A brief discussion on the key role of extrusion in the organic fertilizer industry

In organic fertilizer production lines, there’s a seemingly simple yet crucial process: extrusion granulation. It transforms loose, uneven powdered organic raw materials into uniform, solid granules. This isn’t just a change in form; it’s a crucial step in improving the quality and modernizing the development of organic fertilizer.

Although rich in nutrients, unprocessed powdered organic fertilizer faces numerous challenges in practical application. First, its low density and bulk increase storage and transportation costs. Second, during application, powdered fertilizer is easily dispersed by the wind, resulting in fertilizer loss and environmental pollution. Extrusion technology specifically addresses these issues.

The extrusion process applies tremendous pressure to a fertilizer granulator, forcing the fine fertilizer powder through a specialized die, where it is squeezed into uniform, high-density, and strong granules.

The widespread adoption of extrusion granulation technology marks a significant shift in the organic fertilizer industry from extensive to refined, and from traditional to modern. This enables the standardization and commercialization of organic fertilizer products, shedding their image as “earth-based fertilizer” and making them more readily accepted and trusted by large-scale farms and specialized agricultural practitioners.

In short, these tiny fertilizer pellets embody not only rich organic matter but also the wisdom of modern processing technology. Extrusion molding, as a core component, continues to provide solid technical support for improving quality, increasing efficiency, and promoting green development in the organic fertilizer industry.

Small pellets, big impact: The evolution of organic fertilizer through granulation

In organic fertilizer production, granulation is more than just a cosmetic enhancement. Its primary purpose lies in practicality. Powdered organic fertilizers have a low density and are bulky, taking up a lot of space during storage and transportation. They are also prone to generating dust, leading to nutrient loss and environmental pollution. Granulation compacts the material, significantly reducing its volume, making long-distance transportation and economical storage possible.

More importantly, granulation profoundly impacts the ease and efficiency of fertilization. Uniform granules facilitate mechanized spreading, adapting to the operational needs of modern large-scale farms. Furthermore, their compact structure regulates the release rate of nutrients into the soil, preventing rapid decomposition and providing a more stable and long-lasting nutritional supply for crops.

So, how are various agricultural and forestry wastes transformed into uniform granules? Currently, mainstream granulation processes, such as disc granulators and double roller press granulators, each have their own advantages.

The advancement of granulation technology, from dusty powder fertilizer to uniform, uniform granules, is a significant step toward the modernization and standardization of traditional organic fertilizers. It has transformed organic fertilizer from a traditional “homegrown” method into a standardized commodity that can be integrated into modern agricultural production systems. These tiny granules embody the industry’s unwavering pursuit of efficiency, environmental protection, and practicality.

New type organic fertilizer granulator: Core equipment for efficient organic fertilizer conversion

With the development of organic agriculture, the diversification and high moisture content of organic fertilizer raw materials (such as straw, livestock and poultry manure, and mushroom residue) have driven technological upgrades in new type organic fertilizer granulators. Their optimized design, tailored to the characteristics of these raw materials, has significantly improved production efficiency and the quality of the finished product.

The new type organic fertilizer granulator features a new raw material conditioning system and an anti-sticking device. The conditioning system precisely controls the addition of steam or warm water to adjust the high-moisture organic fertilizer raw materials to a suitable moisture content for granulation (40%-50%), preventing clumping and loose granules. The anti-sticking device sprays a special wear-resistant coating on the inner wall of the granulation chamber, reducing the stickiness of the organic fertilizer raw materials and reducing cleaning frequency.

In terms of workflow, pre-treated organic fertilizer raw materials first enter the conditioning system for humidity and temperature adjustment before being transported to the granulation chamber. The spiral or extrusion mechanism within the granulation chamber mechanically compresses the raw materials into granules. The granules are then trimmed to a uniform size by a cutting device before entering a cooling system for final shaping.

The core value of the new type organic fertilizer granulator lies in its ability to efficiently process highly viscous and high-moisture organic fertilizer raw materials. The resulting granules are high in strength and water-solubility, while also reducing raw material waste. This equipment provides support for large-scale, high-quality production in the organic fertilizer industry.

Rotary drum granulator: The core “Shaping” equipment in fertilizer production

In fertilizer processing, the rotary drum granulator is a key piece of equipment for converting powder into granules. Its stable performance makes it a common choice for most fertilizer production scenarios.

Structurally, the core of a rotary drum granulator consists of an inclined drum, a drive system, a spray device, and a heating and insulation layer. The drum’s tilt angle can be adjusted based on the characteristics of the raw material, typically controlled at 3°-5°. This ensures adequate tumbling of the raw material while preventing the granules from clumping due to prolonged dwell time. The drive system drives the drum at a constant speed of 10-20 rpm via gears or belts, ensuring a stable and controllable granulation process.

