a higher sugar yield (Shpaar D., Dreger D., Zakharenko A. et al. Sugar Beet (Cultivation, Harvesting, Storage) / Ed. D. Shpaar. - Moscow: IDOOO "DLV AGRODELO", 2012. - 315 p.).

At the same time, a significant portion of the potassium applied with mineral fertilizers in the fall is fixed by the soil absorption complex and is also consumed during the first half of the sugar beet growing season for leaf formation and root growth. During this period, most of the assimilants are spent on root and root system growth, so sugar accumulation in the roots is insignificant. In the second half of the growing season, the assimilating surface reaches its maximum size and its further growth slows. The products of photosynthesis are mainly consumed by root growth and used to accumulate carbohydrates. At the same time, potassium consumption by sugar beets increases significantly (Physiology of Agricultural Plants. Vol. 7. Physiology of Sugar Beet / Ed. Rubin B.A. - Moscow: Moscow State University Press, 1968. - 426 p.).

Sugar beets require potassium fertilizer using potassium chelate. Potassium chelate is a cyclic complex formed by the interaction of potassium ions with polydentate ligands. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is commonly used as the ligand.

A known method for growing sugar beets involves using ultrafine silicon dioxide (UFS) as a fertilizer at a rate of 50-100 kg/ha. Sugar beet seeds are mixed with UFS silicon ("powdered") at a rate of 1 kg UFS silicon per 100 kg of seeds. These "powdered" seeds are then sown into the soil using the spot-and-band method (or continuous band method) simultaneously with the application of UFS silicon at a rate of 50-100 kg/ha (RU Patent No. 2121783, A01G 1/00, A01B 79/02 dated November 20, 1998).

A disadvantage of this method is the particle size of the proposed silicon UTD, which is comparable to the size of molecules, increasing the need for careful and cautious pre-sowing seed treatment. The need for a band-and-spot seeding method requires an appropriate type of seeder and increases the labor intensity of the technology. Using only the mineral component affects the nutritional status of sugar beets.

A method for preparing organic fertilizer is known, which includes fencing a section of a field with a slope with embankments to form checks, the arrangement of diversion channels behind the embankments, the formation of ridges and furrows on the surface of the checks perpendicular to the slope, the dispersed washing of liquid organic waste from the upper part of the checks over their surface, dewatering the washed organic waste and draining the lighting water through diversion channels, while the formation of furrows is carried out from the lower side of the ridges along the slope, and after dewatering the organic waste, they are raked together with the ridges into piles and composted (Author's certificate SU No. 1801962, C05F 3/00, C05F 7/00 dated 15.03.1993).

A method is known for producing organic fertilizer based on nitrogen-containing produced hydrolytic lignin, in which the raw material is washed and post-alcohol stillage is used as a washing solution (Patent SU No. 1774942, C07G 1/00 dated 11.07.1992).

The disadvantage of this method is its complexity due to the need for special equipment and does not allow for the production of high-quality compost due to the small amount of post-alcohol stillage used.

A method is known for preparing biocompost by mixing bird droppings with the addition of peat, sawdust, lignin, cattle manure and a bioactivator in the form of a strain of microorganisms and aerobic composting of the resulting mixture (Patent RU No. 2057103, C05F 3/00, 11/08 dated 03/27/1996).

The disadvantages of the known method are the insufficiently high quality of the resulting compost, which requires higher application rates.

A method is known for preparing compost from sewage sludge and peat, which includes layer-by-layer laying of components followed by mixing and stacking of the resulting mixture, while composting is carried out by selecting a specific mass ratio of components taking into account the density of the peat (Author's certificate SU No. 1213017, C03F 7/00, 11/02 dated 23.02.1986).

The disadvantage of the known method is the duration of the composting process.

The closest of all the options to the claimed technical solution is the method of preparing compost using brewer's grains, which includes mixing crushed organic waste laid in layers (manure - 53%, bird droppings - 15% and peat with brewer's grains, taken in a ratio of 1:1) and composting with periodic ventilation of the mixture for 7 days for 20 seconds every 10 minutes (Patent RU No. 2249581, C05F 3/00, C05F 15/00 dated 10.04.2005).

