Sri Lanka's 2021 Fertilizer Ban Shows Limits of Alternative Nutrient Sources

What is it about?

This study examines the potential for nutrient recycling in Sri Lanka's shift from mineral fertilizers to green agriculture, focusing on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows. It evaluates national-level nutrient sources, including animal manure, municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, and human excreta, and finds their potential to offset mineral fertilizers is limited, providing only ≤10% of the required N and P. The study uses a grid-based resource recovery and distribution model to identify priority areas for nutrient management, highlighting urban and peri-urban regions. It underscores the necessity of long-term planning and gradual transitions with support for farmers to incorporate nutrient recycling technologies. The findings also discuss the challenges of societal acceptance, logistical constraints, and the need for enriched mineral fertilizers to complement compost for immediate nutrient release. The research emphasizes the importance of increasing the capacity for nutrient recycling and efficient mineral fertilizer use while acknowledging the time required to implement effective nutrient recovery technologies.

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Photo by Cecelia Chang on Unsplash

Photo by Cecelia Chang on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study investigates the potential for nutrient recycling in Sri Lanka's agricultural sector following the government's 2021 policy shift from mineral fertilizers to green agriculture. The research is significant as it evaluates the feasibility of alternative nutrient sources like municipal solid waste compost and human excreta to offset mineral fertilizer use, highlighting the challenges and constraints in transitioning to a more circular economy. This has broader implications for sustainable agriculture practices and policy-making in nutrient management globally. Key Takeaways: 1. The study reveals that alternative nutrient sources, such as municipal solid waste compost and human excreta, could only offset up to 10% of the nitrogen and phosphorus provided by mineral fertilizers in Sri Lanka, indicating limited potential for these substitutes to fully replace mineral fertilizers. 2. Findings demonstrate that the current infrastructure and societal acceptance issues pose significant challenges to the adoption of nutrient recovery technologies, suggesting that a gradual and well-supported transition is necessary for effective implementation. 3. The research emphasizes the need for long-term strategic planning in nutrient management policies, highlighting constraints on alternative nutrient sources and recommending increased capacity for nutrient recycling alongside efficient mineral fertilizer use."