fertilizer production line

Raw Materials for NPK Blending: Composition and Quality Requirements

NPK blending, a crucial process in fertilizer production, involves mixing pre-manufactured solid fertilizer particles to create customized nutrient formulations tailored to specific soil and crop needs. Unlike synthetic NPK production that involves chemical reactions, the raw materials for NPK blending are finished granules or prills that undergo no further chemical transformation. These materials are systematically categorized based on the nutrients they provide, supplemented by additives and fillers to optimize performance. Understanding the composition of these raw materials and their quality requirements is essential for producing effective, stable NPK blends.

The core raw materials for NPK blending are classified by their primary nutrient contribution: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen sources form the foundation of many blends, with urea being the most widely used due to its high nitrogen content (46%), making it cost-effective and efficient for boosting foliage growth. Ammonium sulfate is a popular alternative, especially for sulfur-deficient soils, as it provides both nitrogen and sulfur. Ammonium nitrate, though common for its high nutrient density, requires careful handling due to safety considerations. Ammonium chloride serves as another nitrogen source option in pellet form, suitable for specific crop and soil conditions.

Phosphorus sources often double as dual-nutrient ingredients, enhancing the versatility of blends. Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) is a staple, offering both nitrogen and a high concentration of phosphorus, ideal for supporting root development and reproductive growth. Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) is another widely used dual-nutrient granular material, valued for its stable properties and balanced nutrient ratio. For phosphorus-focused formulations, Triple Superphosphate (TSP) provides a concentrated phosphorus supply, while Single Superphosphate (SSP) offers lower phosphorus levels alongside additional sulfur, addressing multiple nutrient needs simultaneously.

Potassium sources are selected based on cost and crop sensitivity. Muriate of Potash (MOP), or potassium chloride, is the most common and economical option, providing roughly 60% potassium. However, for chloride-sensitive crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and citrus fruits, Sulfate of Potash (SOP) is preferred, as it delivers potassium without the harmful effects of chloride, ensuring crop health and quality.

To address specific soil deficiencies and improve overall plant health, blenders frequently incorporate secondary and micronutrients. Secondary nutrients include magnesium sulfate (kieserite), which supports chlorophyll formation; gypsum (calcium sulfate), which enhances soil structure and provides calcium; and dolomitic limestone, which regulates soil pH while supplying calcium and magnesium. Micronutrients, added in trace amounts, are critical for balanced plant growth, with common options including zinc, iron, manganese, boron, and copper—each playing a unique role in enzyme function and nutrient uptake.

Additives and fillers are essential for fine-tuning NPK blends and improving their physical properties. Fillers such as limestone, dolomite, and bentonite adjust the final product’s weight to meet target NPK ratios and regulate soil pH, ensuring compatibility with different growing environments. Coating agents are applied to prevent moisture absorption and clumping, enhancing the storage stability and handling efficiency of the blend, which is particularly important for bulk transportation and long-term storage.

Critical quality factors ensure the effectiveness of NPK blends, with physical compatibility being paramount. All raw material granules must be roughly the same size (typically 2–4mm) to prevent segregation during transport and application, ensuring uniform nutrient distribution. Moisture content is another key requirement—materials must be dry to avoid unwanted chemical reactions, clumping, or nutrient loss in the mix. These quality standards guarantee that the final blend performs consistently, delivering the intended nutrient benefits to crops.

In summary, NPK blending relies on a diverse range of finished fertilizer particles, secondary nutrients, micronutrients, and additives. The careful selection and combination of these raw materials, based on nutrient needs and physical compatibility, enable the production of customized blends that support sustainable agriculture. By adhering to strict quality requirements and tailoring formulations to specific soil and crop conditions, NPK blending ensures that plants receive balanced nutrition, maximizing yields and promoting long-term soil health.

From Blending to Integrated Granulation Production

The physical blending of pre-granulated materials is executed using specialized equipment like a npk bulk blending machine or a standard npk blending machine. These machines, which are essentially high-capacity fertilizer mixer machine units, homogenize different granular components without chemical change, relying on the uniform size and moisture of the raw materials. This process is distinct from the integrated npk fertilizer manufacturing process that involves chemical granulation. For producing chemically homogeneous NPK granules from raw powders, the industry relies on advanced npk fertilizer production technology, which centers on an npk granulation machine.

