Utilization of vinasses as soil amendment: consequences and perspectives

Abstract

Vinasses are a residual liquid generated after the production of beverages, such as mezcal and tequila, from agave (Agave L.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) or sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). These effluents have specific characteristics such as an acidic pH (from 3.9 to 5.1), a high chemical oxygen demand (50,000–95,000 mg L−1) and biological oxygen demand content (18,900–78,300 mg L−1), a high total solids content (79,000 and 37,500 mg L−1), high total volatile solids 79,000 and 82,222 mg L−1, and K+ (10–345 g L−1) content. Vinasses are most commonly discarded onto soil. Irrigation of soil with vinasses, however, may induce physical, chemical and biochemical changes and affect crop yields. Emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, might increase from soils irrigated with vinasses. An estimation of GHG emission from soil irrigated with vinasses is given and discussed in this review.

Physico-chemical attributes of a Cambisol under pasture managed with annual burns after sugarcane vinasse application

“…The increment in pH by the vinasse application is associated to the higher biochemical demand for oxygen, which makes the H + the final acceptor of electrons, raising the pH (Moran-Salazar et al 2016), even with the low pH of the vinasse (Ribeiro et al 2012). As the pH increment is dependent on biological activity, the continuous use of fire for pasture management may have reduced the microbial population, preventing pH changes.…”

Vinasse from Sugarcane Ethanol Production: Better Treatment or Better Utilization?

“…The concept behind fertirrigation consists on a sum of irrigation to sugarcane fields, by the percolation of vinasse liquid to the soil, with the simultaneous fertilization, transferring its nutrients to the plants (Christofoletti et al, 2013). Besides decreasing the costs involved with chemical fertilizers (Jiang et al, 2012), completely supplying phosphorus (Moran-Salazar et al, 2016) and being of low capital cost, vinasse utilization in fertirrigation practices could be considered of certain level of environmental concern (Sparovek et al, 2009). Fertirrigation practices have been linked with increase in eutrophication of waterbodies and the formation of dead aquatic bodies in Brazil and in other countries (Eykelbosh et al, 2015).…”

Fertirrigation with sugarcane vinasse: Foreseeing potential impacts on soil and water resources through vinasse characterization

“…The reference literature, regarding mainly technical and legal aspects, is still incipient in terms of presenting critical content describing the effects of sugarcane vinasse on the environment, although the need for reducing the polluting load of vinasse is often discussed by the scientific community. [3,17,18] Therefore, this paper aims to characterize the actual polluting potential of sugarcane vinasse using compositional data to predict the negative effects on the soil, water resources and crops. Potential risks associated with the contamination due to toxic metals, which are seldom discussed when considering the land disposal of sugarcane vinasse, are also analyzed.…”