185 American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 © Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers http://asrjetsjournal.org/ Valuation of Vinasse as Organic Fertilizer on the Corn Field F. Obonoa*, A. N. Nsangou b, D. Ngahac, Tchawou d, C. Kapseue aThe Higher instutute of the sahel, the University of Maroua, Cameroon. bNational Advanced School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, the University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. cADIC Ngaoundéré, Cameroun. dADIC Mbandjock, Cameroun. eDepartment of Process Engineering, National Advanced School of Agro-Industrial Sciences, the University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. aEmail: felicitemba@yahoo.fr bEmail: nsangounchareabdoulaye@yahoo.fr eE-mail: kapseu@yahoo.fr Abstract “Vinasse” is an aqueous effluent of sugar refinery. It is largely made up of water, organic matter, and mineral salts. It represents a considerable source of potassium (average 9.37 g/L) for plants and its organic matter content and also improves the fertility of the soil. A study showed that in spite of its strong acidity (pH of 4.5 on average), the growth of sugar cane was not affected by 15 000 L / ha liquor spread in the furrows just before planting. “Vinasse” was also used as fertilizer in some societies for maize. Higher outputs were observed due to improvement of the physiochemical properties of soil on pieces of land which received “vinasse” compost of 28% of organic matter. There was an observed fall pH value of the soil after the addition of “vinasse”, followed by a temporal increase caused by the microbial oxidation of the organic matter. “Vinasse” increases the concentration of basic ions of the soil. This results in the reduction of the exchangeable aluminum which is caused by rise of the pH value of the soil. The mineralization of nitrogen in the soil due to the application of “vinasse” stimulates the microbial activity and this is the reason why there is fall availability of nitrogen). Field follow-up soil physicochemical properties like the pH and electric conductivity does not show noticeable differences, (except small % K of cation exchange capacity) between the piece of land where “vinasse” had been added, and land fertilized with only artificial fertilizer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author. http://asrjetsjournal.org/ American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 23, No 1, pp 185-189 186 Key words: “Vinasse”; nutritive elements; output; sugar cane; maize; organic matter. 1. Introduction The mixed residue of sugar refinery, not completely used for sugar, is already been used a long time ago in small quantity as raw material for the production of industrial rum or ethanol on some sugar companies in Cameroon, notably in SOSUCAM. The waste that comes out, notably “vinasses”, are used in the cultivation of corn amounting to 20 Ts/ ha. For every liter of ethanol produced, 13 liters of waste (“vinasses”)[1] comes from it, facing her flamed of the price of the chemical manures. The valorization of the “vinasses” in agriculture presents it as a non-negligible economic and environmental asset [2]. Table 1: Characteristics of “vinasse” of ethanol refinery from mixture of sugar cane Parameters Hawaii [7] Island meeting [8] Brazil [9] Inde [10] Inde [11] PH 6-7.7 4.6 - 4.5 4.5 Temperature 31-38 - 70 75 - Conductivity - - - 5100 - Biological need in CO2 (mg/L) O2 3000 - - 55000 50000 Chemical need in (mg/L) O2 7400 103000 - 92000 800000 Material in suspension (mg/L) 19000 - - 2000 700000 Solid underneath (mg/L) - - - - 65000 Total Nitrogen (mg/L) 3 2935 284 1700 1200 Total phosphorous (mg/L) 0.17 240 99 350 1000 Total potassium (mg/L) - 14416 1165 9000 7000 Total calcium(mg/L) - 2277 330 75000 - Total magnesium (mg/L) - 1,220 125 - - 2. The charaterestics of “vinasse” 2.1 The chemical composition The industry of sugar refinery provides various liquid raw materials of sugar cane waste and malasses’ [3].The ethanol and the rum is the main product of the refinery of these sugar raw materials. The production of one liter of ethanol generates on average between 10-15 liters of “vinasse” [4] that is characterized by high acidity, an important organic content (organic acids, amino acids, sugars, polysaccharides, proteins) and a high temperature of about 800C out of the factory. Figure1 presents a summary of the features of the “vinasses” as they have been presented by different authors. As indicated in the Table1 the physical and chemical features of “vinasses” vary American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 23, No 1, pp 185-189 187 considerably; they even vary ethanol production from one day to another and from one refinery to another depending on