1. Vinasse as a fertilizer and soil amendment
BSTA Annual Conference Meeting
Feb. 6, 2015
Barbados
Vinasse as a fertilizer and soil amendment
Cesar A. Guerrero, Eng
Mount Gay Dist. - Consultant

2. !Thinking out of the box! Think about it:
An scenario of sugarcane production on small and medium farms and their importance for the country
Basic review of low cost of cane production and the sustainability of the industry
Rum distillation and Vinasse - Problem or solution?
Positive and negative aspects of vinasse
Less use of synthetic fertilizers
Improving cane yield and soil condition
Write the problem with vinasse and discuss solution
I will present a case study where the calculations will be necessary

3. Origen of Molasses? The cane is harvested, transported and crushed
The juice is boiled to concentrate it, promoting sugar crystallization
Cane syrup or first syrup has the highest sugar content
Molasses is created with the second boiling and sugar extraction.
Use to be a pollutant till uses were found (alcohol distilleries, ruminant feed, etc.)
Short column is smaller so there is less room for water to sep. vs tall column

4. Origen of Vinasse?
Vinasse is a product of distillation of the beer (fermented Molasses-cane juice) for alcohol production.
Is an aqueous effluent with suspended solids
It is largely composed of water, organic matter and minerals elements.
Vinasse can be a valuable organic fertilizer (mostly replacing potassium), as well as an important source of water replacement on the soil.
Accordingly, it has been used by the sugarcane industry for fertirrigation, giving back to the soil nutrients that sugarcane extracts from it as it grows and matures.
If not properly handled; could be an environmental pollutant
In leading alcohol (ethanol) producing countries: vinasse is considered a nutrient source not a waste or residue, but a valuable source of nutrients.
Basic review of cachaça production and potential for ethanol production from the head and tail

5. Types of distilleries by products: vinasses, dunder, stillage, slops, biol…
All kind of feedstuff for alcohol distillation generate vinasses:
From cane juice and from molasses
From corn
From sweet sorghum
From sugar beet
Rice
From other species of Saccharum
Liquid of bio-digesters

6. Vinasse: alternatives for use
It’s been used as:
A source for animal feed (cattle, chickens, swine)
Organic fertilizer (along with filter cake)
Power generation (uses of bio-digesters or anaerobic digester. Result: methane and organic fertilizer )
Conventional fertilizer (addition of synthetic fertilizers)

7. Brasil:Vinasse Typical Analysis
Tell why I want to transform head and tail, we don’t drink it because it is bad for our health

8. Mexico: typical analysis
Distillery generate 210,000 cubic mt/year. Use of 150 and 250 cubit meter/Ha. Chiapas, Mexico, 2008.

9. Dominican Republic: typical vinasse analysis from molasses
unit
Results pH
4.32
TSS (Total Suspended solids)
mg/L
40,000
TS (Total Solids)
55,300
Density
Kg/L
.99
Organic matter
52,100
P2O5
2,000
K2O
6,120
Total Nitrogen
12,100
Calcium (Ca)
1,860
Magnesium (Mg)
680
Iron (Fe)
34.7
Zinc (Zn)
COD (Chemical Oxigen Demand)
41,021
BOD (Biological Oxigen Demand)
1,493
Dominican Republic: typical vinasse analysis from molasses

10. Barbados: typical analysis

11. Vinasse: Benefit as Fertilizer
Rich in potassium, sulfur, nitrogen and organic matter --- improves soil chemical and physical quality
Improves CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) and as a result soil fertility.
Profitable, since it reduces the demand for inorganic fertilizers
Improves biological properties (accelerate biological decomposition or residues in the field)
Replaces most of the nutrient the crop removes from the soil.
In 1986: no soil contamination of nitrates where found up to 1 mt deep in soils that had received vinasse.(Brazil)
Studies in 1996 show no influence of NO3, NH4 and other N compound in soil profile when vinasse was applied. (Brazil)

12. Sugarcane nutrient removal (lb/Ac)
Yield
Nitrogen
Phosphorus (P2O5)
Potassium (K2O)
Sulfur (S)
100 ton
160 90
335 54
Bagasse
200 66
265 32
Total
360
156
610 86
Source: International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)

13. Vinasse application and nutritional levels
Vinasse Rate and Nutrient Contribution to Soil
Barbados's Proposal Scenario A
2.471
A/Ha
Vinasse rate
20,000
lt/Ha 8,
lt/Ac
5, gal/Ha
Analysis Range %
rate ammount (Kg)
Rate Kg/Ac
Solids
8.5%
1,700
688
Organic solids
0.035
0.07
700
1,400
283
567
Nitrogen
0.08%
0.1% 16 20 6 8
Phosphorous
0.01%
0.03% 3 5 1 2
Potasium
0.50%
0.75%
100
150 40 61
Calcium
0.15%
0.20% 30 12
Magnesium
0.18% 36 15

14. Considerations before any application program
Information about the soil, water bodies, vinasse and the environment is necessary:
Complete evaluation of soil (Organic Matter, N, P2O5, K2O, Sulphur, Ca, Mg, Micros, pH, ICC, etc.)
Slopes %
Water analysis (more or less as soils analysis)
Location and distance of water bodies or wells
Climatic characteristics
Deep of water level or aquifer in the confined area

15. Vinasse lagoons with geo-membranes
Speak a little

16. Dominican Rep. Experience: sprinkler irrigation with gun

17. Reel applying vinasse to sugarcane fields

18. Note the amount of cane trash on top of the soil
Note the amount of cane trash on top of the soil. Microbiological activity for its decomposition is promote by vinasse application.

19. Traveler apply average of 5 Ha (12.4 Acre)/ 5-6 h/day
Estimated Volume of application 150 cubic mt/ Ha (150,000 lt/Ha)
Nitrogen injected as liquid Urea at 40 kg /Ha (86 kg/Ha Urea) or 35 kg/Ac Urea
The crop not only benefit from the nutrients provided by vinasse but the water supply during dry season.

20. Barbados :Equipment and Program - Proposal
Tank Capacity 4,500 gal (17,000 lt)
Requirements:
tractor with hydraulic PTO (power take-off) shaft
-Must be articulated
Advantages:
-more control over vinasse rate application
-application will located vinasse app on sugarcane rows
-avoid sprinkler application
-variable rates
-application range varies from 0-45 days after harvest
Yield:
-variable volume:10-50 gal/min x nozzle( lt/ min)
-0.9 Ha/ hour (2.2 Ac/hour)

21. Conclusions
Fact: All man kind activity and industrial process generate by products.
The value of by products and its disposal depends on the impact to the environment and its concentrations of valuable and reusable material.
Vinasse: the result of the process to obtain alcohol from sugarcane (juice and molasses) has proven to be a valuable product.
Europe, USA, Central America, Caribbean and South America are currently using vinasse to replace nutrients required by the crop.
The application of vinasse and filter mud has increase yield and improving the sustainability of the sugarcane industry in many countries.
Reduction on the use of mineral fertilizers has positively impacted the cost of production.
Organic certification of vinasse application is promoting organic sugarcane in various countries.
Various methods of application could be implemented to deliver vinasse to sugarcane fields.

22. !Thanks for your kind attention!!! Questions?
Thank you very much for your attention