The Terms of the Sustainability of an Energy Crop Proper Handling of Byproducts
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 34 (2013): No Especial, tomo II; 147-154
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 34 (2013): No Especial, tomo II; 147-154
0121-2923
Abstract
A Palm oil plantation is a tropical forestry crop that only exports oil, what means C, H and O, and no nutrient. As a consequence it has specificities that eases its sustainability compared with edible and annual crops. Among this crop sustainability risks and challenges stand the biogas capture from the effluent ponds and the mill by-products devolution to the plantations (= organic matter + nutrients), specifically the Empty Fruit Bunches and the effluents. In both cases, lastyear’s conceptual and technical developments have been impressive, leading to simple and profitable solutions. Based on a dozen of operative effluent treatment projects, with daily monitoring, implemented and operated by the company Biotec (www.bio-tec.net), and in particular a liquid fertilization project with treated effluents in Honduras (Exportadora del Atlántico, Grupo Dinant), the authors present the mass and the nutrients balance of pome treatment systems, as well as EFB (Empty Fruit Bunch) co-composting with pond sludge. Productions are 1 m3 pome, 0,2 m3 ponds purged sludge (2,25% dm) and 15 m3 CH4 per ton of fresh fruit bunch. Treated effluent and EFB compost can fertilize respectively 60 m2 and 40 m2 per ton of RFF. EFB composting process can assimilate the total amount of pond purged sludge (0,2 m3/t RFF) and generate a balanced fertilizer. In no case it can absorb all the pome (1 m3/t RFF). La palma, como cultivo forestal tropical de alta producción que solo exporta aceite, a saber C, H y O, y no exporta nutrientes, tiene especificidades que facilitan su sostenibilidad comparado con los cultivos alimenticios y anuales. Entre los riesgos y desafíos del cultivo en materia de sostenibilidad, figuran la captación del biogás de las lagunas de efluentes y la devolución al campo de los subproductos generados por la planta de beneficio (materia orgánica y nutrientes), en particular el raquis y los efluentes. En ambos casos los avances conceptuales y técnicos de los últimos años han sido espectaculares, hasta llegar a soluciones sencillas y rentables. Sobre la base de una docena de proyectos operativos de manejo de efluentes, con monitoreo diario, implementados y operados por Biotec, y en particular de un “Proyecto de fertilización líquida con efluentes tratados” en Honduras (Exportadora del Atlántico, Grupo Dinant), los autores exponen el balance de masa y de nutrientes de los sistemas de tratamiento de efluentes (Palm Oil Mill Effluent - pome), así como de los sistemas de cocompostaje de raquis con lodos de purga de lagunas. Por tonelada de racimo de fruto fresco (RFF), se genera en promedio 1 m3 de efluente (pome), 0,2 m3 de lodo de purga de lagunas (al 2,25% de st, sólidos totales), y 15 m3 de metano-equivalente. Los efluentes tratados y el compost de raquis permiten fertilizar respectivamente 60 y 40 m2 de plantación por tonelada de fruto procesado (RFF). El compostaje de raquis permite asimilar la totalidad del lodo de purga de las lagunas de tratamiento (0,2 m3/t) y generar un abono balanceado.
A Palm oil plantation is a tropical forestry crop that only exports oil, what means C, H and O, and no nutrient. As a consequence it has specificities that eases its sustainability compared with edible and annual crops. Among this crop sustainability risks and challenges stand the biogas capture from the effluent ponds and the mill by-products devolution to the plantations (= organic matter + nutrients), specifically the Empty Fruit Bunches and the effluents. In both cases, lastyear’s conceptual and technical developments have been impressive, leading to simple and profitable solutions. Based on a dozen of operative effluent treatment projects, with daily monitoring, implemented and operated by the company Biotec (www.bio-tec.net), and in particular a liquid fertilization project with treated effluents in Honduras (Exportadora del Atlántico, Grupo Dinant), the authors present the mass and the nutrients balance of pome treatment systems, as well as EFB (Empty Fruit Bunch) co-composting with pond sludge. Productions are 1 m3 pome, 0,2 m3 ponds purged sludge (2,25% dm) and 15 m3 CH4 per ton of fresh fruit bunch. Treated effluent and EFB compost can fertilize respectively 60 m2 and 40 m2 per ton of RFF. EFB composting process can assimilate the total amount of pond purged sludge (0,2 m3/t RFF) and generate a balanced fertilizer. In no case it can absorb all the pome (1 m3/t RFF).
Palabras clave:
palm oil
sustainability
organic matter
nutrients
effluents
EFB
mass balance
methane
palma de aceite
sostenibilidad
material orgánica
nutrientes
efluentes
RFF
abono balanceado
metano
palm oil
sustainability
organic matter
nutrients
effluents
EFB
mass balance
methane
palma de aceite
sostenibilidad
material orgánica
nutrientes
efluentes
RFF
abono balanceado
metano