the conditions of fermentation and distillation [5]. The input for fermentation determines this variation, because it can be the sugar cane as in Brazil and Mauritius, or beet in Europe. The sugar cane generates a “vinasse” of which the sodium content is higher than the one gotten from beet [6]. Figure 1: vinasse of ADIC refinery Figure 2: Field received vinasse Figure 3: Field without vinasse American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 23, No 1, pp 185-189 188 The “vinasse” also contains useful organic compounds for fertilization of plants and biology of soils [12,13]. For example, the microbial flora of the evaporation chamber transforms the constituent organic matter of the “vinasse” in volatile fatty acids. 3. Studies achieved particularly on the use of vinasse in the cultivation of corn Several studies carried out on the beneficial effects of “vinasse” on the output of corn have been achieved by ADIC. Based on this one, not only observed a rise in the output of corn following the contribution of “vinasse” but also the higher outputs in starch. These rises in output have been attributed to more absorption of potassium found in “vinasse”. Some studies showed the positive impact of “vinasse” also on the productivity of corn [14]. Therefore, following an application of the “vinasse” of about 100 m3/ha, the output increased from 27% to 65%. 4. Conclusion To conclude, this research gave an interesting, strong and valid result which indicated that the addition of a large quantity of “vinasse” can be accepted, it is not less true that it presents environmental risks, hence it is necessary to master the technique and the corresponding quantity. References [1] Renato de Mello Prado, Gustavo Caione, and Cid Naudi Silva Campos, 2013. Filter Cake and Vinasse as Fertilizers Contributing to Conservation Agriculture. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Applied and Environmental Soil Science Volume 2013, Article ID 581984,8 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/581984 [2] Aneeza Soobadar, 2009. Impacts agronomiques et environnementaux de l’epandage de vinasse et de cendre de charbon/bagasse sur les terres agricoles de l’ile maurice. These de doctorat en sciences de l’université d’Avignon et des pays de Vaucluse. Juillet 2009. [3] Fahrasmane L. (1991). Amélioration du rendement de la fermentation alcoolique de milieu à base de canne à sucre. Rencontres internationales en langue française sur la canne à sucre. Actes de la premiere rencontre, Montpellier France, 10-15 Juin 1991, 310-311. [4] Cortez L A B, Perez L E B. (1997). Experiences on vinasse disposal. Part III: Combustion of vinasse - Fuel Oil Emulsions, Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 14(1). [5] Moreira J R. (2006). Water use and impacts of ethanol production in Brazil. National Reference Center on Biomass, Institute of Electro technology and Energy- CENBIO/IEE, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 24pp. [6 ] Patil J D, Savant N K, Deshmane A N. (1982). Humification of spent wash and distillery waste American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 23, No 1, pp 185-189 189 in soil. Journal of Maharshira Agricultural University, 7: 80-83 [7] Chang L J, Yang P Y, Whalen S A. (1990 ). Management of sugar cane mill wastewater in Hawaii. Water Science Technology, 22(9): 131-140 [8] Feder F, Saint Macary H, Gosme M. (2004). Recyclage de déchets par la canne à sucre : essais avec des vinasses de distillerie. Actes du séminaire, 1-2 Juillet 2004, Montpellier, France, 69pp. [9] De Resende S A, Xavier R P, Oliveira de O C, Urquiaga S, Alves J R, Boddey R M. (2006). Long term effects of preharvest burning and nitrogen and vinasse applications on yield of sugar cane and soil carbon and nitrogen stocks on a plantation in Pernambuco, NE, Brazil. Plant and Soil, 281: 339- 351. [10] Nandy T, Shastry S, Kaul S N. (2002). Wastewater management in a cane molasses distillery involving Bioresource recovery. Journal of Environmental Management, 65:25-38. [11] Goyal S K, Seth R, Handa B K. (1996). Diphasic fixed-film biomethanation of distillery spentwash. Bioresource Technology, 56: 239-244. [12] Tejada M, Garcia C, Gonzalez J L, Hernandez M T. (2006). Organic amendment based on fresh and composted beet vinasse: influence on soil properties and wheat yield. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70: 900-908. [13] Tauk, S.M. 1982.Culture of Candidain vinasse, and molasses. Effect of acid and addition on biomass and raw protein production. Eur. J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 16, Pp223-227. [14] Rodriguez,(2000). Effects of filter cake, vinasse on soil mineral nutrients and maize (Zea mays L.) agronomy,Tropical Agriculture,vol.89,no.3,pp.141–150,2012.