During operation, mixed fertilizer raw materials enter the drum through the feed inlet. As the drum rotates, the raw materials continuously tumble and collide within the drum. Simultaneously, a spray device applies an appropriate amount of binder to the raw materials, gradually agglomerating them into small granules. The heating and insulation layer maintains the temperature inside the drum within an optimal range, helping the granules quickly solidify and form. Finally, the formed fertilizer granules are discharged from the discharge port and enter the subsequent screening and cooling stages.

This rotary drum granulator’s advantage lies in its wide adaptability. Whether it’s nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, organic fertilizer, or biological fertilizer, efficient granulation can be achieved by adjusting parameters. The highly uniform granulation and moderate granule strength facilitate subsequent storage and transportation, providing equipment support for the large-scale advancement of fertilizer production.

Double roller press granulators: A key force driving green upgrades in the fertilizer industry

The application of double roller press granulators(fertilizer compaction machines) is reshaping the fertilizer production landscape in multiple dimensions and becoming a crucial support for sustainable agricultural development. Their most significant value lies in their waste resource utilization, transforming organic waste such as livestock and poultry manure and straw into granular fertilizer, significantly reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers.

On the production side, this double roller press granulator offers particularly outstanding environmental advantages. The ambient temperature granulation process eliminates the need for fuel oil or gas drying, eliminating the three wastes emitted throughout the process and eliminating the secondary pollution associated with traditional composting. Furthermore, granulation results in a more uniform nutrient distribution and optimal bulkiness in the fertilizer, increasing plant absorption by over 15% compared to traditional bulk fertilizers and reducing dust loss during transportation and storage.

Equally crucial is its industrial adaptability: A single unit can be used for small production lines, or it can be combined into large-scale units with an hourly output of 50 tons, flexibly meeting diverse scale requirements. From rare earth fertilizers and potash fertilizers to bio-organic fertilizers, double roller press granulators can accommodate a wide range of formulations and even fills a technological gap in the granulation of some specialty compound fertilizers. This combination of flexibility and environmental protection accelerates the transformation of traditional fertilizer production towards green and efficient production.

BB fertilizer mixers: Key equipment for ensuring uniform nutrient distribution in blended fertilizers

In BB fertilizer (blended fertilizer) production, the BB fertilizer mixer is a key piece of equipment that determines product quality. Its core function is to evenly blend multiple raw materials of varying density and particle size into a nutrient-consistent fertilizer, directly impacting subsequent fertilization effectiveness.

In terms of equipment structure, mainstream BB fertilizer mixers mostly adopt a closed-cylinder design with an internal mixing assembly. The cylinder is typically positioned horizontally, with the mixing assembly driven by a motor. Some BB fertilizer mixers also feature forward and reverse rotation to reduce residual material in the cylinder. The feed inlet is typically located at the top of the cylinder, and the discharge outlet at the bottom. Some models feature an observation window for easily monitoring the mixing status.

During operation, raw materials such as urea, monoammonium phosphate, and potassium chloride are introduced into the mixing cylinder according to the formulated ratio. The rotating mixing assembly propels the raw materials: the screw conveys the raw materials from both ends toward the center, the paddles shear and stir the raw materials, and the guide plates facilitate convection, ensuring full contact between raw materials with density differences of 30%-50%. The entire process does not require the addition of adhesives, and mechanical force is used to achieve “small particles filling gaps and large particles colliding with each other”, ultimately achieving a uniform mixing effect.

Windrow compost turning machines: Breaking site constraints and adapting to flexible fermentation

The core of aerobic fermentation of organic fertilizers lies in uniform oxygen supply and temperature-controlled composting. The site adaptability of compost turning equipment directly determines fermentation efficiency and production flexibility. Windrow compost turning machines, with their trackless mobility and all-terrain adaptability, are a perfect fit for the diverse fermentation scenarios in the fertilizer industry.

From a structural perspective, the core advantage of windrow compost turning machines lies in the synergy between their crawler chassis and flexible turning mechanism. Their wide rubber tracks provide a large contact area and low ground pressure, preventing the vehicle from getting stuck even in muddy composting areas or gravel surfaces after rain, eliminating the need for pre-leveling. The chassis’ steering system supports 360° steering, making it easy to navigate obstacles such as raw material piles and equipment around the fermentation area.

In terms of the turning mechanism, most windrow compost turning machines are equipped with double-auger or blade-type turning components, capable of turning compost up to 1.2-2 meters deep and covering compost piles up to 3-5 meters wide. During operation, the equipment slowly moves along the fermentation pile. The turning components throw the bottom material upward and disperse it to the sides, creating a “rolling up and down, mixing side to side” effect. This not only provides sufficient oxygen for aerobic bacteria but also quickly dissipates the heat generated by fermentation.

