An innovative device for soil application of sewage sludge

Osady ściekowe pochodzące z biologicznego oczyszczania ścieków komunalnych obfitują w glebotwórcze substancje organiczne i mineralne składniki nawozowe, które można wykorzystać do nawożenia plantacji roślin przemysłowych i energetycznych. W pracy przedstawiono możliwości przyrodniczego wykorzystania osadów ściekowych oraz nowy opatentowany aplikator do iniekcyjnego dawkowania osadów ściekowych. Urządzenie umożliwia wprowadzanie do gruntu na żądaną głębokość stałych nawozów mineralnych i organicznych o konsystencji sypkiej oraz bezzwłoczne ich przykrycie glebą, co obniża intensywność emisji zapachów do środowiska i ogranicza utratę lotnych składników nawozowych. Badania polowe wykonanego we współpracy z R&D Centre Inventor w Lublinie prototypu przystawki dawkującej nawóz, zaczepianej na rozrzutniku nawozów, potwierdziły cechy funkcjonalne zestawu.Growth of the areas of industrial and energy crops threatens traditional cultivation destined for food production. One of the ways to increase the areas of energy crops is the development of an increasing number of set-aside land, wasteland, degraded land or areas so far not used for agricultural purposes, which is related to the potential use of sewage sludge for fertilization. Sludge from biological sewage treatment process requires stabilization and hygienisation. The prepared sludge used as a fertilizer for the soil does not constitute health-risks. Health-risk arising from the use of sewage sludge on energy plants plantations is small due to the industrial use of biomass and exclusion of pathogens from the trophic circulation of humans and animals. Use of the presented device can increase the share of participation of agricultural usage of sewage sludge by injecting fertilization of energy plant plantations and plants destined for industrial purposes. Sewage sludge can also be used to forest and agricultural crops for the production of wood and cuttings. Fast-growing energy plants with high growth dynamics and high productivity can be cultivated on sedimentary and sedimentary-ground floors containing excessive amounts of heavy metals. The fertilizer is supplied to the vicinity of the root mass without damaging it, which facilitates the absorption of nutrients by plants. The concept assumes that the device is fastened to the manure spreader and has a hydraulic system laying its operating position in relation to the ground. The device is fastened to the fertilizer distributor and has the disc coulters mounted to a carrying frame. With attachment frame are coupled cylindrical housings with working inside the worm feeders. Feeding screws have, in the upper part, above the work area bevel gears propelled with a hydraulic motor drive. The device is equipped with three injection dosing sections of fertilizer with spacing of 0.7 m corresponding to a typical system of willow planting. Developed device according to patent PL 382062 is used for injection dosage of fertilizers, especially sewage sludge, and is a part of the stock of machines developed in Rzeszów University of Technology within a framework of the development of technology, plantation establishment, harvesting and processing of biomass