Fertilizer Value Research Articles

Fertilizing Potential of Rye Stillage in A Maize Agroecosystem

The distillery stillage is a major byproduct generated during ethanol production from plant raw materials (e.g., cereals) and molasses. It contains a high percentage of organic matter susceptible to biodegradation and nutrients necessary for plant growth, and therefore, can be used for fertilization purposes. This study evaluated the fertilizing value of rye stillage applied in a grain maize agroecosystem. The field study was carried out in 2017–2018 (two growing seasons) on Luvisol (loamy sand) in Poland. The experiment scheme included four treatments: W0—the control with no stillage treatment, W15—15 m3 of stillage per hectare, W30—30 m3 of stillage per hectare, and W45—45 m3 of stillage per hectare. It was found that application of rye stillage was significant for maize yields. However, it demands supplementary potassium fertilization and regulation of the soil reaction and/or stabilization of the pH of stillage before its application. Moreover, due to its contribution to the build-up of residual available phosphorus in the soil, rye stillage may pose an environmental risk.

Effect of different feed restriction programs on the performance and reproductive traits of broiler breeders

The current experiment evaluated the effect of different feed restriction programs applied during rearing on the performance and reproductive traits of broiler breeder pullets reared on floor pens, isolating the birds' weight effect from the analysis. At 4 wk of age, 1,400 breeder pullets were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments: daily restriction (DAILY-every day feeding), skip-a-day restriction (SKIP-every other day feeding), 4/3 restriction (4/3-4 days feeding and 3 nonconsecutive fasting days) and 5/2 restriction (5/2-5 days feeding and 2 nonconsecutive fasting days), and 8 replicates. At 11, 18, 25, 32, and 39 wk of age, body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass composition, organs relative weight (liver, fat, oviduct, and ovary stroma), egg production, and egg weight were accessed. At 32 and 39 wk, 12 eggs by experimental unit were collected and incubated to determine hatchability and fertility parameters. Body weight, carcass EE, and FCR were higher for SKIP birds when compared to other feed restriction programs. SKIP birds also showed the lowest number of eggs per bird (NEB) and % of egg production when compared to 4/3 feeding schedule, which provided higher values. Feed conversion ratio per egg mass (FCEM) was also higher in 4/3 schedule in relation to SKIP birds. In regard to incubation parameters, 5/2 treatment showed higher values for hatchability (HAT) and fertility (FERT), similar to results of 4/3 and DAILY treatments, while SKIP birds showed the lowest. In conclusion, 4/3 and 5/2 feeding programs showed best results and should be used by broiler breeder producers to control pullets' body weight. Therefore, the higher number of eggs produced with less feed and statistically not different fertility and hatchability between programs obtained in this study suggest the 4/3 program could be more efficient than 5/2 program. Body weight'|'s effect isolation was important to analyze the effect of feed restriction program per se, and should be applied in future approaches.

Farmers' Heterogeneous Willingness to Pay for Farmland Non-Market Goods and Services on the Basis of a Mixed Logit Model-A Case Study of Wuhan, China.

The exploration of different stakeholders’ heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland ecological value is a fundamental part of understanding the total value of farmland protection and designing a scientific farmland protection policy. Unlike the homogenous assumption used in the previous studies, the mixed logit model of choice experiment method was applied to estimate respondents’ heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland non-market value (represented by farmland area, farmland fertility, water quality, air quality, species richness, and recreational value) in this study. Data came from a sample of 289 farmers in Wuhan, China who were face-to-face interviewed. Results showed that: (1) Farmers were unsatisfied with the status quo of the present farmland ecological environment and were willing to pay to preserve all the attributes of farmland non-market value. (2) Farmers had a heterogeneous preference for the status quo and recreational value—the error variances of these two attributes were both significant at the 1% level, and their willingness to pay for the farmland non-market value in Wuhan was 1141.88 Yuan/hm2. (3) Farmers’ cognition degree of farmland importance and whether respondents bought medical insurance or not had significant impacts on their willingness to pay. The results can provide the basic foundation for accurate valuation of farmland non-market services, help farmland regulators make the right farmland conversion decisions, and improve the resource allocation efficiency of local financial expenditure during farmland protection in Wuhan.