For fertilizer companies, the value of a windrow compost turning machine lies not only in its flexibility but also in its ability to accommodate multiple fermentation batches. For example, the same site can simultaneously process both a “fresh feed pile” and a “mature compost pile,” allowing the equipment to flexibly switch between different piles, resulting in fermentation efficiency improvements of over 30% compared to track-type compost turners.

Fertilizer granulators: How to adapt to the special production requirements of functional fertilizers?

As the fertilizer industry upgrades toward “precision and functionalization,” demand for functional fertilizers such as slow-release fertilizers, biofertilizers, and trace element compound fertilizers has surged. The production of these fertilizers places special demands on granulators, balancing functional retention and granule formation.

For slow-release fertilizer production, fertilizer granulators must meet the dual requirements of “granule formation” and subsequent coating. For example, when producing sulfur-coated slow-release fertilizers, the granulation process requires producing base granules with a smooth surface and uniform hardness. The “rolling forming” feature of a rotary drum granulator is perfectly suited for this purpose. By controlling the drum speed (8-12 rpm) and the amount of binder used, the granules are naturally rounded and smooth. Some granulators also feature a “pre-cooling section” at the discharge port to reduce the granule temperature to below 30°C, paving the way for subsequent coating and preventing the coating material from melting and becoming ineffective due to high temperatures.

For compound fertilizers containing trace elements, fertilizer granulators must address the issue of uneven trace element distribution. These fertilizers contain low concentrations of trace elements such as zinc, boron, and iron. Inhomogeneous mixing can lead to nutrient deficiencies in some granules. In this case, the low-speed extrusion design of a flat die granulator is optimal. After thoroughly mixing the trace elements with the base raw materials in a twin-shaft premixer, the low-speed rollers slowly extrude the granules into shape, minimizing material separation and ensuring a trace element content variation of ≤0.1% per granule, thus preventing functional deficiencies.

For biofertilizers, the granulator’s low-temperature performance is crucial. Flat die and disc granulators utilize a low-friction, no-high-temperature extrusion design to maintain a temperature within the granulation chamber below 40°C, ensuring the survival rate of the microbial inoculant.

New type organic fertilizer granulator: Empowering green production in the fertilizer industry

Amid the rise of ecological agriculture and the continued surge in demand for organic fertilizer, new type organic fertilizer granulators, leveraging technological innovations from traditional equipment, have become key equipment for the fertilizer industry, addressing challenges in organic fertilizer granulation and promoting green production.

The most prominent advantage of the new type organic fertilizer granulator is its adaptability to organic fertilizer raw materials. Organic fertilizer raw materials, primarily derived from livestock and poultry manure, straw, and food waste, often exhibit large moisture fluctuations, high fiber content, and prone to clumping. By optimizing the conditioning system and granulation structure, the new equipment can flexibly adjust the raw material moisture and temperature. This allows for uniform granulation even with high-moisture, high-fiber raw materials, significantly improving granulation efficiency and effectively reducing raw material waste.

The new type organic fertilizer granulator is also known for its “green and efficient” design. By upgrading its transmission system and adding a dust collection device, the new equipment achieves low energy consumption and low pollution while improving production efficiency.

Furthermore, the new type organic fertilizer granulator can help enhance the competitiveness of organic fertilizer products. The organic fertilizer particles it produces have uniform density, moderate hardness, and are not easy to break; more importantly, the low-temperature granulation process of the new equipment can maximize the retention of beneficial microorganisms and active ingredients in the organic fertilizer, ensuring a longer-lasting fertilizer effect.

Fertilizer granulators contribute to efficient agricultural development

With the agriculture and fertilizer industries deeply intertwined, fertilizer form directly impacts fertilization effectiveness and industry efficiency. As the core equipment connecting fertilizer raw materials and finished products, fertilizer granulators are becoming a key driver of industry upgrades.

Fertilizer granulators transform powdered raw materials into uniform fertilizer granules through processes such as physical extrusion and conditioning. These granulated fertilizers are not only highly stable, making them suitable for long-term storage and long-distance transportation, but also enable a slow release of nutrients, extending the fertilizer’s effective lifespan and enabling more efficient crop absorption, thereby boosting agricultural production returns from the source.

Furthermore, the adaptability of fertilizer granulators meets the diverse needs of the industry. Whether producing organic fertilizers, compound fertilizers, or customized fertilizers for specific crops, the equipment can adapt to different raw material ratios by adjusting parameters. More importantly, modern fertilizer granulators continuously optimize energy efficiency, improving production efficiency while reducing energy consumption.

For fertilizer companies, fertilizer granulators are a powerful tool for enhancing product competitiveness. Against the backdrop of growing demand for high-efficiency fertilizers in agriculture, fertilizer granulators will undoubtedly drive fertilizer production towards greater efficiency, higher quality, and greater environmental protection.