This granulation stage is the core of a complete npk fertilizer production line. The npk granulation machine technology can vary, commonly utilizing a rotary drum or pan agglomeration process where a liquid binder is sprayed onto tumbling powder. The entire suite of npk fertilizer granulator machine equipment, including mixers, granulators, dryers, and coolers, transforms raw materials into uniform, durable pellets. While a bulk blending fertilizer machine creates a physical mixture, the sophisticated npk fertilizer machine for chemical granulation creates a single, integrated granule where all nutrients are fused together, often resulting in better physical properties and nutrient synchronization.

Therefore, the choice between using blending equipment or a full granulation line depends on the desired product characteristics, raw material availability, and investment scale. Both are essential npk fertilizer production technology pathways serving different market segments within the compound fertilizer industry.

30,000-Ton Extrusion Granulation Production Line in Malaysia

Springtime brings good news. In March 2025, Zhengzhou Huaqiang Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Huaqiang Heavy Industry”) successfully completed the installation and commissioning of a 30,000-ton extrusion granulation production line project tailored for a Malaysian client, officially entering the production phase. The successful completion of this project not only demonstrates Huaqiang Heavy Industry’s core strength in fertilizer equipment manufacturing but also signifies the continued improvement in the company’s product recognition in overseas markets, adding another bright spot to the “going global” strategy of China’s equipment manufacturing industry.

As a modern enterprise integrating R&D, production, sales, and after-sales service, Huaqiang Heavy Industry has always focused on the innovation and upgrading of complete sets of equipment for organic fertilizer and bio-organic fertilizer. With strong technical capabilities, a highly qualified workforce, and a professional CAD design center, the company can provide global clients with comprehensive one-stop services, from plant design, process improvement, equipment manufacturing to installation and commissioning, and formula optimization. For this Malaysian project, the client, based on local fertilizer production needs and raw material characteristics, specifically requested the construction of a highly efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly extrusion granulation production line. Huaqiang Heavy Industry, leveraging its extensive project experience and customized service capabilities, successfully won the client’s trust and cooperation.

To ensure the smooth progress of the project, Huaqiang Heavy Industry assembled a professional project team, rigorously controlling every step from initial communication and solution design to equipment production and on-site installation. The extrusion granulation production line features a scientifically sound configuration. Its core equipment consists of four 2.0-meter extrusion granulators, coupled with a 120×250-meter double-screw horizontal mixer, a granulator feed buffer silo, and a 1.5×4.0-meter drum screen, among other key equipment. Efficient material transfer is achieved through belt conveyors of different specifications (2.14 meters, 4 meters, and 9 meters), while 7-meter and 9-meter return conveyors form a closed-loop production system, effectively improving raw material utilization and product qualification rates. The production line also incorporates core technologies from Huaqiang Heavy Industry’s self-developed multi-functional compound fertilizer equipment, boasting significant advantages such as compact structure, small footprint, reliable operation, and low dust entrainment, fully meeting Malaysia’s stringent environmental protection requirements.

During project implementation, Huaqiang Heavy Industry’s technical team transcended national borders, overcoming numerous challenges including geographical differences and complex construction environments. They provided on-site professional installation, commissioning, and technical guidance services, ensuring the production line was successfully put into operation according to the established timeline. During trial operation, all performance indicators of the production line met or exceeded customer expectations, demonstrating high material processing efficiency, excellent pelletizing effect, and stable product quality, earning high praise from the customer. “Huaqiang Heavy Industry’s equipment is not only technologically advanced, but their after-sales service is also very thorough. They follow up throughout the entire process from scheme design to implementation and commissioning, giving us no worries,” a customer representative said during the production line acceptance.

Zhengzhou Huaqiang Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd.’s products already cover all parts of China. The success of this Malaysian extrusion granulation production line project represents another significant breakthrough in the company’s overseas market expansion. The company’s main products include ground-mounted compost turners, trough-type compost turners, crushers, dryers, coolers, screening machines, packaging machines, and customized organic fertilizer production lines ranging from 10,000 to 500,000 tons. These products have provided effective solutions for the harmless treatment of organic waste to numerous organic and inorganic bio-fertilizer plants and wastewater treatment plants worldwide. In recent years, some of the company’s products have been exported to multiple countries and regions, earning a good reputation in overseas markets thanks to reliable quality, advanced technology, and comprehensive after-sales service.

