Organic Fertilizers, Organomineral Mixtures and Potting Soils Production Using 
Raw Material Store of Belarus

L. Maskalchuk, N. Pozilova1

Abstract - It is defined the possibility of using of natural raw materials for organic agriculture and remediation of soils polluted by heavy metals and radionuclides as well. It is carried out the research on agrochemical properties and assessment of ecological safety of organic raw materials of Belarus (sapropels, peat, forest products) and compositions based on them. It is investigated sorption properties of the materials and compositions and it is estimated efficiency of their application for remediation of soils polluted by radionuclides and heavy metals. It is developed and certificated a range of organomineral compositions for organic farming in semi-arid and arid conditions.

Introduction
A number of CIS countries have a large number of organic recourses but at the same time there is no industrial production of organic fertilizers, organomineral mixtures and potting soils based on natural resources (sapropels, peat and wood processing products).
The aim of the project is to show possibility of using of organic raw materials of Belarus, their compositions for production of different types of natural organic fertilizers, organomineral mixtures and potting soils for the market of the European countries.
The products mentioned above can be used for the future development of organic agriculture and farming in Europe as well.
It is estimated that there are 100.0 thousand sites in the UK and approximately 1.4 million in the EU that are contaminated by heavy metals and pesticides. Moreover the areal extent of total 137Cs (bomb fallout and Chernobyl) deposition in Europe above 40 kBq/m2 constitutes 240.3 thousand km2.
A large number of sites polluted by heavy metals and radionuclides in Europe point out a demand for remediation technologies and measurements preventing soil contamination.

Characteristics of natural materials and resources
Organic raw material resources.
Previous research shows that such raw material resources available in Belarus as peat moss, middle and black peat, natural fresh water lake bottom sediments, so-called "sapropel", and wood processed products (hydrolyzed lignin) can be used for production of natural organic fertilizers, organomineral mixtures and potting soils based on them.
Sapropel.
Sapropel is matter of biogenic origin derived from plant and animal remains, which is on bottoms of fresh-water lakes. The main advantages of sapropels are a high degree of dispersion, a great content of organic matter (up to 70 %) and availability of valuable mobile forms of main nutritious elements. Efficiency of sapropels is also determined with the quality of organic substances, especially of humic acids and nitrogen. There are more than 10.0 thousand fresh-water lakes in Belarus containing more than 2.2 billion tons of sapropel deposits, which are used insufficiently.
Peat (peat moss, middle and black).
Peat moss is well known as organic fertilizer. It is an organogenic formation from accumulating half-decomposed remains of uliginous plants at slow humification and mineralization under conditions of overwetting and a lack of air oxygen. Peat is characterized with good air porosity, moisture and buffer capacity. It is also characterized with very high content of organic matter (90-96 %). There are about 4.704 billion tons of different types of peat deposits available in Belarus. A number of fields on which the peat is extracted currently count more than 1800. Different types of peat resources are mainly used for peat briquettes production but not enough for organomineral mixtures and potting soils production.
Forest products and the products its processing.
Forests cover more than 35% of the territory of Belarus. As a result of wood processing a large part of organic waste is produced, and they (up to 1.0 million m3) can be used as one of the components for organic fertilizers and potting soils. They comprise lignin, some polysaccharides, resins, humic and fulvic acids. The role of lignin in formation of humus and effect of its complexion properties on nutrition of plants and increasing of their growing potential was shown in many scientific papers. Efficiency of hydrolyzed lignin fertilizer is known to be similar to peat compost.
Fundamental and applied researches
Laboratory research.
The research on study of kinetics of the 137Cs sorption by sapropel samples from different lakes of Belarus has shown that the most intensive 137Cs sorption takes place during the first 2 days (80-90%) depending on a type of sapropel, and during 30 days maximum values of the sorption are 90-99.9%. The quantity of 137Cs desorbed in dynamic and static conditions constitutes 1–4%, i.e. in fact the whole absorbed 137Cs transforms to non-exchange fixed state.
The results of the research on study of sorption properties of compositions based on sapropels and industrial waste have shown the mixtures have unique sorption properties. The RIP(K) (Radiocaesium Interception Potential) experimental values for the mixtures of the soils and amendments were in 1.2–1.9 times above the calculated values for the separate components.
Field experiments.
At the same time the field experiments on sapropel application on the soddy podzolic sandy and loamy soil conducted in Belarus (Hoiniki, Gomel) have shown essential effect of sapropels on the 137Cs and 90Sr intake in agricultural vegetation (barley, grasses and other).
The results of the field research conducted in 1990-2000 on the soddy podzolic sandy and loamy soils in Gomel region (Belarus) have shown that at inserting sapropel alone (80 t/ha) and the mixtures of sapropel and manure amendment the 90Sr content in barley grains was decreased in 2.4-3.1 times, and in the green mass of corn in 2.5 times.

