Abstract
The current study estimated (i) the effect of mineral N fertiliser (NH4NO3), municipal sewage sludge and cattle slurry on hemp cultivar (cv) USO-31 and sunflower cv Wielkopolski above ground biomass yield, (ii) the efficiency of nitrogen recovery of the applied amendments (nitrogen recovery, %), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE, kgkg−1) and the profitability (%) of briquette production from hemp and sunflower above ground biomass. A long-term field trial was established in 2008–2011 at Estonian University of Life Sciences (58̊23′N, 26̊44′E) on Stagnic Luvisol soil (sandy loam surface texture, C 1.12%, and N 0.12%, pHKCl 5.6). The plants were grown on different N treatments: N0 (without N), N100 (mineral N fertiliser NH4NO3), sewage sludge from the city of Tartu, and cattle slurry. The applied amount of N for all treatments (with the exception of the N0 treatment) was 100kgNha−1. The energy sunflower has high potential to produce vigorous above ground biomass in north European conditions. But, it is necessary to continue the field trials with this crop to clarify the biomass yield stability over many years. In point of profitability, the sewage sludge could be used as organic fertiliser for energy crops, because the biomass increase by 1kg of sludge N was the highest and biomass yield over trial years more stable of the fertilisers tested. In most years 100kgNha−1 did not guarantee profitable above ground biomass production of hemp in low fertility soil. Cattle slurry for energy crops with slow initial development is not a promising organic fertiliser.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.