American Academic Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences
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
