Efficiency of Phosphorus Fertilizers Derived from Recycled Biogas Digestate as Applied to Maize and Ryegrass in Soils with Different pH

Inga-Mareike Bach, Lisa Essich, Andrea Bauerle and Torsten Müller
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Inga-Mareike Bach: Department of Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Lisa Essich: Department of Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Andrea Bauerle: Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (340b), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Torsten Müller: Department of Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics (340i), Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Three phosphorus (P) fertilizer fractions recycled from biogas digestates were tested alone and in combination for their efficiency in two agricultural surface soils with different pH: a silty sandy loam and a clay loam. The experiments were carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions, using mineral triple superphosphate (TSP) as a reference. Maize was cultivated for 50 days, followed by ryegrass cultivation for an additional 84 days in the same soil, without additional fertilization. The variables investigated were above-ground plant biomass production, plant phosphorus concentration and content, and plant available phosphorus concentration in soil. The dry matter (DM) yield of maize was increased by the organic P fertilizers equal to or more than TSP in both soils. In the neutral soil, biomass was almost doubled compared to TSP when using one of the fractions (Struvite containing P-Salt) alone or in combination with dried solid fractions. P concentration in maize cultivated in the neutral soil was not significantly different between the P fertilization treatments. However, associated with biomass increase, the total P content in maize plants was equal to or higher than that with TSP. In the acidic soil, P concentration and total P content in maize plants, as well as the calcium-acetate-lactate extractable P (CAL-P) concentration in soil, were equal to or even higher than TSP. Ryegrass DM yield was unaffected by all P fertilizers, independent of the soil, although P concentration and total P content increased in the acidic soil with all fertilizers. Our results show that recycled P fertilizers from biogas digestates are effective P fertilizer alternatives to mineral TSP for maize cultivation under acidic and neutral soil conditions. The lack of growth effects in ryegrass indicates that recycled P fertilizers do not require changes in weed control. On the other hand, P extraction by ryegrass in overfertilized acidic soils as an option for soil remediation also works in soils fertilized with biogas digestate fractions.

Keywords: recycled phosphorus fertilizer; biogas digestates; soil pH; phosphorus fertility indicators; maize; ryegrass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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