Physical mechanical properties evaluation of experimental granulated poultry manure fertilizer

Currently there are searches for new and more rational ways to use agricultural organic waste for new forms of energy, creating fertilizers and other products. One of biodegradable waste management ways is raw material granulation, as processing of recyclable materials into compressed organic products. According to the EU legal requirements manure is considered to be waste the livestock owner has to account for and eliminate using as crop fertilizer and not polluting the environment. Poultry manure granulation can increase the bulk density, improve storability, reduce transportation costs, and make these materials easier to handle using the existing handling and storage equipment. Granulation process parameters and factors affecting the manure-based material of organic granular fertilizer physical-mechanical properties were investigated. Poultry manure raw material samples were dried naturally till about 46% moisture content. Before granulation samples were dried artificially till about 15% moisture content. There were prepared 5 experimental poultry manure samples and granulated mixtures of manure waste with molasses and lime sludge adds in laboratory conditions. For granule production a small capacity 7.5 kW granulator was used with a horizontal 6 mm matrix. During the research, the physical – mechanical characteristics were estimated: biometric indicators (dimensions, mass), raw material and granule volume and density, moisture content and granule strength. The aim of this work is to investigate the granular organic fertilizer with relevant physical-mechanical properties which influence the product qualityVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij