Upcycling Phosphorus Recovered from Anaerobically Digested Dairy Manure to Support Production of Vegetables and Flowers

Katherine K. Porterfield, Robert Joblin, Deborah A. Neher, Michael Curtis, Steve Dvorak, Donna M. Rizzo, Joshua W. Faulkner and Eric D. Roy
Additional contact information
Katherine K. Porterfield: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Robert Joblin: Magic Dirt Horticultural Products, LLC, Little Rock, AR 72223, USA
Deborah A. Neher: Department of Plant & Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Michael Curtis: CDT Tech, Inc., Columbia, CT 06489, USA
Steve Dvorak: DVO, Inc., Chilton, WI 53014, USA
Donna M. Rizzo: Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Joshua W. Faulkner: Department of Plant & Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Eric D. Roy: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Dissolved air flotation (DAF) separates phosphorus (P)-rich fine solids from anaerobically digested dairy manure, creating opportunities to export surplus P to the marketplace as a bagged plant food product. Seedlings of tomato and marigold were amended at various volume per volume ( v/v ) ratios with plant foods consisting of fine solids upcycled (i.e., transformed into a higher quality product) by drying and blending with other organic residuals. A plate competition assay was conducted to assess the fine solids’ potential to suppress the plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani . Plant foods were comprised of 2.0–2.1% N, 0.8–0.9% P and 0.6–0.8% K. Extractions indicated that plant foods contained a mixture of plant-available and slow-release P. At 6% v/v plant food, dry biomass of marigold and tomato were six-times greater than the unamended control and not significantly different from a market alternative treatment. Fine solids exhibited negligible potential to suppress R. solani . This study indicates that DAF-separated fine solids could be used to support horticulture, providing information for design of a circular economy approach to dairy manure nutrient management. Life cycle assessment and business model development for this nutrient recovery strategy are necessary next steps to further guide sustainability efforts.

Keywords: nutrient recovery; waste valorization; organics recycling; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1139-:d:316906

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