A. Research and Development in Organic Fertiliser
NDDB completed the patent registration process for three processes: I) A System and Method for Dung Quality Testing, II) A System and Method for Bio Slurry Quality Testing and III) Process to produce granular organic fertilizer extracted from digested cattle dung. The patented process presents a potential scalable solution for ensuring quality control of dung and slurry procurement for manure management projects, quality-based fair and transparent pricing mechanism for dung and slurry payment to dairy farmers, organic fertilizer production, aligning with sustainable agriculture practices. The field testing will ensure quality control and the scalability of this technology. Further, a method to produce granular organic fertilizer from cattle dung, without the use of any binders improves the quality of the fertilizer while reducing the use of external materials.
B. Efficient use of Dairy ETP Sludge
NDDB has developed a dairy Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge based organic fertiliser named as Phosphate Rich Organic Manure(PROM), aiming to provide a nutrient-rich alternative to phosphatic fertilizers. Preliminary analyses of sludge from multiple dairy plants revealed high nutrient content, prompting a scientific field experiment to evaluate its impact on pearl millet cultivation. Different formulations, including an enriched version with 8% P2O5 and with 12% P2O5, were tested against biogas slurry-based PROM and conventional fertilizers. The study focused on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil health, showing promising results in crop yield and soil fertility improvement.
A ETP sludge based organic fertiliser product has been developed for Banas Dairy. An exclusive ETP slurry based organic fertiliser plant is also being established in Vidya Dairy
C. Hydrogen from Livestock Manure
Advancing Hydrogen Production with Methane Pyrolysis
NDDB conceptualized and developed the idea of methane pyrolysis for hydrogen production from dung based CBG. In collaboration with Sustain Plus and Banas Dairy India’s trial plant is established in Banas Bio-CNG plant. . Using methane pyrolysis, the CBG produced at Banas Dairy is being converted into Hydrogen As the trials succeed with consistency the hydrogen produced can be blended with CBG and dispensed through existing infrastructure enhancing fuel performance. In the process of pyrolysis, carbon black will also be produced which is a valuable by-product that can be supplied to industries such as rubber, tyres, and coatings. Since the carbon black is produced from dung its potential use in agriculture too is being used.
Research and Development in Organic Fertiliser
NDDB has successfully completed the patent registration process for three crucial processes, laying a robust foundation for quality control and sustainable agricultural practices in manure management:
- A System and Method for Dung Quality Testing: Ensures accurate assessment of raw dung quality.
- A System and Method for Bio Slurry Quality Testing: Guarantees the quality of biogas by-product for agricultural use.
- Process to Produce Granular Organic Fertilizer Extracted from Digested Cattle Dung: A novel method for producing high-quality organic fertilizer.
This patented process offers a potential scalable solution for ensuring quality control of dung and slurry procurement for manure management projects. It also facilitates a quality-based fair and transparent pricing mechanism for dung and slurry payment to dairy farmers, aligning seamlessly with sustainable agriculture practices. The method to produce granular organic fertilizer from cattle dung without the use of any binders is particularly innovative, as it improves fertilizer quality while reducing reliance on external materials. Field testing will further validate the quality control and scalability of this technology.
Efficient Use of Dairy ETP Sludge
NDDB has developed an innovative dairy Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge-based organic fertiliser named Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM). This initiative aims to provide a nutrient-rich, sustainable alternative to conventional phosphatic fertilizers.
Preliminary analyses of ETP sludge from multiple dairy plants revealed its high nutrient content. This promising discovery led to a scientific field experiment designed to evaluate PROM's impact on pearl millet cultivation. Different formulations were tested, including an enriched version with 8% P2O5 and another with 12% P2O5, benchmarked against biogas slurry-based PROM and conventional chemical fertilizers. The study meticulously focused on assessing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall soil health, yielding promising results in crop yield and soil fertility improvement.
Building on this success, an ETP sludge-based organic fertiliser product has been developed for Banas Dairy, and an exclusive ETP slurry-based organic fertiliser plant is currently being established in Vidya Dairy, marking a significant step towards practical application and wider adoption.
Hydrogen from Livestock Manure
NDDB has conceptualized and developed the groundbreaking idea of methane pyrolysis for hydrogen production directly from dung-based Compressed Biogas (CBG). This innovative approach holds immense potential for sustainable energy generation.
In a significant collaboration with Sustain Plus and Banas Dairy, India’s trial plant for this technology has been established at the Banas Bio-CNG plant. Here, the CBG produced is being efficiently converted into hydrogen using methane pyrolysis. As trials demonstrate consistent success, the hydrogen produced can be strategically blended with CBG and dispensed through existing infrastructure, thereby enhancing overall fuel performance and efficiency.
A valuable by-product of the pyrolysis process is carbon black, which can be supplied to various industries such as rubber, tyres, and coatings. Furthermore, given its origin from dung, its potential application in agriculture is also being actively explored, completing a holistic circular economy model for livestock manure.
