Synthetic fertilizer is one of the most essential
and needed items for growing healthy crops. But what happens when synthetic
fertilizers become increasingly expensive, are detrimental to human health and damage
the environment?
Thanks to a $4
million National Science Foundation award, South Dakota Mines, along with South
Dakota State University, North Dakota State University and Sitting Bull College,
will be working to develop a more environmentally friendly microbial
fertilizer. The innovation will utilize biopolymer beads encapsulated by the biofertilizer
for controlled release, replacing traditional ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer.
“There are adverse impacts of excessive chemical
fertilizer use,” mentioned Dr. Prasoon Diwakar, assistant professor of mechanical
engineering at South Dakota Mines. “This underscores the necessity for
solutions that are both climate-friendly and environmentally sustainable.”
As part of the collaboration, microbiologists in the
Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Mines
will be responsible for creating the right microbial consortia. The mechanical
engineering department will develop sensors that can measure the performance of
the soil, the new fertilizer, its impact on soil and the gasses released by the
fertilizer. The project will also utilize drones photograph the fields where
the tests are being conducted.
“I believe the
drones will be very useful,” Diwakar said. “Students have already started
working on the drones and the sensors in addition to machine learning to comb
through all of this information. Through what they develop, team will be able
to assess the impact of the fertilizers and see how it’s affecting the soil
health and the plant health in the future.”
This research
is very pertinent to citizens of South Dakota as the state spends roughly $1
billion on fertilizers annually, said Dr. Rajesh Sani, a professor in the Karen
M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and in the
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences at Mines. A good crop
yield is vitally important to the state’s economy, he said, but fertilizers
currently in use pose significant environmental impacts.
“This initiative
also aligns with the growth of biomanufacturing in the state,” noted Dr. Tanvi
Govil, chemical and biological engineering assistant professor.
"Training
and educating the workforce, especially in South Dakota, about the
multidisciplinary aspect of this project is crucial," emphasized Diwakar.
"We need a to develop workforce capacity in precision agriculture."
Zach Karg, a mechanical engineering graduate student;
Navdeep Kaur, a chemical engineering graduate student; Ava Hermes, an
undergraduate mechanical engineering student; and Carson Daly, also a
mechanical engineering undergraduate student, will also be involved in the
study and the development of these biofertilizers.
“These are microbes with plant growth promotion
(PGP) traits could replace chemical fertilizers,” Kaur said. She said she’s
passionate about this research because of its environmental ramifications.
The mechanical engineering students are excited to
leverage their expertise in developing sensors and drones, which could
contribute to the improvement of soil health and monitor the performance of
microbial biofertilizers.
“From a mechanical engineering standpoint, it’s
important to add more technology like this to help the environment,” Hermes
said.
Daly, along with Karg, said he comes from a farming
background, and he’s seen all the testing that’s required to make sure the
levels of nitrogen in the soil are at a healthy level.
“If we’re able to manufacture something here at this
level that’s going to improve the environmental impact of fertilizers, that’s a
win-win,” he said.
Karg agrees.
“I’ve seen firsthand the overuse of nitrogen in
fields, trying to increase the yield of corn and wheat,” Karg said.
Karg said if the researchers can use a fertilizer
that is better for the environment and increases crop yield, then they could
make a large impact on environmental health 10 to 20 years down the road.