Reducing Ammonia Emissions from Dairy Cattle Production via Cost-Effective Manure Management Techniques in China

This study analyzed ammonia reduction potential and related costs and benefits of several ammonia emission reduction technologies applicable for dairy production from cattle in China. Specifically, these included diet manipulation, manure acidification, manure/slurry covers, and solid manure compaction. Ammonia emissions for China were estimated using the GAINS and NUFER models, while mitigation potentials of technologies were determined from laboratory studies. Ammonia reduction potentials from dairy production in China ranged from 0.8 to 222 Gg NH3 year-1 for the selected technologies. Implementation costs ranged from a savings of US$15 kg-1 NH3 abated to an expenditure of US$45 kg-1 NH3 abated, while the total implementation costs varied from a savings of US$1.5 billion in 2015 to an expenditure of a similar size. The best NH3 reduction technology was manure acidification, while the most cost-effective option was diet optimization with lower crude protein input. For most abatement options, material costs were the critical element of overall costs. The fertilizer value of manure could partly offset the implementation cost of the options tested. Furthermore, benefits due to avoided health damage, as a result of reducing NH3 emissions, could make all abatement options (except for manure compaction) profitable on the scale of a national economy.

Study on the hydrothermal carbonization of swine manure: The effect of process parameters on the yield/properties of hydrochar and process water

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for the treatment of swine manure (SM). In this study, the effects of main process parameters on the yield/properties of hydrochar and process water are investigated. In view of the mass/energy yield of hydrochar, the suitable reaction temperature, solid-liquid ratio and reaction time are 260 ℃, 0.1 g/mL and 30 min, respectively. At the above conditions, the yield and caloric value of hydrochar reach 53.2 wt.% and 15.9 MJ/kg, respectively. After HTC, the phosphorus and heavy metals contained in raw SM are accumulated in hydrochars. The contents of total P in hydrochars obtained at 220–280 ℃ increase by 11.3–33.6%, compared to that in raw SM. However, the contents of soluble P and leachable heavy metals in hydrochars both significantly decrease, especially for soluble P (reducing by 79.1–98.5%). Interestingly, only about 26.9–39.8% of N and 25.3–30.0% of K contained in raw SM are retained in hydrochars after HTC, with the rest entering into the liquid phase (process water). The COD and chroma values of process water reduce from 13.6 g/L to 6.5 g/L and from 13,000° to 3571° with increasing reaction temperature (200–280 ℃), respectively. The process water contains a mass of N, K, and organic C, and also a small amount of P. Both hydrochar and process water have agronomic fertilizer value, but attention should be paid to the pollution risk of heavy metals.

