%0 Journal Article
%T Field-Scale Evaluation of Biosolids-Derived Organomineral Fertilisers Applied to Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in England
%A Diogenes L. Antille
%A Ruben Sakrabani
%A Richard J. Godwin
%J Applied and Environmental Soil Science
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/960629
%X A field-scale experiment was conducted to compare the suitability of two organomineral fertiliser (OMF) formulations (OMF10¡ª10£¿:£¿4£¿:£¿4 and OMF15¡ª15£¿:£¿4£¿:£¿4) with urea and biosolids granules applied to perennial ryegrass. Results showed a 25% to 30% increase in dry matter yield (DMY) with application of OMF compared with biosolids granules but about 5% lower than urea. For OMF, an average input of yielded which was similar to that of urea; whereas, for biosolids, a yield of required an input of but DMY was lower ( ). Agronomic efficiencies with OMF were in the range of 26 to 35£¿kg , approximately double those of biosolids but about 5% to 10% lower than urea. Soil extractable P levels remained close to constant; therefore, soil P Index was not affected by OMF application. This result supported the reasons for the proposed OMF formulations and demonstrated the advantage of the products compared with biosolids which induced an increase ( ), in soil extractable P. The application of OMF at rates which do not exceed the optimum N rate for the grass crop should not induce significant changes in soil P Index including application to soils with satisfactory P levels. OMF application strategies are discussed which will enable minimising environmental concerns and maximising fertiliser use efficiency. 1. Introduction In Europe, the gradual implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC [1] has resulted in increasing amounts of sewage sludge that require safe disposal [2]. Estimates for 2005 indicated that the European community produces approximately 9 million tonnes per year of sewage sludge (dry solids) which represents an increment of about 65% compared with the level recorded in 1992 [2]. The use of tertiary treatment for the removal of nutrients from wastewater is a requirement in sensitive areas before treated water is recycled to the environment [3]. Therefore, further requirements for enhanced treatment of sewage effluents can arise from future designations of sensitive waters under the provision of the Directive [1] which will result in increased sludge production. Edge [4] estimated that phosphorus removal by precipitation increases sludge production by about 10% to 25% compared with sludge that receives secondary treatment only. In England, the water industry recognises significant cost advantages in recycling biosolids through agriculture compared with alternative more expensive disposal options such as landfill and incineration. Estimates (Antille [5] with 2007 figures) indicated that agricultural recycling costs wastewater
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2013/960629/