The disadvantage of the known method is the insufficiently high quality of the resulting compost, which requires increased application rates.

The method proposed by the authors of the invention for obtaining organic fertilizer in the form of compost consists of using shives, chaff, stillage and additional water with a moisture content of 65-70%, then laying it in layers on a platform, and mixing the compost during the technological process.

Thus, the composting process as a whole is enriched with carbon, porosity increases, and moisture content subsequently decreases, taking into account all components. To ensure efficient operation, the entire process follows the technological process variants outlined by the inventors in the patent claims.

The technical result of using the invention is improved environmental safety in alcohol production areas by utilizing distillery dregs with plant waste. It also increases the yield and sugar content of sugar beets by increasing the organic content of fertilizers prepared by mixing plant waste.

The invention solves the problem of simplifying the technology for obtaining organic fertilizers and increasing the fertilizing value already at the first stage - obtaining the final product in the form of compost due to its complete maturation with the activation of the microbial community of the compost, improving the sanitary, bacteriological and agronomic indicators.

The said technical result is achieved by the fact that in the presented method for preparing organic fertilizer in the form of compost for increasing the sugar content of sugar beet in the conditions of the north-eastern part of the Republic of Belarus, characterized by the fact that organic components are mixed, which are post-alcohol stillage and plant waste, which are shives and chaff, and additionally water, taken at the following ratio of components by weight in tons: shives - 1, chaff - 1, stillage - 4, water - 1, a pile is formed and composting is carried out for 1-3 months at a humidity of 60-65%, followed by aging for 2 months until the temperature of the composted mixture reaches 60-75 ° C, then covering with black film, aging the mixture for one month with a decrease in temperature to 25-30 ° C, while in the first three weeks the mixture is stirred with a frequency of 2-3 times and an interval with the production of compost, with subsequent ripening for one month, while fermentation and decomposition of the mixture is carried out at atmospheric pressure and positive temperature.

In addition, a PRONAR MBA 4512 G stirrer is used to mix components and stir during composting.

A comparative analysis of the proposed technical solution, in comparison with a prototype study on the assessment of the accumulation of organic matter from post-alcohol stillage in a mixture of shives and chaff in the form of plant waste in compost, can be used at optimal times for agricultural crops, such as during primary tillage, semi-fallow, or before sowing on sod-podzolic soil with the cultivation of sugar beets, all the resulting microelements are absorbed.

Based on this, one can conclude that the claimed invention meets the patentability criterion of “inventive step”.

The claimed technical solution also meets the patentability criterion of "industrial applicability", since it has been successfully used on a specific field site located in the north-eastern part of the Gorki district, Mogilev region, Republic of Belarus. Experience was also gained at the composting site of the Vitebsk wastewater treatment plant on September 4, 2023. A mobile compost turner "PRONAR MBA 4512 G" was used to maintain the required oxygen concentration during mixing at the site of the heaps, and when it is necessary to grind plant waste, a high-speed grinder "PRONAR MRS 1.53" is used.

The resulting compost fertilizer meets the requirements of TU BY 300003249.001-2009 "Fertilizers from Sewage Sludge." The requirements are listed in Table 3, and further details are available for field applications for growing sugar beets of the "Scorpion" variety and increasing their sugar content.

Variety "Scorpio"

This single-seeded diploid sugar beet hybrid is based on a sterile N-type base. It is included in the State Register for the Black Earth and Ural regions. In the Central Black Earth Region, the average root yield is 563 c/ha and sugar yield is 95.9 c/ha, compared to 539 c/ha and 92.7 c/ha for the standard varieties. Root weight is 649 g. The plant type is high-yielding, sugar-rich, and mid-season.

Characteristics of plant waste for obtaining organic fertilizer in the form of compost.

Shives are the woody parts of the stems of fiber plants, obtained by crushing and scutching flax, hemp, kenaf, and dogbane. Shives account for 65-70% of the bast stem's mass and consist primarily of cellulose (45-58%), lignin (21-29%), and pentosans (23-26%).

Botrytis can also be a good substrate for growing mushrooms. And when composted, it can also be used for growing vegetables indoors.

