Comparative Study of Green Ammonia in fertilizers

Application of the sustainable green ammonia from cattle manure, green ammonia and commercially available ammonia fertilizers for effective crop yield, nutrient retention and economic viability studies in Southern Africa.

In close collaboration with the Namibian Green Hydrogen Research Institute, five students from the University of Namibia aim to examine the difference in tomato and potatoes crop productivity between green ammonia fertilizers from cattle manure, fertilizers from green hydrogen and commercially available fertilizers. Their research will look specifically at the resulting impact of the green ammonia derivative fertilizers on crop yield and soil nutrient retention. The economic viability of the locally produced green ammonia fertilizers will also be analyzed as part of this research. As Namibia is scheduled to start producing green hydrogen as a source of fuel for commercial and industrial purposes, this research will provide important information of its application in the field of agriculture which plays a very important role in the livelihood and economy of the country.
Financing
10,000 € - fully financed! 100%
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Payouts
10.000 € 100%
Project progress
Q4 / Q4 80%

Facts

  • Country: Namibia
  • Region Northern and Southern Region.
  • Project abbreviation: NAM-002
  • Project start / project end: June 2023 – April 2024
  • Project budget: 80,336.00 NAD (appr. 10,000.00 €, currency exchange rate as of 30 April 2023)
  • Donors: GIP AG
  • Scholarship per person: Scholarship per Student: 2,354.00 NAD (appr. 684.00 €, currency exchange rate as of 30 April 2023)
  • University: University of Namibia
  • Local partner: Namibia National Students Organization (NANSO)
  • Number of students: 5 students, 1 PhD student (1 female)
  • Supervisor: Dr. Shafudah Natangue
  • 3E4A-Coordinator: Contimi Kenfack

Current progress

The five students just completed the first of four quarters of their research which aims to compare three different types of ammonia based fertilizers: fertilizer derived from cattle manure, from green hydrogen and commercially available fertilizer. The three fertilizers will be applied on tomato and potato crops to analyze their effectiveness. They also intend to work in parallel on the concept design of a reactor to produce green ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process.

In this first quarter, the students were able to start part of the planned field work. One of the three types of fertilizers they planned to test on potatoes and tomato crops were commercially available fertilizers. To achieve this, they secured a total of 84 plots with an area of 7 m2 each. On these plots, they were able to test two types of commercially available nitrogenous fertilizers on a total of 4 varieties of potato crops. Some crops were left untreated to serve as control. The experiment has been ongoing for several weeks now and the harvests and analysis results will be carried out in the upcoming quarters. The other two types of fertilizers (from cattle manure and from green hydrogen) will also be tested in the upcoming quarters.

As the students will be manufacturing ammonia-based fertilizers from cattle manure, an ammonia extractor to enable this is required. In this first quarter, the students have started taking the necessary steps to purchase the material and components for the installment of such an ammonia extractor. Here they have faced some minor delay regarding the delivery of relevant components. As all components are currently underway, they are working on the installation of the extractor and will be ready to put it to use during the next quarter.

This project also aims to carry out a study to examine the economic viability of green ammonia-based fertilizers in Namibia. For this the students started a feasibility study to explore sustainable and economically viable farming practices using green ammonia-based fertilizers produced from cattle manure, commercial fertilizers, and green hydrogen. The goal is to provide valuable insights to policymakers, farmers, and the agro-industry for implementing more sustainable and effective farming practices. For this in-depth feasibility study, the students have chosen to include field experiments, surveys, and stakeholder interviews with farmers, policymakers, and agricultural experts. Data collection instruments will include structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides. Now that the approach and concept for the feasibility study have been established, they will be going into the field in the next quarter for the data collection phase.

An important part of the project is the concept design for a reactor to produce green ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process. In this first quarter the students have started doing the necessary research and contacting the relevant experts as they work on this design. One challenge the students are facing here is the unavailability of certain components in Namibia and Southern Africa as a whole. We are in constant communication with them to provide the necessary support. There will be more progress made in this area as they move into the next quarter.

The students preparing the soil and planting potatoes with commercially available fertilizers

The implementation of the first quarter was overall very successful. Except for some minor issues regarding availability of some components, all activities could be carried out as planned. The second quarter will be the most important quarter as it contains the largest part of the field work. The students are excited and looking forward to the next phase of the research project.

Second Quarter

The second quarter was an eventful one for the students. They were able to make significant progress with their research goals.

Students at the commercially grown potato plantation site

One very important activity for the second quarter was to finalize the set-up of the ammonia extractor. After carrying out an inventory and the purchase of all necessary material and components for such an ammonia extractor in the first quarter, the parts were finally delivered to the students at the beginning of this second quarter. They were able to build up and install the ammonia extractor which will enable them to extract “green” ammonia from cattle and goat manure which they will subsequently convert to ammonium-based fertilizers. This newly manufactured ammonium-based fertilizers from cattle and goat manure will then be tested on crops during the subsequent quarters. The student team has high expectations for the success of this experiment and anticipate favorable results.

