Agriculture is perceived as one of the main sources of environmental pollution

The aim of the project is reduction of soil and water pollution and revitalizing soil ecosystem by:

Utilization of natural fibrous wastes for biodegradable soilless substrates production to reduce cultivation of greenhouse crops on non biodegradable rockwool.

Reduction of mineral nutrient emission from drain water of greenhouse soilless culture by renewed utilization of drain water as a source of nutrients

Reduction of soil and water pollution through replacement of mineral fertilizers by eco-activators and enrichment of soil in organic matter.

The realized project will implement production of wide range new products as:

1.     Organic soilless substrates for glasshouse vegetable production. The basic material for those substrates will be organic wastes from textile and wood industry

2.     Organic ecoactivators used for soil revitalization and fertilization. They were received  from used glasshouse substrates and waste drainage water. The final product will be used as a soil improver and as long term acting fertilizer mostly for outdoor production.

3.     Organic fertilizers produced from used substrates of soilless cultures

4.     Organic ecoactivators produced from processed legume plants. They will be used also as soil improvers and long term fertilizers in all kind of agriculture production including glasshouse and organic cultivation.

5.     Three kinds of biodegradable fleece produced from natural organic wastes and legume plants biomass.

Expected effects of realized project are limitation of soil and ground water pollution, improvement of soil quality and fertility. The tools used to achieve this aim are:

a)     The use of organic ecoactivators as a source of organic matter for improvement of soil quality

b)     The use of organic ecoactivators as a source of slowly released nutrients and restricted  leaching of minerals to the ground water

c)     Exploitation of drainage water from soilless cultures for soaking up the organic waste from textile and wood industry. Organic wastes capacity  for soaking up of drainage waters will be increased by special process. Drainage water is the main threat to ground water quality in the area of very intensive glasshouse production.

d)    The limitation of fertilizers rate and risk of nutrient leaching by the use of slowly decomposing organic fertilizers. They are a good source of nitrogen for organic production also.

e)     Limited nutrient leaching, soil erosion and protection of excessive evaporation by application of biodegradable fleece enriched with organic nitrogen from legume plants biomass.

f)      The limitation of chemical weed control by application of organic fleece

g)      The exploitation of legume plants as a source of nitrogen and organic matter. Growing of legume plants is conducive to higher absorption of greenhouse gases (CO₂ i N₂O) by plant biomass and decreasing their  concentration in the atmosphere and at the same time increases the long-lasting carbon stock in the soil. Soil carbon plays a key role in maintaining long-term soil fertility. It provides plant nutrients, enhances the soil’s microbiological activity, structure and water holding capacity.

The project assumes actions guided to improve ecological knowledge of environment protection from agricultural pollution and possibility of replacement in agricultural production the synthetic substrates and mineral fertilizers with organic ones, friendly to the environment. It is guided to farmers, students, advisors, stakeholders and others involved in agricultural production.

The project makes easier implementation of UE regulation in the area of soil, water protection and waste exploitation to produce environmentally friendly ecoactivators. The application of new products will be used for soil fertility improvement by increasing organic matter and humus content and also stimulating biological activity of the soil.