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Journal article
Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?
Plant and soil, Vol.401(1-2), pp.109-123
2016
PMCID: PMC4923718
PMID: 27429478
Abstract
Background and aim: Recycled sources of phosphorus (P), such as struvite extracted from wastewater, have potential to substitute for more soluble manufactured fertilisers and help reduce the long-term threat to food security from dwindling finite reserves of phosphate rock (PR). This study aimed to determine whether struvite could be a component of a sustainable P fertiliser management strategy for arable crops.
Methods: A combination of laboratory experiments, pot trials and mathematical modelling of the root system examined the P release properties of commercial fertiliser-grade struvite and patterns of P uptake from a low-P sandy soil by two different crop types, in comparison to more soluble inorganic P fertilisers (di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple super phosphate (TSP)).
Results: Struvite had greatly enhanced solubility in the presence of organic acid anions; buckwheat, which exudes a high level of organic acids, was more effective at mobilising struvite P than the low level exuder, spring wheat. Struvite granules placed with the seed did not provide the same rate of P supply as placed DAP granules for early growth of spring wheat, but gave equivalent rates of P uptake, yield and apparent fertiliser recovery at harvest, even though only 26 % of struvite granules completely dissolved. Fertiliser mixes containing struvite and DAP applied to spring wheat have potential to provide both optimal early and late season P uptake and improve overall P use efficiency.
Conclusions: We conclude that the potential resource savings and potential efficiency benefits of utilising a recycled slow release fertiliser like struvite offers a more sustainable alternative to only using conventional, high solubility, PR-based fertilisers.
Details
- Title
- Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?
- Authors/Creators
- Peter J. Talboys - Supreme Council Of HealthJames Heppell - University of SouthamptonTiina Roose - University of SouthamptonJohn R. Healey - Supreme Council Of HealthDavey L. Jones - Supreme Council Of HealthPaul J. A. Withers - Supreme Council Of Health
- Publication Details
- Plant and soil, Vol.401(1-2), pp.109-123
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Origin Fertilisers BB/I024283/1 / BBSRC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Virotec Europe EP/H01506X/1 / EPSRC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) LK09136 / Sustainable Arable LINK Project - Defra Scottish Government Agrivert Speciality Fertiliser Products Home-Grown Cereals Authority Potato Council EP/G03690X/1 / EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre grant; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Severn Trent Water Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Omex Agriculture
- Identifiers
- 991005560336107891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2015.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.83 Bioengineering
- 3.83.2268 Struvite
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agronomy
- Plant Sciences
- Soil Science
- ESI research areas
- Agricultural Sciences