Fertiliser from sewage sludge ash instead of conventional phosphorus fertilisers?

• Published in: Plant, soil and environment Vol. 64; no. 10; pp. 504 - 511
• Main Authors: JASTRZĘBSKA, Magdalena, KOSTRZEWSKA, Marta, TREDER, Kinga, MAKOWSKI, Przemysław, SAEID, Agnieszka, JASTRZĘBSKI, Wiesław, OKORSKI, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prague Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) 01-01-2018; Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Subjects: Agricultural production; agronomic evaluation; Ashes; Crop yield; Environmental management; Fertilizers; fungal diseases; Incineration; Municipal wastes; Nonrenewable resources; Pests; Phosphorite; Phosphorus; phosphorus content; Renewable resources; secondary raw material; Sewage disposal; Sewage sludge; Spring wheat; Sustainable yield; Wheat; yield components
• ISSN: 1214-1178; 1805-9368
• DOI: 10.17221/347/2018-PSE

Recycling of phosphorus (P) from municipal waste for the use as a fertiliser can be an alternative to the non-renewable resources of this element as well as a method in the management of civilisation by-products that are a burden to the environment. An innovative phosphorus suspension fertiliser, produced on the basis of ash from incineration of sewage sludge and phosphorus solubilising bacteria Bacillus megaterium was compared in field trials with spring wheat conducted in 2014 and 2015 with superphosphate and phosphorite. The new fertiliser was not inferior to the commercial fertilisers in terms of the effect on wheat yield volumes, the uptake of P by wheat and the sanitary condition of the wheat field, especially when grown protected from weeds, pathogens and pests. It is expected that such a fertiliser can be an alternative to fertilisers produced from non-renewable resources, provided it does not deteriorate the quality of agricultural production and will be safe for the environment.