Vinasse
It is an increasing demand from consumers that food consumed should not harm health and should not contain any foreign material, substance. By seeking environmental-friendly opportunities to supply nutrients – by also taking presented aspects into consideration – we tend to use plant remains, directly or after appropriate transformation (e.g. composting).
Vinasse definitely is a plant remain, also listed among materials authorized in organic farming. The list can be found in the publication of Biokontroll Hungária Kht., which complies with the list of preparations authorized in organic production, published by the EU.
Sugar factories produce saccharose (crystal sugar) from sugar beet. The high carbohydrate containing by-product of sugar production is molasses, which is used by distilleries to produce alcohol by yeast. The by-product of alcohol production is vinasse. By taking production technologies into consideration, it can be seen that vinasse contains the concentration of original sugar beet components.
Vinasse is a light -brown light acetic material with a characteristic odor containing the following:
- dry matter content 45 % by weight
- crude protein content 25-30 % by weight
- inorganic matter around 50%
- organic matter around 50%
Vinasse as a material authorized in organic farming; by taking into consideration its valuable components, can be used as a nutrient supply for every arable crop culture, but it is also suitable to fertilize permanent cultures (grapes, orchards, berries).
The material can be distributed/sprayed to uncovered areas prior to the sowing of any crop or immediately after harvest onto the stem remains. When sprayed on stubble or on stem remains, it is an advantage that it provides a good growing media for microorganisms, therefore it promotes degradation. The sprayed material shall be worked into the top layer of the soil.
Recommended quantity: around 2.5 tons/ha.
With this quantity around 90 kg of potassium and around 45 kg of nitrogen active substances from the most essential macro elements will enrich the soil and finally the plants.
At the time of top-dressing in spring, it can also be used efficiently to achieve the spectacular greening effect.
Within a few hours after vinasse enters the soil, the population of microorganisms is multiplied and their transformation activity increases. The large portion of nitrogen in vinasse is transformed into bacterial proteins, so the major portion of nitrogen remains in the top soil and it serves as the appropriate nitrogen supply of plants. The efficient vinasse treatment is reflected in the increase of yield and improvement of quality.
