A new sludge-derived organo-mineral fertilizer gives similar crop yields as conventional fertilizers

Abstract

Sewage sludge, a waste material commonly known as biosolids, has good potential as a valuable agricultural resource, providing that its nutrient imbalances could be overcome. Sewage sludge is rich in phosphorus but low in nitrogen and potassium. Technology exists to supplement sewage sludge with mineral fertilizers, such as urea and muriate of potash as sources of nitrogen and potassium, respectively, to produce an organo-mineral fertilizer with balanced crop nutrient requirements. Here, an experimental plot trial set up in 2008 was established at Broxton, Cheshire, UK, to compare crop yield response for typical crop varieties. Crops included wheat, oilseed rape, barley, beans and forage maize, treated with conventional fertilizer and organo-mineral fertilizer. The organomineral fertilizer is a nutrient-balanced sludge-based product produced by drying digested sewage sludge cake at 80°C in a tumbling evaporator, which produces sludge granules of 3-6 mm in diameter. Analysis was carried out on soil NPK and crop yield. N use efficiency was measured to assess N uptake. Results show that there is no significant difference in crop yield between treatments over the three trial years, with the exception of one crop. This finding demonstrates that the new organo-fertilizer is as efficient as conventional fertilizers. Moreover, levels of heavy metal in soil did not exceed permissible levels. The novelty of this research lies in the fact that it is the first field scale trial of a modified sewage sludge product that has the potential to transform a hitherto waste product into a practical fertilizer product. We conclude that the organo-mineral fertilizer is a promising alternative product for sustainable agriculture.

Efficiently Treated Sewage Sludge Supplemented with Nitrogen and Potassium Is a Good Fertilizer for Cereals

“…Similar results in warmer climates have been presented by Deeks et al . () and Motta & Maggiore () with cereals fertilized with sludge supplemented with low amount of mineral fertilizers.…”

Effects of alternative cropping systems on globe artichoke qualitative traits

“…polyphenol and mineral content). We also assumed no significant differences in yield, as studies on other crops found that transition from intensive conventional cropping system to low‐input cropping system does not involve differences in terms of final yield . Currently the artichoke in the Mediterranean basin, of which Sardinia is a fully representative area, is grown according to traditional methods relying on monoculture systems .…”

The Possibility of Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Production from Sewage Sludge

“…Soil treatment with OMFs derived from sewage sludge gives a crop yield response comparable to that of conventional fertilizers like urea and ammonia nitrate [10,80]. Deeks [10] used OMFs derived from sewage sludge for improving performances of cereal, oilseed rape and bean within 3 years.…”

“…Deeks [10] used OMFs derived from sewage sludge for improving performances of cereal, oilseed rape and bean within 3 years. The technology of OMFs production was similar to the technology in Antille's [49] studies.…”

“…In addition, the low N:P ratio, which usually occurred in biosolids, leads to a P buildup in the soil resulting in phosphorus losses and water eutrophication. A lot of experiments on new fertilizers based on waste [8][9][10][11][12] have been reported. This type of fertilizers is a key to improve soil fertility and partly overcome the problem with an increasing amount of waste and byproducts.…”