Adhering to a market-oriented approach, seeking development through innovation, striving for survival through quality, and gaining customer trust through comprehensive after-sales service are the core principles that Huaqiang Heavy Industry has always upheld. The successful commissioning of the Malaysian extrusion granulation production line project has not only accumulated valuable experience in implementing large-scale overseas projects for the company but also laid a solid foundation for future expansion into the global market. In the future, Huaqiang Heavy Industry will continue to deepen its focus on fertilizer equipment manufacturing, continuously increase investment in research and development, constantly enhance the core competitiveness of its products and its customized service capabilities, actively expand into overseas markets, and provide more international customers with high-quality complete sets of equipment and professional services, allowing “Made in China” to shine even brighter on the global stage.

Versatile Equipment for Diverse Fertilizer Production Needs

This successful Malaysian project exemplifies Huaqiang Heavy Industry’s expertise in extrusion granulation, a process centered on fertilizer granules compaction. The roller press granulator production line utilizes a high-pressure fertilizer compactor to form granules, which is a distinct technology within the broader npk fertilizer manufacturing process and organic fertilizer production. Beyond extrusion, the company’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of fertilizer production machine technology. For conventional npk manufacturing process involving wet granulation, a rotary drum granulator is often the core fertilizer processing machine.

The complete suite of equipments required for biofertilizer production extends further upstream. It includes aerobic fermentation equipment such as a large wheel compost turning machine for open windrows or a chain compost turning machine for efficient mixing. Following granulation, whether by extrusion or disc (as in an organic fertilizer disc granulation production line), a rotary screener is a critical fertilizer production machine for grading finished pellets. This diverse technological arsenal allows Huaqiang Heavy Industry to provide tailored solutions for every stage of fertilizer compaction and production.

Therefore, a manufacturer’s capability lies not in a single machine, but in mastering and integrating multiple production pathways—from composting and blending to various granulation and finishing technologies—to meet the specific formulation, capacity, and quality requirements of clients worldwide.

We warmly welcome people from all walks of life to visit us, provide guidance, and discuss business with us, joining hands to create a new future for green agricultural development!

Applications and Performance of Bucket Elevators

In numerous industries such as mining, building materials production, chemical processing, and grain storage, vertical material lifting is a crucial link connecting different production stages. As a mechanical device specifically designed for the continuous vertical conveying of bulk materials, the bucket elevator, with its unique bucket-type conveying structure, can efficiently lift bulk or small-piece materials such as coal, ore, cement, and grain from low to high places, becoming a core piece of equipment in industrial production for bridging vertical heights and optimizing material flow. Its continuous and stable lifting capacity solves the problem of conveying materials with high drops, providing reliable vertical conveying guarantees for large-scale production.

The stable and efficient operation of the bucket elevator relies on a scientifically sound structural design, with each core component working in tandem to form a complete lifting system. The buckets (barrels) are the core components that carry the materials, and their shape and size are precisely designed according to the material characteristics—deep buckets are used for granular materials, while shallow buckets or buckets with pointed bottoms are used for powdery materials, ensuring stable loading and thorough unloading. The traction component comes in two types: chain and belt. It connects the buckets and provides lifting power. The chain type is suitable for heavy-duty and high-temperature conditions, while the belt type is suitable for conveying lightweight materials. The drive unit consists of a motor, reducer, and drive sprocket (or drive roller), providing stable driving force to the traction component. The speed is adjusted by the reducer to adapt to different lifting rhythms. The feed inlet is located at the bottom of the equipment, facilitating smooth material entry into the buckets; the discharge outlet is located at the top, ensuring accurate discharge of the lifted material. The support and frame provide stable structural support for the entire equipment, resisting vibration and load during the lifting process and ensuring stable operation. The tensioning device can flexibly adjust the tension of the traction component to prevent slippage or slack during operation; guiding devices such as guide wheels and guide rails guide the buckets to rise and fall smoothly along a fixed trajectory, preventing deviation and collision.

The bucket elevator operates on a simple and efficient principle, achieving continuous conveying through a cyclical process of “loading-lifting-unloading-returning.” During operation, material first enters the waiting hopper through the bottom feed inlet, completing the loading process. Then, the drive unit starts, using a traction component to propel the hopper smoothly upwards along the guide rail or groove, with the material rising synchronously. During this process, the enclosed lifting space effectively prevents material spillage. When the hopper reaches the upper part of the equipment, it automatically tilts under gravity or centrifugal force, emptying the material through the discharge port to a designated location. The empty hopper then returns along the other guide rail to the bottom feed inlet, ready for the next loading cycle. The entire process is continuous and uninterrupted, ensuring both lifting efficiency and orderly material transfer.

