Million tons of feathers chicken manure and carbon dioxide, a factor in climate change, are emitted every year on the planet. However, this waste can be transformed into a high-value resource through a simple conversion process. organic fertilizer thanks to a simple chemical procedure. In addition, this process generates a secondary product that can be used as a waterproofing agent.
The planet is home to an estimated population of 19.000 million chickens, which represents approximately two and a half times the number of people in the world. From this colossal number of birds, approximately 100,000 birds are generated annually. 5 million tons of feathersMost of these feathers end up in landfills, where they remain for decades without easily decomposing.
The use of chicken feathers for agriculture
Chicken feathers have been the subject of research due to their keratin-rich composition, which makes them a resource with great potential for the production of compost and fertilizers. After the transformation of feathers into products such as plastic, hydrogen fuel and composite materials, a new use has been developed by the researcher Changle Chen from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui Province: generate organic fertilizer.
Feather transformation process
The key procedure for transforming feathers into compost is the pyrolysis. Decomposing a single gram of feathers at 600ºC for 3 hours in the presence of carbon dioxide produces 0,26 grams of ammonium bicarbonate. This product is ideal for use as compost. In addition, when heated to 60ºC, it releases ammonia, which is another useful fertilizer.
This method combines the benefits of recycling biomass with the reduction of CO2 emissions, generating a more sustainable cycle.
Feathers and their chemical composition: a rich source of nutrients
Bird feathers are mainly made up of keratin, an extremely resistant structural protein. This keratin has interesting properties, such as its insolubility in water and resistance to weak acids and bases. Keratin represents the 90% of the weight dry feathers, being rich in nitrogen, which makes it an attractive option to improve the quality of compost.
Nutrient content in feathers also includes:
- Nitrogen: 15-18%
- Sulfur: 2-5%
- Fat: 1,3%
- Minerals: 3,2%
Composting feathers: creating efficient compost
Composting is an effective way to use chicken feathers. However, the keratin It is difficult to decompose, so a combination of carbon-rich materials and the use of efficient microorganisms to speed up the composting process.
Effective proportions for feather compost
Various experiments have shown that combinations with other carbon-rich materials, such as pine bark or straw, facilitate the biodegradation of feathers. The suggested proportions are:
- Chicken feathers 12% + Pine bark 88% (C/N: 25)
- Chicken feathers 6.6% + Pine bark 93.4% (C/N: 35)
- Chicken feathers 12.36% + Pine bark 43.82% + Rye straw 43.82% (C/N: 25)
In addition, it is important to monitor the temperature of compost to prevent materials from overheating.
Innovative projects: the case of the UNLOCK Project
El UNLOCK Project, funded by the European Union, has been designed to transform waste from the poultry sector, such as feathers, into biobased products for agricultural applications. The project's main objective is to valorise feathers and produce products such as seed trays and mulches that, when decomposed, release organic nitrogen to enrich the soil.
The keratin-based materials obtained with this innovative process are not only biodegradable, but can also directly improve the soil fertility by contributing nitrogen and other key nutrients.
Why is feather compost an ideal choice?
El composting Chicken feathers are an excellent sustainable practice because they not only recycle waste from the poultry sector, but also offer agronomic benefits for those looking to improve crop yields. It contains nitrogen and other essential plant nutrients and can significantly improve water retention and soil structure.
Key Benefits of Feather Compost:
- Nitrogen contribution: As already mentioned, feathers are very rich in nitrogen, so they manage to increase the levels of this nutrient in the soil, which is essential for plants.
- waste reduction: The use of feathers in composting contributes to the reduction of large volumes of organic waste and is an ecological solution to the accumulation of this waste.
Final Steps: How to Use Feather Compost in Soil
Once the compost has been generated, it is important to distribute it correctly on the soil. The feathers, as they slowly decompose, will gradually release nutrients, enriching the soil over a long period of time.
This type of fertilizer is particularly effective for crops that need a large contribution of nitrogen, such as leafy crops (lettuces, spinach, etc.), although it can also be used on other types of crops with excellent results.
Overall, chicken feather compost is an increasingly viable and sustainable option, both economically and environmentally, and can be used to improve the quality of any type of agricultural soil.
Ultimately, using chicken feathers to produce organic manures and compost not only helps reduce waste from the poultry sector, but also provides a rich source of key nutrients that improve fertility and water retention in soils, resulting in healthier crops and improved yields.
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