TÜBİTAK project develops alternative fertilizers from rice husk waste

Associate Professor İrem Okman Koçoğlu from Karabük University is participating as a researcher in a TÜBİTAK 1001-supported project aimed at developing alternative fertilizers enriched with biogenic silicon from rice husk waste.

Led by Dr. Hanife Akça from Ankara University, the research seeks to transform rice husks—an agricultural waste that can cause environmental issues during disposal—into high-value products. The project utilizes chemical methods to convert the silicon found in the husks into a plant-available form without requiring high-temperature combustion.

The study focuses on two types of fertilization materials: an alternative base fertilizer combining biogenic silicon with phosphorus and nitrogen, and a slow-release top fertilizer created by coating urea with a silicon-based porous material. Researchers will evaluate these materials over two years of field trials to assess their impact on wheat development, grain yield, and their potential to reduce nitrogen loss, particularly in dry farming conditions.