Factory (III). Timac Agro

Continuing with the seeding work, one of the most important tasks is the fertilisation. This year is even more important due to the high price of fertilisers. The price of cereal can still afford the use fertilizers and therefore this year we have chosen Timac Agro D-Coder Top 8 for our fields where we have sown cereal. The dose has been lower than was usual because we have sprayed at 240 kg/ha. 

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to visit the Timac Agro factory in Navarra and more specifically in the village of Lodosa, where they produce solid, water-soluble and biostimulant fertilisers. In addition, we also visited the headquarters in Pamplona where we could attend a magnificent talk to learn about the entire range of Timac Agro products. It was a very interesting trip to learn about the manufacturing process of the D-Coder (on the day of the visit they were producing Top 8, although they also produce Top 6), which we indicate below: 

1. We start from lime sulphate, which is used to make the skeleton of the granules because D-Coder is a granular fertiliser. This casing has no NPK fertiliser value. 
2. Rock phosphate arrives at the factory and is treated with sulphuric acid to obtain monocalcium phosphate (also called superphosphate). This is the phosphorus that is already soluble and can be assimilated by the plant. 
3. Once we have the NPK nutrients (nitrogen 7%, phosphorus 10% and potassium 20%) together with the D-Coder formula (potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium) they are put together in a mixing cylinder where all these nutrients are glued to the initial casing. 
4. It is passed through a cooler.
5. Then it goes through a dryer. It should be noted that this dryer uses biomass.
6. The D-Coder already produced is stored in silos. 
7. It goes through a cylinder where it is painted green, which will give it the visual identity of D-Coder fertiliser. 
8. It is riddled because the balls are from 2.5 mm to 5 mm.
9. It is stored in silos once it has been painted. 
10. Before shipping, it is riddled again and served according to the customer's request: sacks of 25 kg or 40 kg, big bags of 600 kg or bulk. 

The factory's activity is frenetic, working in three shifts and being able to produce some 900 tonnes of fertiliser a day, and they can even handle some 1,300 tonnes a day. The factory is distributed into several sections where the different processes mentioned above are carried out... all very orderly and differentiated. In addition, the water-soluble fertiliser section has its own warehouses and the biostimulant section as well, so everything is very well differentiated, with a large part dedicated to solid fertilisers. It was very interesting to see the whole process of producing fertiliser. 

Versión en español.