The unique structure and working principle give bucket elevators many significant advantages, making them adaptable to the vertical conveying needs of various industries. High lifting height is its core competitive advantage, enabling it to achieve significant vertical lifting heights, perfectly suited for conveying scenarios requiring traversing large height differences, such as high-rise buildings and elevated silos. With outstanding high-efficiency lifting capacity, bucket elevators achieve highly efficient vertical material transfer through continuous bucket circulation, far exceeding the efficiency of traditional vertical conveying equipment and adapting to large-scale production rhythms. They are highly adaptable, handling various bulk or small-piece materials such as coal, ore, cement, and grain. By changing the bucket type and traction components, they can flexibly adapt to different material characteristics and operating conditions. Excellent sealing performance is another major highlight; the enclosed lifting channel effectively reduces material loss and dust emission, making it particularly suitable for dust-sensitive industries such as chemicals and grain processing. The vertical layout makes it compact, occupying only 1/5 to 1/3 of the floor space of horizontal conveying equipment, greatly saving space and making it suitable for production environments with limited space. Furthermore, the equipment structure is relatively simple, core components are easy to inspect and replace, daily maintenance is convenient, and long-term operating costs are low.

From ore lifting in mines to cement transfer in building material plants, from raw material transportation in chemical plants to grain storage in grain warehouses, bucket elevators, with their core advantages of high efficiency, stability, and compactness, provide strong support for vertical material conveying in various industries. Against the backdrop of industrial production transforming towards intensification and efficiency, this core equipment focused on vertical conveying not only optimizes the production process layout and improves production efficiency, but also aligns with the development trend of environmentally friendly production, becoming an important basic equipment for promoting the upgrading of material conveying systems in various industries.

Material Flow and Granulation in Fertilizer Manufacturing

Bucket elevators are a quintessential example of the essential conveying equipment in fertilizer production line. They form a vital link within a complete professional fertilizer manufacturing equipment setup, vertically transferring raw materials like crushed ore, powdered fertilizers, or pre-processed compost between different stages. For instance, in an npk fertilizer production process, a bucket elevator may lift blended powder from a npk bulk blending machine to the feed hopper of a granulator. Similarly, in an organic fertilizer production line, it can convey cured compost from a windrow composting machine (or windrow machine) to the granulation unit.

This reliable vertical transport enables efficient feeding into the core shaping equipment. The material may be directed to a disc granulator (part of a disc granulation production line), where the disc granulator for shaping forms spherical pellets. Alternatively, it could feed a double roller press granulator in a roller press granulator production line for compaction granulation, or even a flat die pelleting machine. These fertilizer raw material processing machinery and equipment units—whether for an npk fertilizer production line or a bio organic fertilizer production line—rely on seamless material handling to ensure continuous, high-volume output.

Therefore, the integration of robust conveying systems like bucket elevators with specialized granulators such as the disc granulator machine is fundamental. It creates a synchronized, automated flow that maximizes the efficiency of the entire fertilizer manufacturing operation, from raw material intake to finished product dispatch.

Chemical Pretreatment Methods for Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches: A Key Pathway to Unlocking Lignocellulose Value

In the context of energy and materials transformation, the high-value utilization of lignocellulosic waste has become a research hotspot. Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), as a major byproduct of the oil palm industry, have great development potential due to their rich lignocellulosic components that can be converted into biofuels or cellulose fibers. However, the complex three-dimensional structure of lignocellulose, particularly the content and distribution of lignin, greatly limits its degradation efficiency. Therefore, pretreatment is a crucial step in unlocking its value. Various pretreatment methods exist for oil palm empty fruit bunches, encompassing biological, physical, chemical, and physicochemical approaches. Among these, chemical pretreatment, due to its stable delignification efficiency and wide applicability, has become the most commonly used technical route.  It mainly includes alkaline pretreatment, dilute acid pretreatment, and organic solvent delignification. Different methods have their own characteristics, and combinations of multiple methods can achieve efficient delignification.

