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32 www.coalage.com August 2016 coal-based fertilizer continued coal-based fertilizer results were success- ful — as measured by extensive yield, crop and leaf quality — while the NPK usage failed to grow any corn, as reported by the university. Later Penn State tests were conducted by a professor, Jon Chorover. In his chem- ical analysis, expert opinion and report on June 16, 2000, he said, "None of the trace elements are present in concentrations that would pose a concern for land ap- plication of this material as fertilizer. In summary, none of the results suggest that the material cannot be effectively applied to soil as a fertilizer amendment. Indeed, the high concentration of organic C and N would lead me to presume that addition of this material to soil would increase the organic matter of the soil, resulting in an overall improvement in soil quality, over and above that resulting from an equiva- lent amount of nutrition addition alone." Full field tests with both field corn and corn for human consumption yielded ex- cellent results at the University of Florida in the spring of 2000. This growth test was conducted by a senior agronomist, with strong results. The professor was surprised at and impressed with the results because in his university test plots — under his control — 8-ft high corn was grown in 5.5 weeks in sandy loam soil. The field corn was heavy tasseled and likewise verdant and of high leaf quality. The professor's staff ate the corn and reported a high-qual- ity taste and overall quality, according to the professor. Planting occurred on April 13, 2000, and full growth experienced (8 ft for sweet corn and 5 ft for feed corn) by May 24, 2000, using only one application of the coal-based fertilizer. The application rate for these tests were 400 lb per acre, applied only once per crop, with excellent results at all times. No other chemicals, pesticides, herbicides were applied. The Pure-Gro Advantages This advanced-blend fertilizer has a natu- ral formulation that enriches the soil and it's relatively inexpensive. Pure-Gro's 100% natural formulation is slow-releasing and has the effect of enriching soil nutrition permanently, including damaged, deplet- ed, unused and underused soils globally. The need to let acreage lie fallow can be eliminated as it permanently enriches — not depletes — soil nutrients as experi- enced with NPK fertilizers. "Pure-Gro is a great, natural product that could help farmers avoid the red-tide runoff in the Gulf of Mexico and the nitro- gen pollution in the water table, associat- ed with NPK fertilizers," Kalyvas said. "It produces comparable yields organically to high-grade NPK blends (e.g., 19-19-19) without adding chemicals to the soil and it does so at a substantially less cost. In contrast, artificial NPK fertilizer gives an initial and temporary boost to plant roots, but in so doing, it adds chemicals that over-acidify the soil, compacting it and often harming the water table. NPK offers no carbon or sulfur, or other elements the soil needs." Because it enriches soil quality, the emergence of earthworms — a positive indicator of soil health — has been con- sistently noted throughout the testing pro- cess. The crop taste, yield and overall plant quality is improved. Microbial activity is promoted and increased. Increased soil porosity and nitrogen uptake is observed, allowing for efficient water and nutrient utility by plant roots. Water and harmful nitrate runoff are avoided. In addition, soils not presently in use or usable can be brought back into production. Most of the world's agricultural farmland is deficient in carbon for optimal growing results. The Manufacturing Process The production facility would have three main working areas: a coal-receiving fa- cility and conveyor system; a three-line production area with equipment for coal crushing, mixing, spraying (for certain additives), air drying, pelletizing and pal- letizing for shrink-wrapped heavy-duty plastic bags; and a warehouse area would be needed to store the palletized bags. The entire operation would be com- puterized, high-speed and controlled from a central station. The risks include proper drying of the coal, without exposing finely crushed coal to electrical sources or sparks and avoiding moisture accumulation in the bagged product. The three-line plant can function as desired: two shifts or three shifts; and the high-speed bagging equipment is geared to produce 25, 50-lb bags per minute. As- suming an operational schedule of three shifts and 330 days per year, the plant could produce 800,000 mtpy of fertilizer, which could be sold for $225/mt. "The process crushes the coal to a fine consistency and then mixes it with four other ingredients," Kalyvas said. "The product is dried and pelletized. It would be served as a regularly broadcast product, just like any other currently used fertilizers." Ingredient costs represent the bulk of fertilizer production costs. With potash currently selling for more than $225/mt, a coal-based fertilizer would certainly be more competitive price-wise. Pure-Gro production costs are estimated at less than $100/mt. If 70% of a ton of the prod- uct is coal, then the plant would consume 560,000 mtpy of coal (currently selling for about $50/mt). As far as the market, an application rate of 400 lb per acre would amount to 18 mt per 100 acres. Nebraska corn farm- ers plant 9.5 million acres per year. If they were to convert to Pure-Gro, they would consume 1.4 million mt of coal. "Because farmers currently use two tons per acre, they would be using less of a lower cost product," Kalyvas said. "Pure-Gro has been thoroughly tested and it has no deleterious effect on the wa- ter table," Kalyvas said. "It breaks down in the soil. Because it's pelletized, dust gener- ation is not an issue during application." The company is looking for a partner to help commercialize this process. Coal operators interested in the process can contact Dan Dreyfus by email at daniel. dreyfus@verizon.net or by phone at (941) 448-1172. A Pennsylvania peach tree, which was barren for eight years, bears so much fruit with Pure-Gro it has to be staked.