Soil Microbial and Nematode Community Response to the Field Application of Recycled Bio-Based Fertilisers in Irish Grassland

Anna Karpinska, Demi Ryan, Kieran Germaine, David Dowling, Patrick Forrestal and Thomais Kakouli-Duarte
Additional contact information
Anna Karpinska: enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Demi Ryan: enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Kieran Germaine: enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
David Dowling: enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Patrick Forrestal: Teagasc–Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Johnstown Castle, Y35 Y521 Wexford, Ireland
Thomais Kakouli-Duarte: enviroCORE, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-22

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient routinely applied to soils as an agricultural fertiliser, frequently in non-renewable, inorganic forms. Finite reserves and growing demand for agricultural phosphorus mean alternative P resources need to be explored. Recycling-derived fertilisers (RDF) recovered from specific waste streams, using nutrient recovery technologies, have the potential to replace conventional phosphorus fertilisers used in agriculture. Healthy functioning soil microbial and nematode communities are essential players in maintaining soil health and nutrient status. Thus, it is important to assess the responses of these communities to RDF application. We compared soil microbial and nematode communities of conventional fertiliser and RDF treated soil, in the form of struvite and ash, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies in a phosphate-fertiliser replacement value (P-FRV) field trial. Bacterial and nematode communities displayed significant changes under the different P fertilisation treatments, while fungal communities were relatively unaffected. Bacterial diversity was higher among RDF treatments than conventional treatments, while nematode diversity was reduced by one ash treatment. Available potassium and phosphate were the main drivers of bacterial community changes when analysed by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), while available phosphate alone was the driver of nematode community shifts. Of the RDF, struvite products yielded the highest crop biomass, maintained microbial diversity and were associated with the least disturbed nematode communities.

Keywords: recycling derived fertiliser; phosphorus; biodiversity; soil community; bacteria; fungi; nematodes; sustainable agriculture; NGS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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