Alkaline pretreatment is one of the most widely used methods in the chemical pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunches. Its core principle is to break the ester bonds between lignin and hemicellulose using alkaline reagents, promoting the depolymerization and dissolution of lignin, while simultaneously removing some hemicellulose. This exposes the cellulose structure and improves the accessibility for subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. Commonly used alkaline reagents include sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide is particularly suitable because it aligns with the high potassium content of oil palm empty fruit bunches, enabling nutrient recycling. The advantages of this method are relatively mild reaction conditions, minimal damage to cellulose, and good preservation of the target product yield, making it suitable for large-scale application in biofuel production.

Dilute acid pretreatment, on the other hand, focuses on breaking down hemicellulose, indirectly achieving an auxiliary delignification effect. Using dilute acids such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid under heating conditions, hemicellulose can be rapidly hydrolyzed to produce pentose sugars, disrupting the integrity of the lignocellulosic structure and loosening the bond between lignin and cellulose, facilitating subsequent separation. The outstanding features of this method are its fast reaction rate, significant improvement in raw material digestibility, and lower reagent costs, making it suitable for processes that prioritize the recovery of hemicellulose. However, it should be noted that dilute acids may cause corrosion to the equipment, and excessive acid can damage the cellulose structure; therefore, reaction conditions need to be strictly controlled.

Organic solvent delignification is a highly selective pretreatment method that uses organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone to selectively dissolve lignin under certain temperatures and pressures, achieving efficient separation of lignin from cellulose and hemicellulose. The advantages of this method include high delignification efficiency, the ability to recover high-purity lignin byproducts, and minimal damage to cellulose and hemicellulose, which is beneficial for the subsequent preparation of high-quality cellulose fibers or bio-based chemicals. However, the high cost of organic solvent recovery and the toxicity and flammability of some solvents limit its large-scale application, and it is currently more often used in the research and development of high-value-added products.

Single chemical pretreatment methods often have limitations; for example, alkaline pretreatment has limited effectiveness in removing hemicellulose, and dilute acid pretreatment can easily damage cellulose. Therefore, combining different chemical methods, or combining them with physical and biological methods, can achieve complementary advantages and significantly improve delignification efficiency. For example, removing hemicellulose with dilute acid first, followed by alkaline pretreatment to remove lignin, can significantly improve the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis effect. In the future, by optimizing pretreatment process parameters and developing green and environmentally friendly chemical reagents, the chemical pretreatment technology of oil palm empty fruit bunches will develop towards efficiency, low cost, and sustainability, laying a solid foundation for its high-value utilization.

From Pretreatment to Pellet: The Fertilizer Production Pathway

Following effective chemical pretreatment, OPEFB becomes a valuable carbon-rich component for organic fertilizer. To be integrated into a commercial organic fertilizer manufacturing system, the processed fibers often require composting. This can be efficiently managed using a large wheel compost turning machine or a chain compost turning machine to aerate windrows, ensuring thorough biological stabilization. Once cured, this compost forms the base material for the granulation stage, a critical phase of organic fertilizer production granulation. The choice of granulation technology is diverse: for spherical granules, an organic fertilizer disc granulation production line is common, while an organic fertilizer combined granulation production line might integrate multiple shaping methods.

The selection of specific fertilizer raw material processing machinery and equipment depends on the desired final product form. For dense, cylindrical pellets, a flat die press pellet machine for sale offers an efficient extrusion solution. For operations seeking space and process efficiency, a new type two in one organic fertilizer granulator that combines mixing and granulation in a single unit can be highly effective. This integrated approach ensures that pretreated lignocellulosic materials like OPEFB are transformed into consistent, easy-to-handle fertilizer products with improved nutrient delivery and soil amendment properties.

This complete pathway—from chemical delignification and composting to precision granulation—demonstrates how agricultural byproducts can be systematically upgraded into standardized, high-value organic fertilizers, contributing to a circular economy in agriculture.

How to choose the right fertilizer granulator based on your production needs?

The selection of a fertilizer granulator directly impacts production efficiency, product quality, and overall costs. The key is to match the granulator to your specific production needs. Consider key dimensions such as fertilizer type, production capacity, and finished granule requirements.

Prioritize based on fertilizer type. For organic fertilizers, rotary drum granulators or disc granulators are recommended. Both are suitable for fermented and composted organic materials such as livestock manure and straw. Rotary drum granulators are better suited for large-scale production, while disc granulators are suitable for small to medium-sized production capacities and scenarios requiring high granule uniformity. For compound fertilizers, consider rotary drum granulators or double roller press granulators. Rotary drum granulators are suitable for multi-material mixing and granulation, while double roller press granulators do not require additional water and are suitable for heat-sensitive and water-soluble raw materials.