Clearing vs. burning for restoring Pyrenean grasslands after shrub encroachment

Anthropogenic activities have modified vegetation on subalpine belts for a long time, lowering the treeline ecotone and influencing the landscape mainly through grazing and fire. The abandonment of these traditional land use practices during the last decades and global warming are contributing largely to the colonization of woody species in subalpine grasslands, causing irreversible changes in ecosystem functioning. A variety of management strategies requiring the use of fire and/or clear-cutting are carried out to prevent the expansion of highly encroaching shrubs and improve the conservation status of subhumid high-productive grasslands ecosystems. However, it is still poorly understood how different management strategies affect the recovery of subalpine grasslands, which is influenced concurrently by the vegetation community involved. In this study we used field experiments to test the impact of management treatments on soil properties and vegetation responses in subalpine Bromion erecti grassland communities colonized by the pyrophyte shrub Echinospartum horridum (Vahl) Rothm. on the southern Pyrenees. Vegetation was monitored for 5 years in E. horridum plots (two plots per treatment) where the vegetation was removed by prescribed fire (Burnt treatment) or by mechanical removal (Clear-cut treatment). Undisturbed E. horridum plots were used as a control (C-Erizón) for shrub removal treatments and a Bromion erecti grassland community regularly grazed (C-Grass) was used as a control for subalpine grassland. Clear-cut treatment of E. horridum community was more effective to control E. horridum colonization than Burnt treatment and contributed to a higher extent to recover original grassland vegetation, because E. horridum seedling performed worse (lower germination rates) and plant species were more similar to the original grassland (legumes, non-legume forbs, and grasses). Shrubs and sub-shrubs cover in Burnt areas increased faster than in Clear-cut areas during the 5 years following the treatment, although it did not reach the level of C-Erizón. Species richness and diversity increased in comparison with C-Erizón in both treatments, but they were significantly lower than those in the C-Grass. Network connectivity was larger in well preserved grasslands, i.e, C-Grass, than in any other treatments, mainly dominated by negative plant-plant association. Soils nutrients declined in Burnt sites 4 years after the fire treatment and no difference was observed between Clear-cut and C-Erizón sites, although they did not reach the soil fertility values of C-Grass in terms of organic matter and C/N ratio. This study showed that grazing favors plant diversity and community complexity in subalpine grasslands. It also demonstrated that clearing is a better strategy than burning to restore grasslands after shrub encroachment because burning entails deeper soil degradation and faster recovering of the pyrophyte shrub, E. horridum.

Значення органічних добрив у системі удобрення культур польової сівозміни

Значення органічних добрив у системі удобрення культур польової сівозміни

Efficient Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Via Electrolyte Engineering

Nitrate-containing fertilizers are prolific in the agricultural industry due to the ease with which nitrates can be used as a nutrient source by plants.1 Concentrated forms of nitrates can be found in industrial waste streams such as those originating from uranium purification and processing,2 saltpeter mines,3 and agricultural runoff water.4 These nitrates often appear in the form of cation-containing salts, which can themselves be used as fertilizers. However, nitrate salts are generally avoided due to possible buildup of cations in the soil. Accumulation of ions such as sodium and calcium can break down soil structure, affect water intake by plants, and decrease plant metabolism, all of which lower crop yield.1 Consequently, a technology with the ability to convert various nitrate sources to a form of fertilizer that is less detrimental to crop growth is desirable. Direct electrochemical conversion of nitrates to ammonia is attractive due to its feasibility under a wide variety of electrolyte conditions, as well as its potential to be coupled to renewable electricity sources. While many studies have focused on electrochemical reduction of nitrates to environmentally-benign N2,5-7 recycling these nitrates into a chemical commodity such as ammonia could provide a means of producing a valuable fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, that is less potentially harmful to crop health than mineral- and metal-containing nitrate salts. To this end, a titanium-based cathode was used to electrochemically reduce NO3 - to ammonia. Applied potential, electrolyte pH, and nitrate concentration were varied to map selectivity toward ammonia under a variety of electrode/electrolyte conditions. Selectivity varied depending on proton and nitrate anion availability, with a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) toward NH3 of 78% occurring at a pH of 1 and 0.4 M NO3 - under an applied potential of -1 V vs RHE and current density of 23 mA/cm2. We observed titanium hydride formation on the surface of the electrode during electrolysis experiments and found that pre-treating the cathode may improve FE toward NH3. Additionally, the cathode was stable over 8 hours and demonstrated 50% FE toward ammonia, suggesting titanium is reasonably stable under peak selectivity conditions. Our preliminary technoeconomic analysis suggests that, at our total cell voltage of 1 V and the above selectivity toward ammonia, there may be an opportunity to produce ammonium nitrate, a typical fertilizer product, at or below the USDA cost range of NH4NO3. References Day, A. D.; Ludeke, K. L., Soil Alkalinity. In Plant Nutrients in Desert Environments, Springer Berlin Heidelberg: Berlin, Heidelberg, 1993; pp 35-37.Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E.; Wiberg, N.; Eagleson, M.; Brewer, W., Inorganic Chemistry. Academic Press: 2001.Gustafson, A. F., Handbook of Fertilizers - Their Sources, Make-Up, Effects, And Use. Read Books Limited: 2013.Davidson, E. A.; David, M. B.; Galloway, J. N.; Goodale, C. L.; Haeuber, R.; Harrison, J. A.; Howarth, R. W.; Jaynes, D. B.; Lowrance, R. R.; Nolan, B. T.; Peel, J. L.; Pinder, R. W.; Porter, E.; Snyder, C. S.; Townsend, A. R.; Ward, M. H., Excess Nitrogen in the U.S. Environment: Trends, Risks, and Solutions. Issues in Ecology 2012, 12, 1-1.Katsounaros, I.; Kyriacou, G., Influence of the concentration and the nature of the supporting electrolyte on the electrochemical reduction of nitrate on tin cathode. Electrochimica Acta 2007, 52 (23), 6412-6420.Dortsiou, M.; Katsounaros, I.; Polatides, C.; Kyriacou, G., Influence of the electrode and the pH on the rate and the product distribution of the electrochemical removal of nitrate. Environmental Technology 2013, 34 (3), 373-38.Dima, G. E.; de Vooys, A. C. A.; Koper, M. T. M., Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate at low concentration on coinage and transition-metal electrodes in acid solutions. J Electroanal Chem 2003, 554-555, 15-23. Figure 1

Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) treatment offers a new option in previous unsuccessful cases due to poor fertilization history; a paired cohort study

To improve of treatment outcome in terms of fertilization, implantation and pregnancy rates as well as cancelation rate after applying AOA in the following treatments for those patients with previous very low or failed fertilization attempts. Additionally were tested both delivery rate and obstetric outcomes in children born after AOA use. Retrospective Cohort Study. Period included between April 2013 and December 2018. The total number of oocytes included in the study was 1125 distributed in two groups: the control group formed by 509 oocytes from 66 patients who were injected without AOA, acquiring either a failure or unusually low fertilization values (<30%) and the study group consisted of 616 oocytes from the same patients (66) in a second attempt but using AOA. Injection technique with AOA is comparable to conventional injection (ICSI) but in this case each oocyte was injected by spermatozoon together with a previous phase of buffered medium mixed with ionophore calcium (ICa) aspirating it up to filling one third of the overall length of the pipette under 40X microscope magnification. Just after, they were kept for ten minutes with Ica into benchtop incubator and finally were incubated under the same culture conditions (37ºC, 6% CO2, 5% O2 atmosphere) Fertilization, pregnancy, implantation and abortion rates were analysed and compared in both groups by Χ2, t-Student and ANOVA tests. Both live birth and neonatal outcome was also reported. After applying AOA, we observed a significant increase in the fertilization rate (51% vs 13.1%), ongoing pregnancy rate (47% vs. 21.7%) as well as implantation rate (31.1% vs 13.1%) and lower chances of cancellation (22.7% vs 69.3%). Additionally, no adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes effects were found after the use of AOA compare to conventional ICSI. Our findings support the use of AOA for a specific population of patients with previous very low fertilization or fertilization failure and in consequence, the outcome was impaired. After applying AOA, the reproductive success was significantly enhanced, mainly by the significant increase in the fertilization rate, the number of embryos available for selection, reducing dramatically the cancellation rate. The safety of AOA is reflected in the current practice after confirming non-detrimental effects in the offspring.