Students at the commercially grown potato plantation site

As this project also aims to carry out a study to examine the economic viability of green ammonia-based fertilizers in Namibia, a feasibility study to explore sustainable and economically viable farming practices using green ammonia-based fertilizers produced from cattle manure and from commercial fertilizers was an integral part of the research. This study aimed to assess the viability of green ammonia-based fertilizers, manage associated risks, and provide guidance for sustainable decision-making. In this second quarter, the students were able to finalize the feasibility study which targeted the Omusati region in northern Namibia. In the course of this feasibility study, a qualitative methodology was employed and over 27 agricultural experts were engaged. The findings revealed a preference for commercially available fertilizers due to the perceived soil quality benefits. Very limited general awareness on environmentally friendly alternatives such as the sustainably produced ammonia-based fertilizers was also observed. Moreover, high cost emerged as a significant barrier to the adoption of green ammonia-based fertilizers. The study recommends promoting the adoption of ammonia-containing green fertilizers through various strategies within the Omusati region, Namibia. Comprehensive educational initiatives are suggested to bridge the knowledge gap. Moreover, advocating for policy measures to mitigate fertilizer costs is deemed crucial to optimize fertilizer benefits and promote sustainable agricultural practices in the Omusati region. As this study targeted mainly the northern part of Namibia encompassing small-scale farmers and government green scheme projects, the students are looking forward to carrying out a similar feasibility study in other regions of the country particularly involving commercial farmers over the next upcoming quarters to get a more broad and holistic view on the issue.

Setting up the ammonia extractor

After having planted the four types of potatoes in the first quarter, the students applied 0.12 kg of fertilizer per plant, aiming to understand growth patterns and yields within a 17-day post-planting period. The objective here is to optimize potato production by identifying the most effective fertilizer type and concentration. The experiment includes 84 plots in three replications, each accommodating 34 plants. As the students approach the third quarter, accurate data collection during harvesting will be crucial to evaluate fertilizer impact. Key parameters such as growth attributes, nitrogen use efficiency, leaf area index, biomass, and yield attributes will be recorded and discussed in a thesis format, with potential publications derived from the findings. The data will be compared to renewable and green ammonium fertilizers to determine appropriateness.

Setting up the ammonia extractor

Last but not least, the team has made some progress on the conceptualization of a green ammonia benchtop production reactor, outlining the essential components that can be procured and commissioned for actual production in the country. The research focus revolves around optimizing the reactor component of the Haber-Bosch process. More on this to come over the next quarters.

Third Quarter

The activities of the third quarter were far-reaching and built on outcomes of the previous quarter. The students keep making progress and move closer to their objectives.
Following the setup of the ammonia extractor in quarter two to extract ammonia from animal manure, the team proceeded to apply the extractor in the third quarter. They successfully transformed cattle manure into renewable ammonium sulfate crystals. These crystals are now to be sent to an external laboratory for analysis, covering various parameters such as nitrogen content, toxicity, melting points, and solubility. The students express confidence that the compound will be identified as ammonium sulfate. Following this analysis, the compound will be integrated into fertilizers and subjected to testing on tomatoes and potatoes. Expectations are high for the fertilizer to surpass raw manure, leading to enhanced crop yields.
As outlined in the update for last quarter, the students conducted a feasibility study in the Omusati region to assess the potential of green-ammonia fertilizers and provide guidance for sustainable decisions. The study found that farmers prefer commercial fertilizers due to lower costs, perceived soil benefits, and limited awareness of alternatives. Building on last quarter’s findings, the study now expanded to include four additional regions: Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Kavango, and Omaheke, providing a comprehensive Namibian perspective. The study engaged local consultancies to reach farmers nationwide and incorporated supplier perspectives which enhanced understanding of economic factors. Ongoing discussions are shaping the completion of the results, offering insights into the economic aspects of green ammonia fertilizers in Namibia. All data and information gathered from the feasibility study will be compiled into a manuscript. Based on the results of the studies, the students have plans to launch educational initiatives and advocate policy measures to address fertilizer costs and promote sustainability in selected regions.
During the field experiment, different fertilizers (vermicompost, control, cattle manure, and NPK fertilizer) were applied in varying concentrations to potato crops.  In the third quarter, the team discovered that vermicompost surpasses the other fertilizer types. The highest yield was achieved with an application of vermicompost, aligning with findings from other published studies. Vermicompost not only supplies micronutrients but also introduces beneficial soil bacteria, plant growth hormones, and enzymes. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices, highlighting the potential of organic alternatives like vermicompost to improve crop yield and soil health.
Last but not least, the Haber-Bosch reactor design to derive ammonia from green hydrogen is ongoing. The team has investigated the application of various catalysts to lower energy requirements of the reactor. Accordingly, they successfully completed the standard concept design for green ammonia production, covering plant design, operating conditions, input stoichiometry, catalysis, and associated costs. Their next focus is on the effectiveness of catalysts and their impact on temperature conditions and production costs.

SDGs

Primary SDGs

Secondary SDGs

We thank GIP AG for their support!

Team

Simeon

Hamukoshi

Maria Ndalyewe Puyepawa

Nekandu

Syena Pendukeni Kresa

Paulus

Leonard

Tsheehama

George

Hamukoshi

Donors

GIP AG