Refine your selection based on production capacity. For small to medium capacities (50-200 tons per day), a disc granulator is a good choice due to its small footprint, simple operation, and low investment cost. For medium to large capacities (over 200 tons per day), a rotary drum granulator is recommended due to its strong continuous production capacity and high stability, and it can be integrated into a complete production line for automated operation. For small-batch trial production or processing of special materials, the flexibility of a double roller press granulator is more advantageous.

Consider finished granule requirements and costs. If high granule strength and uniform particle size are required, rotary drum granulators and double roller press granulators perform better; for high granule roundness requirements, a disc granulator is the preferred choice. Also consider energy consumption and environmental requirements, prioritizing models with good sealing and effective dust control to reduce future environmental investment. By considering all these dimensions, you can select a granulator that perfectly matches your production needs.

New type two in one organic fertilizer granulator: A revolution in efficiency for small and medium-sized fertilizer plants

In the field of organic fertilizer production, equipment integration has become a key trend for reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The emergence of the new type two in one organic fertilizer granulator is fundamentally changing traditional production models. This equipment, which integrates mixing and granulation functions, not only solves the problem of high material transfer losses in traditional production lines but also becomes the preferred choice for small and medium-sized fertilizer plants seeking intensive production.

Compared to single-function fertilizer granulators, the two-in-one equipment seamlessly connects the mixing and granulation stages, eliminating the need for intermediate conveying equipment. Material loss rate is reduced from the traditional 5%-8% to 1%-2%, while saving 30%-50% of floor space. Its core advantage lies in its strong adaptability; whether processing livestock and poultry manure, straw, or other organic waste, or producing bio-organic fertilizers, parameters can be flexibly adjusted through the PLC control system without requiring large-scale equipment modifications.

In terms of production efficiency, a single machine can produce 1-5 tons of granular organic fertilizer per hour, an increase of 20%-40% compared to traditional separate equipment.  The granules have a sphericity of over 85% and a strength of 10-30N, meeting the transportation and application needs of farmland and orchards. Even more noteworthy is the 15%-25% reduction in energy consumption per unit of product, reducing the number of motors and labor costs, perfectly aligning with the current pursuit of low cost and high output in fertilizer plants.

For companies planning to expand their organic fertilizer production lines, this equipment can also be integrated with NPK fertilizer production lines to process organic-inorganic compound fertilizers. Today, more and more fertilizer plants are incorporating this two-in-one granulator into their production upgrade plans, promoting the resource utilization of organic waste while injecting new impetus into the development of green agriculture.

Composting pitfall guide: Common composting mistakes and how to avoid them

Composting is the core process in the production of bio-organic fertilizers. High-quality compost relies on scientific operation and the rational use of bio-organic fertilizer composting equipment. In practice, many misconceptions can lead to composting failure and reduced fertilizer efficiency.  Understanding common mistakes and how to avoid them is crucial.

The primary mistake is an imbalance in raw material ratios. Blindly piling up a single raw material leads to an imbalance in the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, resulting in either slow decomposition or the production of foul odors. Solution: Mix raw materials at a ratio of 25:1-30:1, such as livestock manure mixed with straw, and use a fertilizer mixer to ensure thorough mixing, guaranteeing balanced nutrients and supporting microbial activity.

Improper moisture control can easily cause problems. Excessive moisture leads to oxygen deficiency and foul odors in the compost pile, while insufficient moisture results in insufficient microbial activity. Correct practice: Control the moisture content at 50%-60%, ideally when the material can be squeezed into a ball without dripping water between the fingers. Add water when dry and add dry straw to adjust moisture when too wet.

Infrequent or improper turning of the compost pile is a key problem. Lack of turning easily leads to anaerobic fermentation, while shallow turning results in uneven oxygen supply to the materials. Recommendation: After the pile temperature reaches above 60℃ and is maintained for 3-5 days, use a compost turning machine for deep turning to ensure that the materials are fully exposed to oxygen.

What is the role of screening in the organic waste treatment process?

In the entire organic waste treatment process, screening is a core pre-treatment step, requiring specialized equipment such as drum screener machine or vibration screener machine. Its core value lies in removing impurities and optimizing material characteristics through physical classification, laying a solid foundation for subsequent processes such as fermentation and resource utilization.