Between the thinking hand and the eyes of the skin: pragmatist aesthetics and architecture

O mundo construído, o mundo da arquitetura, nas palavras de John Dewey, é “supremamente expressivo dos interesses e valores humanos”, influenciando o futuro, mas também recordando e transmitindo o passado. Ele “recorda e celebra mais que qualquer outra arte as características genéricas da nossa vida humana comum”. Prédios, ele escreve, entre todos os objetos de arte, são os que mais se aproximam ao “expressar a estabilidade e persistência da existência. Eles são para as montanhas o que a música é para o mar”. Eu traço alguns novos vínculos entre uma estética pragmatista experiencial e o rico trabalho do arquiteto finlandês praticante e filosoficamente sofisticado, Juhani Pallasmaa. Em seu Os Olhos da Pele, Pallasmaa retoma o tema da “arquitetura e os sentidos” e desenvolve no caso da arquitetura uma afirmação deweyiana central: o mundo construído deve ser medido por quão bem fora construído de forma a nos ativar em todos estes níveis de nosso ser corpóreo. Pallasmaa proporciona um “ângulo” de arquiteto com a ajuda de diferentes, embora complementárias ferramentas filosóficas. Em A Mão Pensante, ele foca na fertilidade heurística e valor exemplificador do processo “manual” ou “guiado a mão” envolvidos no design do mundo construído em oposição ao uso privilegiado do computador. Pallasmaa vê a mão pensante como uma espécie de dispositivo mediador que supera o abismo, que também Dewey queria, entre as artes formativas e automáticas, permitindo um papel central para a imaginação baseado no corpo. O foco de Pallasmaa da dimensão háptica da percepção e a “mão pensante” é, como o foco de Dewey na “ressonância orgânica total”, não apenas descritivo, mas normativo. Suas análises e conceitos são de relevância universal para a compreensão não apenas da arquitetura mas da dimensão estética da vida de forma geral.

The Influence of Bottom Sediments and Inoculation with Rhizobacterial Inoculants on the Physiological State of Plants Used in Urban Plantings

Bottom sediments accumulate rapidly in urban reservoirs and should be periodically removed. Their high organic matter content makes them valuable fertilizers, but they often contain toxic substances. The present study compares the responses of the dicotyledonous Tagetes patula and monocotyledon Festuca arundinacea to the presence of such sediments in soil and to soil inoculation with two rhizobacterial strains (Massilia niastensis p87 and Streptomyces costaricanus RP92) isolated from contaminated soil. Total soluble protein, total chlorophyll content, as well as chlorophyll a/b ratio, degree of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), α-tocopherol content, total phenolic compounds (TPC) content and anthocyanins content were examined in the leaves of investigated plants. T. patula was more sensitive to the toxic substances in the sediments than F. arundinacea. Rhizobacterial inoculation reduced the toxic effect of the sediment. RP92 has a more favorable effect on the condition of T. patula than p87. F. arundinacea was not adversely affected by the addition of sediments or inoculation with the p87 or RP92 strains. Both tested plant species are suitable for planting on soils enriched with urban sediments, and the addition of bacterial inoculums promote plant growth and reduce the damage caused by the xenobiotics contained in the sediments.

Fertilizer and soil conditioner value of broiler manure biochars

Pyrolysis is an option for enhancing the sustainable management of broiler manure surpluses by producing a concentrated, hygienic char product with a fertilizer and soil conditioner value. In this study, the impacts of pyrolysis conducted at 350, 400 and 450 °C on total nutrient and harmful element concentrations in biochars derived from peat-bedded broiler manure were examined. Emphasis was placed on the availability of phosphorus (P). In addition, the pore structures of these biochars were explored using X-ray microtomography and image analysis. During pyrolysis, 35–50%, 40–55% and 35–45% of the original carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents, respectively, of the feedstock biomass were lost as volatiles. Mineral elements, including P, were concentrated in the biochar. Although water-extractable P was found to be converted to less labile forms due to charring, the concentration effect and notable increase in sodium bicarbonate-extractable P rendered broiler manure biochars richer in total labile P in comparison with feedstock manure (7.1, 10.0, 11.1 and 14.8 g labile P kg−1 in feedstock and biochars produced at 350, 400 and 450 °C, respectively). The pore volume of the micrometer-scale porosity of the broiler manure biochar was comparable to that found earlier in wood-based biochars. In comparison with wood-based biochars, the pore structure of broiler manure biochars was more versatile, and the pore size distribution was wider. Consequently, part of the porosity was too large to store plant-available water, which may reduce the potential of broiler manure biochars to improve soil water storage capacity.