The benefits of sapwood: it absorbs and retains moisture well, retains heat well, is resistant to mold, rodents, and insect pests, and has antibacterial properties. It contains phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients. Its chemical composition is similar to that of wood. Sapwood decomposes slowly, enriching the soil with nutrients and promoting humus formation.

After applying sward, the soil not only becomes more nutritious but also looser, which is especially beneficial in heavy soils. And if the soil is light and sandy, sward helps retain minerals that are usually quickly washed away.

It's worth noting that adding flax to compost is acceptable, given its nutritional and beneficial properties. Finished compost made from flax, aphids, and hemp is well suited for growing garden crops.

Brome is the woody parts of stems—that's what brome is. It's a natural and safe material. It's very lightweight: one bucket weighs about 2 kg. It also makes excellent bedding for animals thanks to its antiseptic properties. Worms thrive under brome mulch; they actively reproduce and loosen the soil, increasing crop yields.

Chaff comes from the Middle English word "chat," meaning "husk." In grasses (including cereals such as rice, barley, oats, and wheat), the mature seed is surrounded by thin, dry, scaly bracts around the grain. Once removed, this is often called chaff.

The process of separating the chaff from the grain to remove it is called "threshing" before "drying"—traditionally done by milling or grinding, which makes it finer, like "flour." Separating the remaining loose chaff from the grain is called "winnowing."

Cereals such as durum and common wheat have been bred to produce chaff that is easily removed.

Chaff should not be confused with bran, which is a smaller, flaky material found within the grain itself.

Chaff is also produced by chopping straw (or sometimes coarse hay) into very short pieces using a machine called a chaff chopper. Like grain chaff, it is used as animal feed and is a way to make roughage more palatable for livestock.

Chaff is similar in composition to the straw of the plants from which it is derived, but has a higher nitrogen content and is easily digestible when fresh. When dry, chaff becomes tough, making it difficult for livestock to eat when dry. Sometimes chaff is ensiled with other succulent feedstuffs.

According to the agricultural dictionary - reference (interpretation), - waste from threshing, consisting of seed films, crushed particles of straw, ears of corn, partly shriveled grain, weed seeds, etc.

Stillage is a light yellow liquid with an unpleasant odor and a sour taste. It contains up to 6% dry matter, and each liter of alcohol produces up to 13 liters of stillage. Like many industrial wastes, stillage is used for a wide variety of purposes, from agricultural fertilizer, livestock feed, and food preparation.

In the production of crystalline sugar from sugar beets, in addition to the sugar itself, byproducts are obtained: beet pulp and molasses. Fermentation of the latter produces ethyl alcohol, ascorbic acid, and a number of other products called stillage, with the remaining liquid being called "stillage." If producers dehydrate stillage, the dry matter concentration increases to 35-40°C or higher.

Stillage is also used as a soil fertilizer, but this requires studying all aspects of its influence (including microbiological) on the soil, groundwater and the plants themselves.

The high organic content of stillage is due to the presence of lignin, sugar, hemicellulose, dextrin, resin, and organic acid, as well as its color. The color of stillage is primarily due to the presence of melanoidin, which results from a non-enzymatic reaction between the reduction of sugar and amino compounds via the so-called Maillard reaction.

On the one hand, stillage is a waste product that causes environmental pollution. Therefore, disposing of stillage into water bodies or sewers without prior processing is prohibited.

Thus, distillery dregs are a by-product of alcohol production. Depending on the raw material, distillery dregs are classified as grain, cereal, potato, and molasses. Distillery dregs contain 6-8% dry matter (92-94% water), which is rich in fiber, protein, phosphorus, and potassium, and low in calcium.

Below are examples of how to prepare the claimed compost using organic fertilizers containing stillage and plant waste. Results from growing sugar beets using this method are also provided.

Example 1

In the natural method of obtaining compost using post-alcohol stillage and plant waste in the form of chaff and husk, a mixture of components is first prepared, for which samples are taken for chemical analysis (Table 1).

After analyzing the chemical parameters, compost is prepared taking into account the moisture content of all components. The optimal ratios (mass %) are established for the compost mixture: 1% shive, 1% chaff, 4% stillage, and 1% water, achieving a moisture content of 60-65%. This produces organic fertilizer, which is then processed into compost.

