Sapropel Fertilizers to Revolutionize Bulgarian Organic Farming

Bulgarian researchers have developed a project for the extraction of sapropel-based fertilizers, saying that the step could bring about a significant change in domestic organic farming. Photo by dariknews.bg

Bulgarian researchers have developed a plan for the extraction and application of fertilizers from organic matter rich marine sediments (sapropels), saying that the step could bring about a significant change in domestic organic farming.

Sapropel-based organic fertilizers are competitively priced, stimulate plant growth and increase plant productivity by up to 40%, improve soil structure and guarantee long-term soil stability, etc.

The project for the extraction and application of sapropel fertilizers was developed by researchers at the Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IOBAS).

The researchers, as cited by Darik radio, point out that sapropel sediments are practically inexhaustible.

According to the oceanologists, the sapropel sediments accumulated at the sea floor are a product of the mass dying of plankton biomass as a result of the Flood.

The project took 30 years to complete.

The qualities of sapropel-based fertilizers were confirmed through tests at three specialized institutes.

According to Prof. Petko Dimitrov, oceanologist at the IOBAS, sapropel-based fertilizers are sometimes better than artificial fertilizers.

Sapropel sediments can also be used in the production of hydro, thermal, electric, and noise insulation plates, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, and balneology.

Sapropel sediments can be extracted from a depth of 1500-2200 meters below sea surface and the process is not harmful to the marine environment.

A ton of sapropel-based fertilizers has been estimated to cost USD 200-250.

Prof. Dimitrov hopes the project can be implemented with EU funding under the Black Sea program.

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