Relationships between feeding and microbial faeces indices in dairy cows at different milk yield levels.

A study was carried out to gain quantitative information on the diet-dependent faecal microbial biomass of dairy cows, especially on the biomass fractions of fungi, Gram-positive (G+) and Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. Groups of high-yield, low-yield and non-lactating cows were investigated at four different farms. A mean faecal microbial biomass C (MBC) concentration of 33.5 mg g-1 DM was obtained by the chloroform fumigation extraction method. This is similar to a mean microbial C concentration of 31.8 mg g-1 DM, which is the sum of bacterial C and fungal C, estimated by cell-wall derived muramic acid (MurN) and fungal glucosamine (GlcN), respectively. However, the response of these two approaches to the feeding regime was contradictory, due to feeding effects on the conversion values. The higher neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentrations in the non-lactating group led to higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of cellulose and lignin in their faeces in comparison with the lactating cows. This change in faecal chemical composition in the non-lactating group was accompanied by usually higher ratios of G+/G- phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), ergosterol/MBC and fungal C/bacterial C. Although bacteria dominate the faecal microbial biomass, fungi contribute a considerable mean percentage of roughly 20% to the faecal microbiome, according to PLFA and amino sugar data, which requires more attention in the future. Near-infra red spectroscopic estimates of organic N and C fractions of cow faeces were able to model microbial biomarkers successfully, which might be useful in the future to predict its N2O emission potential and fertilizer value.

Evaluation of a phosphorus fertiliser produced from anaerobically digested organic fraction of municipal solid waste

When urban waste is not separately collected its phosphorus content cannot be recovered. The production of phosphorus-based fertilisers from urban waste could generate phosphorus added-value products, reduce environmental impacts from waste disposal and lower the consumption of virgin raw materials in the fertiliser industry. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the short-term agronomic value of a phosphorus fertiliser, which has the same chemical composition and mineralogical structure as struvite, but is artificially produced using phosphorus recovered from the anaerobically digested organic fraction of municipal solid waste (herein referred to as “secondary struvite”). To evaluate the release of phosphorus forms over time a 30 d incubation experiment was performed. Then the cultivation of rye (Secale cereale L.) was done in pot scale during 45 d to assess the phosphorus phytoavailability and the agronomic potential of secondary struvite, when compared with the commercial mineral fertiliser, single superphosphate. This work contributes to fill a knowledge gap about the effects of this secondary struvite as a source of phosphorus on soil phosphorus forms as well as on phosphorus’ soil and plant availability.

Nutrient release from K-feldspar ore altered in hydrothermal conditions

The development of potash materials from local K-bearing resources such as aluminosilicate minerals is desirable to overcome reliance on imported fertilizers in tropical countries. However, the nutrient release from such materials follows a time-dependent profile that is not well-understood and that is significantly different if probed at agronomic or geological timescales. This work investigates the nutrient release from a calcium–aluminum–silicate-hydrate (C–A–S–H) material obtained via hydrothermal alteration of K-feldspar ore and CaO. The C–A–S–H hydrothermal material is subjected to sequential leaching cycles with diluted HNO3 (initial pH = 5), renewing the leaching solution at every cycle. X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) is used to monitor changes in the material mineralogy as the leaching progresses, showing a relative increase of calcite (up to 7 wt%) and amorphous phase (up to 23 wt%). Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) of the leachates is used to monitor the release of K, Ca, Si and Al, and shows that the material releases K nutrient at every leaching cycle. The pH of the leachates shows that as the content of calcite in the material increases a buffering capacity at pH ≈ 9.6 is developed by the material. The mineralogy, nutrient release, and pH results presented in this study suggest a potential application of the material as a slow release fertilizer when compared to KCl. Experimental results also imply that kinetic parameters rather than solubility are more suited to describe the fertilizer value of silicate materials.

