Sustainability of Organic Fertilizers Use in Dryland Mediterranean Agriculture

Carlos Ortiz, María Rosa Yagüe, Alcira Sunilda Valdez, María Gabriela Molina and Àngela Dolores Bosch-Serra ()
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Carlos Ortiz: Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Generalitat de Catalunya, Avda Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, E-25198 Lleida, Spain
María Rosa Yagüe: Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida, Avda Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, E-25198 Lleida, Spain
Alcira Sunilda Valdez: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Asunción, San Pedro de Ycuamandyyu PY-020101, Paraguay
María Gabriela Molina: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ing. Agr. Félix Aldo Marrone 746—Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Àngela Dolores Bosch-Serra: Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida, Avda Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, E-25198 Lleida, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Organic fertilization is a key issue in European Union (EU) regulations, particularly in the context of promoting a circular nutrient economy, maintaining soil quality, and sequestering carbon to face climate change. In a rainfed system in Northeastern Spain, an experiment was set up (split-plot design). It included five pre-sowing N fertilization treatments: control, mineral, pig slurry, and composted sewage sludge (two rates). The average N rates were 0, 30, 141, 176, and 351 kg N ha −1 , respectively. They were combined with mineral N topdressings (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha −1 ). Three crops were grown: barley (nine years), wheat (three years), and rapeseed (one year). In the driest years ( c . 350 mm rainfall), the yields averaged 2.5, 2.0, and 1.9 Mg ha −1 , respectively. The maximum yields were for barley (6.5 Mg ha −1 ) and wheat (5.5 Mg ha −1 ). The avoidance of a significant increase in soil residual NO 3 − -N, plus the control of soil build up of available P, micronutrients, and Cd, defines the fertilization strategies. (i) With a previous spring drought season, no fertilization is needed in the following year, if devoted to winter cereals. (ii) In rainier seasons, pig slurry or composted sewage sludge (lowest rate) applied at sowing is sufficient; however, 50 kg of mineral-N ha −1 at the topdressing can be applied. The study found that pig slurry favors K, Mg, Cu, and Zn availability, while composted sewage sludge enhances Fe availability. Although it is possible to reduce N inputs from organic fertilizers, organic C build-up will be constrained.

Keywords: exchangeable cations; heavy metals; micronutrient availability; phosphorus; pig slurry; rapeseed; sewage-sludge compost; winter cereal (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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