The primary function is to remove impurities and ensure the safe and smooth operation of equipment. Inert impurities such as stones, metals, and plastics mixed in organic waste can easily wear and clog equipment such as fermentation tanks and mixers. Precise screening with a fertilizer screener machine effectively separates impurities, reduces operating and maintenance costs, and ensures a continuous and stable treatment process.

Secondly, it involves material classification to optimize the effectiveness of subsequent processes. Organic waste of different particle sizes has significantly different fermentation efficiencies. Screening can classify materials by particle size: fine materials can fully contact microorganisms and oxygen, improving the speed and uniformity of composting; coarse materials can be returned to the crushing system for reprocessing, preventing incomplete fermentation and uneven nutrient distribution in the final product.

Furthermore, screening improves the quality of resource-recovered products. When producing organic fertilizer from organic waste, fine screening with a fertilizer screener machine removes uncomposted coarse particles and residual impurities, ensuring uniform particle size and purity of the organic fertilizer. At the same time, the materials classified by drum screener machine and vibration screener machine can be adapted to different resource utilization pathways, improving resource utilization efficiency.

In summary, screening is a crucial link connecting the pre-treatment and deep treatment of organic waste, playing an irreplaceable role in improving treatment efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring resource utilization value.

Disc granulator: A versatile core equipment for modern fertilizer production

Modern fertilizer production is transforming towards high efficiency and diversification. The organic fertilizer disc granulator, as a core organic fertilizer production equipment, has become the preferred choice for small and medium-sized organic fertilizer production lines due to its simple structure, flexible operation, and wide adaptability. It is widely used in the granulation of various organic raw materials.

Its technical characteristics precisely match modern production requirements. The equipment adopts an inclined rotating disc structure, and the particle size of 2-6 mm can be precisely controlled by adjusting the rotation speed and inclination angle. The formed granules have high sphericity and uniform strength, meeting commercial fertilizer standards. It also features low energy consumption and a small footprint, eliminating the need for complex organic fertilizer production equipment. It can be used to build simple production lines or integrated into segmented processes of large-scale production lines.

Its application scenarios are diverse, adapting to the granulation needs of various organic fertilizer production lines. For conventional raw materials such as livestock and poultry manure and straw fermentation materials, it can directly granulate without excessive pre-treatment; in organic-inorganic compound fertilizer production, it can precisely mix raw materials to achieve uniform nutrient encapsulation; for special waste residues such as mushroom residue and pharmaceutical residue, it can efficiently granulate after simple pre-treatment.

The widespread application of this equipment lowers the operating threshold for small and medium-sized organic fertilizer production lines and promotes the transformation of fertilizer production towards green and low-carbon practices. As a key organic fertilizer production equipment, it maximizes the retention of nutrients in raw materials and reduces losses. The resulting organic fertilizer is suitable for planting a variety of crops, providing crucial support for the development of ecological agriculture.

The Four Main Types of Fermentation and Their Relevance to Organic Fertilizer Production

Fermentation, a vital biochemical process driven by microorganisms, is widely applied in food production, energy generation, and agriculture. In 2026, fermentation is typically classified by its primary end products or industrial technical methods. Based on biochemical pathways, there are four main types of fermentation: lactic acid fermentation, alcoholic (ethanol) fermentation, acetic acid fermentation, and butyric acid/alkali fermentation. Beyond these well-known categories, fermentation also plays a foundational role in organic fertilizer production, converting organic wastes into nutrient-rich, plant-friendly fertilizers through microbial decomposition. Understanding these fermentation types and their agricultural applications is key to leveraging microbial activity for sustainable production.

Lactic acid fermentation is dominated by lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, which convert sugars like glucose or lactose into lactic acid. This process is anaerobic, meaning it occurs without oxygen, and the resulting lactic acid lowers the environment’s pH, inhibiting harmful microbes—making it ideal for food preservation. Its most common applications include the production of dairy products like yogurt and cheese, as well as fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles. In the human body, lactic acid fermentation also takes place in muscle cells during intense exercise when oxygen supply is insufficient, producing lactate that causes muscle fatigue. While less directly used in organic fertilizer production, lactic acid bacteria are occasionally added as probiotics to improve soil microbial balance, indirectly enhancing fertilizer efficiency.