Combine Use of Dry Cocoa Bean Testa Ash and Wood Ash for Soil Fertility Improvement and Maize Yield on Degraded Tropical Humid Alfisol, Southwestern Nigeria

Combine use of dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) and wood ash (WA) for the improvement of soil fertility and yield of maize (Zea mays, L.) was studied on an Alfisol South Western Nigeria, located at Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji-Arakeji, Ilesa Osun State, Nigeria Teaching and Research Farm from April to July 2017 and from August to November 2017. Four treatments of dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) at 5 tons/ha, wood ash (WA) at 5 tones/ hectare, dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) at 2.5 tons/ha, mixed with wood ash (WA) at 2.5 tons/ha and control (C) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were compared by the use of Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. The study showed that dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA) either used alone or in combination with wood ash (WA) is a valuable fertilizer and can serve as a suitable alternative to inorganic fertilizer in the south western Nigeria especially, DCBTA has higher concentration of potassium (K) and organic carbon than wood ash. Wood ash (WA) 2.5 tones/ha) treatment plus dry cocoa bean testa ash (DCBTA 2.5 tones/ha) produced higher values for plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll, plant diameter, cob length, cob diameter and grain yield against the control that recorded the lowest value. Also, DCBTA improves soil pH as well as increases minerals such as Ca, Mg, Na and in particular, made available phosphorous due to its increment on soil pH. pH increased from 5.4 to 7.4 (DCBTA), 6.9 (WA) and 7.42 (DCBTA + WA). N levels in the soil increased from 0.05% to 2.61% (DCBTA) and 1.95% (DCBTA + WA). Organic carbon (OC) increased from 0.08% to 2.31% (DCBTA) and 3.11% (DCBTA + WA). P level decreased from 3.5 mg/kg to 2.49 mg/kg (DCBTA) and 2.50 mg/kg (DCBTA + WA) which was an indication of P availability to crop during growing season. Maize grain yield increased from 0.74 ton/ha in the control plot to 1.82 tons/ha in DCBTA and 1.89tons/ha in (DCBTA + WA). The study recommends an application rate of 5 tons/ha of dry cocoa testa ash (DCBTA) alone or 2.5 tons/ha combination each of (DCBTA) and WA for maize yield and soil fertility improvement on this type of soil in this agro-ecology.

Excrementalisms: revaluing what we have only ever known as waste

ABSTRACT Though we may be accustomed to our “flush-and-forget” system of disposal, excrement was not named “human waste” until 1863. Before the mid-to-late 1800s, excrement was a commodity, a valuable fertilizer collected by scavengers and bought by farmers. As it transitioned to waste in the ensuing decades, human excrement became tainted with social fissures of the Long Progressive Era. That is, during the time when the U.S. went through a notable sanitary revolution, white Americans used excrement and pseudoscience to reinforce their feelings of racial superiority over both Native Americans and darker-skinned peoples they encountered in newly acquired territories after 1898. Examining excrement as a rich source of historical analysis reveals its position at the nexus of many Progressive Era threads, including a transition to modern artificial fertilizer, a greater presence for women in the public sphere, imperialism, and virulent racism. The consequences of revaluing excrement as a waste during this period are extensive and, by-and-large, tragic and avoidable.