Example 2

The method for preparing organic fertilizer in the form of compost is as follows. On a small experimental plot, a compost bed is manually formed (option one) in the form of a pit. For this purpose, a trapezoid-shaped area is optimally sized: no more than 3 m wide, no more than 0.5 m high, and no more than 6 m long.

Example 3

The composting exposure period was 1-3 months at a moisture content of 60-65%. Composting was carried out, followed by aging for 2 months until the composting mixture reached a temperature of 60-75°C. The mixture was covered with black film and aged for 1 month, while the temperature was reduced to 25-30°C. In addition, the upper part of the film covering was made in the form of small holes to allow air entry and filtration (Fig. 2). The mixture was stirred 2-3 times with an interval of the first 3 weeks to obtain compost. Subsequent maturation took place for 1 month, with fermentation and decomposition of the mixture carried out at atmospheric pressure and positive temperatures in the summer. In the fall, compost was applied to the experimental plot at a dose of 40 t/ha, followed by disking and sowing of sugar beets in the spring.

Example 4

Accordingly, for the large-scale implementation, a compost pile was formed by first using a loader or excavator to a predetermined height on a hard-surfaced (asphalt) site. The optimal composting pile, in the shape of a trapezoid, is no more than 2 m wide, no more than 1.5 m high, and no more than 50 m long. To maintain the required oxygen concentration, composting is carried out using a PRONAR MBA 4512 G mobile compost turner for the timeframes specified above in Example 3. If necessary, a PRONAR MPS 1.53 compost turner is used to pre-shred organic plant waste.

The composting period for shives, chaff, stillage, and water is 1-3 months, taking into account the periodic stirring of the compost mass, as described above, to accelerate the composting process. Temperature conditions are restored within 3-4 days and reach a temperature drop to 25-30°C, corresponding to the mesophilic stage of composting, with additional covering with black film on top, followed by aging for 60 days. Temperature control and the frequency of turning the test sample with a turner are listed in Table 2. In winter, composting time increases and can reach 3-4 months.

The holding time before shipment to the consumer (compost maturation) is 60 days (1 month) and can be included in the composting period if the optimal technological regime is observed, in accordance with the requirements of fertilizer TU 300003249.001-2009.

Table 3 shows the operating mode of the composting site throughout the year.

The technological process of compost production includes the following sequential operations:

- loading and transportation of organic fertilizers to a composting site with a hard surface;

- mixing of fertilizer components into a compostable mixture using a mobile compost turner “PRONAR MBA 4512 G” and aeration during composting;

- covering the pile of finished compost with black polyethylene film;

- reducing the temperature of the compost mixture in the pile to 25-30°C;

Temperature monitoring is performed (and recorded in a log) by immersing the primary temperature sensor of a digital thermometer 10 cm into the composting mixture. Temperature information is read after the indicator reading stabilizes after 30-40 seconds.

Table 4 shows the conditions of the sampling stage taking into account the composition of the composted mixture and the parameters of the composting process.

The next stage involves further maturation of the compost mixture and preparation of the finished product for shipment to the manufacturer's customer via a forklift in a dump truck. During shipment to the customer, the fertilizer is additionally monitored for the following parameters: moisture content, pH, appearance, color, and organic matter content.

Table 5 presents possible deviations from the normal operating mode of the technological process, their causes and methods of elimination.

Upon completion of the technological process, each batch of finished compost (fertilizer) is tested for compliance with TU BY 300003249.001-2009 "Fertilizers from Sewage Sludge." Sampling is performed using a slit sampler from two levels (upper and lower) over the entire surface of the pile, with a depth of at least 30 cm. The number of spot samples is at least 5, with a distance of at least 25 cm between sampling points. The collected spot samples are combined, thoroughly mixed and reduced by the quartering method to an average sample weighing at least 0.5 kg, which is placed in a clean, dry, tightly sealed polymer jar or polyethylene bag with a label indicating the name of the product, the date of sampling, the designation of technical specifications, and the name of the person collecting the samples. Before each test, the samples are thoroughly mixed. The appearance and color are determined visually.