The types of the products based on natural materials
The following types of the products based on raw materials mentioned above can be produced:
-	organic fertilizers, different types of organo-mineral mixtures and potting soils on the basis of sapropels, peat (peat moss, middle and black peat), and other natural components;
-	artificial agricultural soils for development of organic agriculture in semi-arid and arid zone and on territories with a destroyed soil horizon;
-	different types of organomineral sorbents and amendments for remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals and radionuclides.

Advantages of the products
The main economical and ecological advantages of the products based on the natural raw materials are the following:
-	using of natural organic and mineral raw materials;
-	meeting EU organic regulations;
-	absence of chemical components, pesticides and other pollutants;
-	absence of seeds of weed vegetation, pathogenic agents, larvae of parasitic insects and other parasites.

Tentative fields of products application
The products mentioned above can be used:
-	as high-efficient organic fertilizers for growing organic vegetables and fruits and so on;
-	as potting soils for planting flowers, garden plants and bushes;
-	as natural organic means of remediation of soils polluted by chemicals, heavy metals and radionuclides.

Production capacities in Belarus 
At present the total factory production capacity in Belarus allows to produce up to 100.0 thousand tons organic fertilizers per year. The total production output of different types of products could be increased up to 1.0 million tons in five coming years.

Conclusion
Preliminary research shows efficiency of using of organic compositions based on natural materials for remediation of soils polluted by 137Cs and 90Sr. Additional further research is required for expansion of application fields of the organic materials.
Using the eco-safe natural materials and their compositions will allow to provide the European market with natural eco-safe fertilizers for organic farming that will allow to obtain organic food.
The organic materials and their compositions can be also used as a means for forming fertile soil layer during an initial development of desert territories. Application of the organic resources allows to give rise to opportunities for organic farming in dry conditions and to combat desertification.
Thus, using of the organic resources of Belarus will lead to solving ecological problems in a range of European countries.

References

Cadastre of sapropel deposits of Byelorussian SSR studied in 1986-1991. (1991). Academy of Sciences of Byelorussian SSR. (Minsk, BSSR).

Cadastre of sapropel deposits of Byelorussian SSR. 2: the Vitebsk Region (1981). Academy of Sciences of Byelorussian SSR. (Minsk, BSSR).

Lopotko М.Z., Kuzmitski P.L., Evdokimova G.А. (1992) “Sapropels in agriculture”. (Minsk, Belarus).

Moskalchuk L.N., Klimava N.G. (2003). Recovery of Chernobyl-affected soils in the Republic of Belarus: Tendencies and trends, pp. 126-131 (IAEA-J9-CN-109 International Conference on the Protection of the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation: Stockholm, Sweden).

Maskalchuk L.N., Pozilova N.M. (2005). Radioactive Contamination of Soils in Belarus: Experience and Trends of Rehabilitation, pp. 169-173 (IAEA-CN-135 International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Disposal: Tokyo, Japan).