Enhancing nutrient recycling from excreta to meet crop nutrient needs in Sweden \u2013 a spatial analysis

Increased recycling of nutrient-rich organic waste to meet crop nutrient needs is an essential component of a more sustainable food system. However, agricultural specialization continues to pose a significant challenge to balancing crop nutrient needs and the nutrient supply from animal manure and human excreta locally. For Sweden, this study found that recycling all excreta (in 2007) could meet up to 75% of crop nitrogen and 81% of phosphorus needs, but that this would exceed crop potassium needs by 67%. Recycling excreta within municipalities could meet 63% of crop P nutrient needs, but large regional differences and imbalances need to be corrected to avoid over or under fertilizing. Over 50% of the total nitrogen and phosphorus in excreta is contained in just 40% of municipalities, and those have a surplus of excreta nutrients compared to crop needs. Reallocation of surpluses (nationally optimized for phosphorus) towards deficit municipalities, would cost 192 million USD (for 24 079 km of truck travel). This is 3.7 times more than the total NPK fertilizer value being transported. These results indicate that Sweden could reduce its dependence on synthetic fertilizers through investments in excreta recycling, but this would likely require valuing also other recycling benefits.

An investigation of agricultural use potential of dewatered sewage sludge

Background: One of the useful applications of Dewatered sludge (DWS) of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is its use as manure in agriculture; therefore, its quality characteristics should be specified. The aim of this research was to determine biological and physicochemical characteristics of DWS of Sari WWTP and compare them with standards, and also to investigate its potential use in agriculture. Methods: Sludge samples were taken from the sewage sludge of Sari WWTP. Sampling and analysis of samples parameters including fecal coliform, salmonella, helminth ova, carbon, nitrogen, C/N, phosphorus, organic matter, potassium, moisture, electrical conductivity, and PH, were performed during four seasons with three replications based on the standard method. Results: The fecal coliform, salmonella, and helminth ova of the DWS were 2.37×106 ± 1.06×106 MPN/1 g d.s weight, 47±12.92 MPN/4 g d.s weight, and 466±61.85 number/4 g d.s weight, respectively, therefore, the DWS of Sari WWTP was categorized in the class B of the EPA standard. The amounts of C/N, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, moisture, electrical conductivity, and PH were obtained to be 12.7±1.15, 42.4±3.27%, 24.6±1.89%, 1.94±0.13%, 2.35±0.6%, 0.57±0.13%, 82±3.12%, 1.34±0.21 ds/m, and 7.41± 0.45, respectively. Conclusion: The DWS of Sari WWTP has a good fertility value but it cannot be safely used in agriculture and should be improved for class A by the Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP), especially by composting.

Interactive effects of past land use and recent forest management on the understorey community in temperate oak forests in South Sweden

AbstractQuestionsPast agricultural land use and forest management have shaped and influenced the understorey composition in European forests for centuries. We investigated whether understorey vegetation assemblages are affected by (a) legacies from a historical infield/outland agricultural system (i.e., a system with nutrient‐enriched vs nutrient‐depleted areas), (b) recent management intensity (i.e., thinning/felling activities), and (c) the interaction of recent management and potential legacies.LocationOak forests in Skåne, south Sweden.MethodsWe use three vegetation surveys (1983, 1993/94 and 2014) and notes on management and land‐use history, available for 62 permanent 500 m² plots. We conducted linear mixed effect modelling to detect both main and interactive effects of past land use and recent management on understorey diversity measures and vegetation indicator values for light and fertility. We combined nonmetric multidimensional scaling with permutational multivariate analysis of variance and indicator species analysis to detect compositional differences caused by past land use and/or recent management.ResultsUnderstorey diversity was mainly affected by management activities, but the former infield/outland agricultural system was an important determinant of understorey composition. Understorey composition of former infields reflected higher nutrient availability and lower light availability compared to former outland. Past land use and recent management had interactive effects on light‐related understorey variables: for the less intensively managed plots, the outland plots contained more light‐demanding species than the infield plots, while for the more intensively managed plots, the light‐demanding signature of the understorey was similar for infield and outland plots.ConclusionsDifferent intensities of past land use as well as recent forest management influenced the composition of the forest understorey, and interactions were present. Therefore, careful consideration of both the long‐term land‐use history and the more recent disturbances due to forest management are necessary when making future predictions of understorey composition and diversity.