The finished compost (fertilizer) must have an attractive commercial appearance, have favorable physical, chemical and mechanical properties that improve the structure, water-air regime and overall fertility of the soil and meet the requirements of TU BY 300003249/001-2009.

Table 6 shows the regulations for compost production at all stages of the technological process.

Table 7 shows the fertilizer grade based on test results, and the shelf life of the fertilizer is not limited.

Research results show that UOSV-1 fertilizers are used to improve the fertility of agricultural soils and increase crop yields, as a topsoil layer for landscaping construction projects, to improve lawns, to reclaim disturbed land and municipal solid waste landfills, to cultivate road slopes, and in landscaping, industrial floriculture, and ornamental and forest nurseries.

Table 8 provides an example of a protocol for determining the composition of a compostable mixture.

Table 9 shows an extract from the analysis protocol of samples of finished compost, carried out at the testing laboratory for quality control of surface and waste water (Field "Vitebskvodokanal" of the UP "Vitebskoblvodokanal". Republic of Belarus).

Example 4

The method for obtaining organic fertilizer from a mixture in the form of compost according to the variant on the experimental site during excavation of a pit with the area of 6x3 m and the depth of 0.5 m is carried out directly with the delivery of all components of fertilizers, then evenly distributed throughout the entire pit along its perimeter, using the compost maturation time with monitoring of humidity within 60-65%, samples are taken to determine chemical indicators, as well as the nutritional value of the compost (Table 10).

The finished compost (fertilizer) meets the requirements of TU BY 300003249.001-2009 for growing sugar beets.

Thus, the resulting compost product is nutrient-rich (Table 10), not caked. It is recommended for use at this site for growing crops, specifically sugar beets. The quantities of the initial products are shown above in the example.

The quality of aeration in a composting mixture depends on the frequency of stirring and the structure of the composting mixture, i.e., its good porosity. In a composting mixture, the oxygen concentration is at least 10-12%. This is especially important during the first three weeks, which is a good indicator of the microflora's aeration performance. This means that all processes occur aerobically. These technological steps are noted in the examples of filling with stillage with the addition of fillers: shives and chaff (plant waste) at the mass ratio of post-distillation stillage to water and plant waste noted above.

The determination of the water-physical properties of the soil in the experimental area, where the density and minimum moisture content of the soil were also determined, are presented in Table 11 and shown in Fig. 1 (photo).

Fig. 2 (photo) shows the composting site using example 3 of the study.

The biological effectiveness of soil enriched with compost based on distillery dregs and plant waste was assessed on a 0.7-hectare experimental plot. The field experiment was conducted using a randomized design across treatments.

Repeatability is 4 times.

The study area is located in the northeastern part of the Gorki District, Mogilev Region, Republic of Belarus. A drainage project for this area was developed by Belgiprovodkhoz in 1985. The total area of the drainage system was 2,555 hectares, of which 2,000 hectares were drained and 305 hectares were irrigated. The length of the drainage canals is 80 km. Land drainage is envisaged using closed tile drainage.

A study of the Voskhod melioration system showed that the predominant soils are sod-podzolic light loams developing on loess-like loams.

The groundwater level fluctuates throughout the site from 1 to 3 m.

The experimental site is equipped with a drainage system that diverts excess water from the site into the M-1 main canal. Monitoring wells were drilled in the experimental site to determine the groundwater level, and water samples were collected to determine the chemical composition.

Analysis of drilled wells shows that the groundwater level ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 m.

The results of the water-physical properties of the soil are shown in Table 11 and Fig. 1 (photo).

Organic fertilizer application in the form of compost is recommended for this sugar beet crop, the "Scorpion" variety (these are elite seeds with a 95% germination rate). Data for this sugar beet variety is provided above.

In the fall, autumn plowing of the experimental plot was carried out using agricultural equipment known for the given region, and compost was incorporated. The precursor was a pea-oat mixture.

Sugar beet sowing was carried out on May 2, 2022, using a Monosem 7 TS-8 seeder with a seeding rate of 120 kg/ha (or 120 thousand pcs/ha), seed placement depth of up to 3-4 cm.

