Opportunity costs for maize associated with localised application of sewage sludge derived fertilisers, as indicated by early root and phosphorus uptake responses

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Summary

Background: Phosphorus recycling from waste and localised placement of fertilisers can be means to improve sustainable P management in agriculture. However, knowledge about root and plant P uptake responses to placement of complex waste- derived fertilisers is lacking.
Methods: Sewage sludge (SS) and sewage sludge ash (ASH) were tested against triple superphosphate (TSP) in a rhizobox setup where shoot and root growth of maize was followed for 30 days. The three P sources were either mixed homogenously into the soil (labelled with 33P) or localised in a patch close to the seed.
Results: While localised TSP and SS both increased root length density around the fertiliser patch, it was at the expense of the remaining root system and soil P uptake for SS. Hence, total P uptake was slightly lower and dry matter yields similar to mixed SS. Thus, only TSP enhanced dry matter yield and fertiliser P uptake compared to the mixed source. No root response was found for localised ASH, and mixed ASH more than doubled dry matter yield and P uptake in comparison.
Conclusions: Localised placement of fertilisers can be expected to be beneficial for young maize plants only for fertiliser types that can supply sufficient amounts of readily available P.

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• Early maize root and phosphorus uptake responses to localised application of sewage sludge derived fertilisers. (deposited 26 Aug 2015 11:49)
  • Opportunity costs for maize associated with localised application of sewage sludge derived fertilisers, as indicated by early root and phosphorus uptake responses. (deposited 22 Mar 2022 14:47) [Currently Displayed]