Alcoholic (ethanol) fermentation is primarily carried out by yeasts, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or certain bacteria. These microbes break down sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in anaerobic conditions. This process is the backbone of the alcoholic beverage industry, used to make beer, wine, and spirits. In baking, the CO₂ produced causes dough to rise, creating the light texture of bread. In organic fertilizer production, alcoholic fermentation can occur during the initial decomposition of carbohydrate-rich organic wastes, such as crop straw or grain residues. However, it is often a transitional stage, as subsequent microbial communities convert ethanol and other intermediates into more stable organic compounds that serve as plant nutrients.

Unlike the previous two anaerobic processes, acetic acid fermentation is aerobic, requiring oxygen. It involves Acetobacter bacteria oxidizing ethanol into acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. This process remains critical in 2026 for food preservation and the production of fermented beverages like kombucha. In organic fertilizer production, acetic acid fermentation can occur in well-aerated compost piles or fermentation systems. The acetic acid produced helps decompose complex organic matter, such as lignin in plant residues, and adjusts the pH of the fermentation matrix, creating a favorable environment for other beneficial microbes involved in nutrient transformation. Additionally, the acidic environment can suppress pathogenic bacteria in organic wastes, improving the safety of the final organic fertilizer.

The fourth main type is context-dependent, categorized as either butyric acid fermentation or alkali fermentation. Butyric acid fermentation is performed by Clostridium bacteria, which convert sugars into butyric acid under anaerobic conditions. It is used in the production of specific cheeses and as a precursor for biofuels. Alkali fermentation, common in Asian condiments, involves the breakdown of proteins and fats into ammonia and alkaline compounds, such as in the production of natto or fermented fish. In organic fertilizer production, this category aligns with the decomposition of protein-rich organic materials, such as animal manure or food waste. Microbes like Clostridium and proteolytic bacteria break down proteins into amino acids, ammonia, and other alkaline compounds, which are then further converted into stable nitrogen-containing nutrients essential for plant growth. This process is particularly important in the fermentation of animal-derived organic wastes, transforming potentially odorous and harmful substances into safe, nutrient-dense fertilizer.

It is worth noting that in industrial manufacturing contexts, such as biofertilizer production, fermentation is also classified by physical state: submerged fermentation (SmF), where microbes grow in liquid nutrient broth, and solid-state fermentation (SSF), where microbes grow on moist solid substrates with little to no free water. SSF is particularly widely used in organic fertilizer production, utilizing solid organic wastes like crop straw, manure, and agricultural by-products as substrates. This method is cost-effective and efficient, as it directly converts bulky organic wastes into granular or powdered fertilizers, realizing resource recycling. In 2026, the application of SSF in organic fertilizer production is increasingly optimized, with locally available biomass resources being used to cultivate beneficial microbes, reducing production costs and supporting a circular bioeconomy.

In summary, the four main types of fermentation based on biochemical pathways each have unique microbial drivers, end products, and applications. Beyond food and beverage production, these fermentation processes are integral to organic fertilizer production, enabling the transformation of organic wastes into valuable agricultural inputs. By harnessing microbial activity through fermentation, the organic fertilizer industry not only addresses waste management challenges but also promotes sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Scaling Fermentation: Industrial Composting and Granulation Systems

To industrialize the organic fertilizer fermentation process and manage the complex interplay of microbial activities, specialized mechanical systems are essential. Advanced fermentation composting technology for organic fertilizer relies on equipment that ensures consistent aeration, temperature control, and homogenization. In windrow systems, a windrow composting machine or a robust chain compost turner moves along elongated piles, providing the necessary turning. For more controlled, high-intensity processing, trough-type aerobic fermentation composting technology is employed, where a trough-type compost turner or a high-capacity large wheel compost turner operates within a concrete channel, optimizing oxygen supply and accelerating decomposition. This entire mechanical framework is the cornerstone of modern fermentation composting turning technology.

Following successful fermentation, the cured compost enters the next phase of the equipments required for biofertilizer production. This includes a multiple silos single weigh static batching system for precisely blending the compost with other powdered amendments. The blended material is then shaped using fertilizer granulation technology, often via a disc granulation production line, to create uniform, market-ready pellets. The integration of efficient turning machinery—from a simple chain compost turning machine to sophisticated trough systems—with downstream processing equipment creates a seamless, scalable production chain that transforms raw organic waste into a stable, high-value agricultural input.

Thus, the biochemical principles of fermentation are physically enabled and scaled by these specialized machines. The choice of composting technology directly influences the efficiency of the microbial process, the quality of the organic base, and ultimately the performance of the final granulated biofertilizer, closing the loop in sustainable nutrient management.