The experiments were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of B.A. Dospekhov (1985). Statistical processing was carried out using the analysis of variance method.

For sowing, we used seeds of the sugar beet variety “Scorpion” with a germination rate of 95%.

Agrotechnical measures were carried out in accordance with existing zonal recommendations.

The experimental plots were randomized. The field experiment was designed with quadruple replicates. The design included the following: 1 – control; 2 – application of compost from industrial waste at a rate of 40 t/ha. Cattle manure was also included in the experiment for comparison.

The experimental scheme is shown in Table 12.

Agronomic analysis of soil effects over two years of research showed that compost applied in the fall to the sod-podzolic soil of the experimental site at a rate of 40 t/ha under sugar beet crops optimized the soil's pH. Potential acidity increased by 4.8% in the first year after application and by 3% in the second year, compared to the control. Furthermore, hydrolytic acidity in the experimental site decreased by 15% in 2022 and 2.9% in 2023, respectively.

Thus, the most pronounced effect should be seen in the first year, where changes in the sum of exchangeable bases amounted to 25.5% and, accordingly, in the cation exchange capacity, the values of which increased in the soil by 20%.

During the growing season, observations of the growth, development and yield of the agricultural crop were carried out in field conditions, and samples of sugar beet were collected for sugar content in different variants.

Fig. 3 (photo) shows field observations of the growth and development of sugar beet during the growing season.

Before the start of the sugar beet harvest, samples were collected and chemical analysis was carried out at the RUE "Experimental Scientific Station for Sugar Beet", Mogilev Region, Republic of Belarus.

The results of chemical analysis are assessed in Table 13.

As follows from Table 13, the sugar content for the variants was 16.2%, the maximum was 16.3%, and for variant 3 the minimum was 16.06%.

The sugar content of sugar beet roots was determined by the sucrose content using the polarimetric method on a SU-4 saccharimeter according to the standard method (Mineev V.G., Sychev V.G., Amelyanchik O.A. et al. Agrochemistry Workshop. Moscow: Moscow State University Publishing House, 2001, 689 p.).

Thus, the proposed method, including compost (fertilizer) for sugar beet plants, allows: to increase the sugar content of root crops by 0.18%; to increase the yield of sugar beet root crops by (76-110 c/ha) and to improve the quality of root crops.

The economic effect of applying compost (fertilizer) is expressed in an increase in the total sugar yield per 1 hectare due to an increase in the yield of root crops and an increase in their sugar content.

The study also examined the impact of compost on soil chemistry. Table 14 shows the results for the two years of the study.

The conducted studies showed that the change in the chemical composition of the soil across the variants was characterized in the second year by an increase in the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter.

The proposed method for preparing compost fertilizer is industrially feasible, relatively simple, and inexpensive. It facilitates more complete utilization of agricultural waste, which is a source of organic raw materials. It allows for the use of distillery grains and plant waste, significantly reducing environmental impacts, enhancing the environmental and social effectiveness of the technology, and increasing the fertility of arable land. It also positively impacts the germination and growth of sugar beets, providing an environmentally safe, high-quality organic fertilizer that expands the range of organic fertilizers available. It eliminates the need for equipment or expensive additives to produce the final, targeted compost.

Claims (7)

1. A method for preparing organic fertilizer in the form of compost to increase the sugar content of sugar beets in the north-eastern part of the Republic of Belarus, characterized by mixing organic components, which are post-alcohol stillage and plant waste, which are shives and chaff, and additionally water, taken in the following ratio of components by weight, t: fire - 1 chaff - 1 bard - 4 water - 1, a pile is formed and composting is carried out for 1-3 months at a humidity of 60-65%, followed by aging for 2 months until the temperature of the composted mixture reaches 60-75°C, then covering with black film is carried out, the mixture is aged for one month with a decrease in temperature to 25-30°C, while in the first three weeks the mixture is stirred with a frequency of 2-3 times and an interval with the formation of compost, followed by maturation for one month, while fermentation and decomposition of the mixture is carried out at atmospheric pressure and a positive temperature. 2. The method according to paragraph 1, characterized in that a PRONAR MBA 4512 G stirrer is used for mixing the components and stirring during composting.