Title: Potential application of the by-product ammonium nitrate from uranium purification facility as a nutrient enriched fertiliser

Authors: S.T. Mehetre; Paik Shrishma; S.K. Satpati; M.L. Sahu; P. Suprasanna; V.P. Venugopalan

Addresses: Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India ' Uranium Extraction Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India ' Uranium Extraction Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India ' Uranium Extraction Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India ' Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India ' Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Ammonium nitrate is obtained as a by-product from the nitrate effluent generated during uranium purification process. This is a traditional nutrient source and has a proven potential for application as a fertiliser for increasing the productivity of crop plants. In the present study, biogas manure was amended with ammonium nitrate and tested with maize and mungbean crops for increasing yield to enable a gainful utilisation of the nitrate effluent towards agriculture purposes. Results showed increase in the yield and biomass with the application of ammonium nitrate amended manure in both the crops and it helped in enhancement in soil carbon and other microbial parameters too. Thus, the enriched manure played dual role of increasing the crop yield as well as improving the soil fertility. This novel study has opened up the possibility of fruitful utilisation of ammonium nitrate effluent generated in uranium refineries for improving production of different crops.

Keywords: ammonium nitrate; manure enrichment; nutrient; plant growth; uranium extraction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.139964

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.34 No.3, pp.311 - 324

Received: 25 May 2021
Accepted: 02 Mar 2022
Published online: 15 Jul 2024 *

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