Mineral concentrations in herbage and soil in a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system in north‐west Spain after sewage sludge and lime application

Abstract

Summary Silvopastoral systems in north‐west Spain can reduce the risk of fires and promote multi‐purpose forest land use. Fertilizer application is important for optimal pasture and tree production. The application rate of sewage sludge as a fertilizer is regulated and is based on its nutrient concentration, especially nitrogen. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of three consecutive years of application of different application rates of sewage sludge and inorganic fertilizer, with or without lime (2·5 t CaCO3 ha−1) on the ammonium, nitrate and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg contents in soil, and on the crude protein (CP), K, Ca and Mg concentrations in herbage in a silvopastoral system established under a 5‐year‐old Pinus radiata D. Don plantation with a density of 1667 trees ha−1. The experiment was started in autumn 1997, when a pasture mixture was sown (25 kg ha−1Lolium perenne, 10 kg ha−1Dactylis glomerata and 4 kg ha−1Trifolium repens). Changes in ammonium and nitrate content in the soil in response to liming and sewage sludge application reflected the initial pH of the soil. In general, liming increased the available Ca and Mg content in soil, and CP and Ca concentrations in herbage, but reduced exchangeable K content in the soil in the first year. Application of sewage sludge increased all of the measured nutrients in both soil and herbage.

Influence of pasture botanical composition and fertilization treatments on tree growth

“…To this end, the effect of sewage sludge on plant and tree growth, pasture botanical composition, in-soil macronutrient levels (N, P, K, Ca and Mg), and pasture quality (crude protein, P, K, Ca and Mg) in silvopastoral systems in very acidic soils in 5-8-year-old plantations has already been evaluated Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2007). It was shown that sewage sludge application in acid soils initially increases soil pH, simultaneously reducing aluminium saturation in the interchange complex and increasing macronutrient availability .…”

The effects of fertilization with anaerobic, composted and pelletized sewage sludge on soil, tree growth, pasture production and biodiversity in a silvopastoral system under ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)

“…In Galicia, the natural soils have low fertility due to their acidity (Zas and Alonso, 2002). This acidity implies a high concentration of saturated aluminium in the exchange complex and low cation and phosphorus availability (Prasad and Power, 1997; Rigueiro‐Rodríguez et al. , 2007).…”

Effect of sewage sludge and liming on productivity during the establishment of a silvopastoral system in north‐west Spain

“…We have evaluated the effects of sewage sludge on pasture production, pasture botanical composition and macronutrient levels in soil (N, p, K, Ca and Mg) and pasture (crude protein, p, K, Ca and Mg) in silvopastoral systems established under a 5-year-old Pinus radiata d. don plantation in north-west Spain in previous studies (Mosquera-Losada et al 2001;López-díaz et al 2007;Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al 2007). in these studies, it was shown that sewage sludge application in acid soils increases soil pH and, therefore, it reduced aluminium saturation in the interchange complex (López-díaz et al 2007), causing an increase of sown species presence in pasture and, usually, improving pasture quality and productivity (López-díaz et al 2007;Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al 2007).…”