Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effectiveness of recycled P products as P fertilizers, as evaluated in pot experiments

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

World phosphorus (P) resources are limited and may be exhausted within 70–175 years. Therefore recycling of P from waste materials by chemical or thermal processes is important. This study evaluated the effectiveness of recycled P products from sewage sludge and animal wastes as P fertilizer. Four products were obtained from chemical processes, three magnesium-ammonium-phosphates (MAP) of different sewage treatment plants and a Ca phosphate precipitated from wastewater (Ca-P) and four from thermal processes, an alkali sinter phosphate (Sinter-P), a heavy metal depleted sewage sludge ash (Sl-ash), a cupola furnace slag made from sewage sludge (Cupola slag) and a meat-and-bone meal ash (MB meal ash). The effectiveness of these products as P fertilizers compared with triple superphosphate (TSP) and phosphate rock (PR) was determined in a 2-year pot experiment with maize (Zea mays L., cv. Atletico) in two soils with contrasting pH (pH(CaCl2) 4.7 and 6.6). The parameters used to evaluate the effectiveness were P uptake, P concentration in soil solution (CLi) and isotopically exchangeable P (IEP). MAP products were as effective as TSP in both soils, while Ca-P was only effective in the acid soil. Sinter-P was as effective as TSP in the acid soil, while Cupola slag was in the neutral soil. The products Sl-ash and MB meal ash were of low effectiveness and were comparable to PR. The effect of the fertilizers on IEP, but not on CLi, described their effectiveness. Recycled P products obtained by chemical processes, especially MAP, could be directly applied as P fertilizers, while products such as Sl-ash and MB meal ash are potential raw materials for P fertilizer production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

P-0:

Unfertilized

TSP-60:

Triple superphosphate (60 mg P kg−1)

TSP-200:

Triple superphosphate (200 mg P kg−1)

PR:

Phosphate rock

Ca-P:

Calcium phosphate

MAP-Sb:

Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate (MAP) Seaborne

MAP-Gf:

MAP Gifhorn

MAP-St:

MAP Stuttgart

Sinter-P:

Sinter phosphate

Sl-ash:

Sewage sludge ash

MB meal ash:

Meat and bone meal ash

References

  • Adam C, Peplinski B, Michaelis M, Kley G, Simon F (2009a) Thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge ashes for phosphorus recovery. Waste Manage 29:1122–1128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adam C, Vogel C, Wellendorf S, Schick J, Kratz S, Schnug E (2009b) Phosphorus recovery by thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge ash—results of the European FP6-Project SUSAN. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 417–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams F (1974) Soil solution. In: Carson EW (ed) The plant root and its environment. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, pp 441–481

    Google Scholar 

  • Alloush GA (2003) Dissolution and effectiveness of phosphate rock in acidic soil amended with cattle manure. Plant Soil 251:37–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balmer P (2004) Phosphorus recovery—an overview of potentials and possibilities. Water Sci Technol 49:185–190

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrow NJ (1985) Comparing the effectiveness of fertilizers. Fertilizer Res 8:85–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrow NJ, Shaw TC (1975) The slow reactions between soil and anions: 3. The effects of time temperature on the decrease in isotopically exchangeable phosphate. Soil Sci 119:190–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer PJ, Szogi AA, Vanotti MB (2007) Agronomic effectiveness of calcium phosphate recovered from liquid swine manure. Agron J 99:1352–1356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolland M, Bowden J (1982) Long-term availability of phosphorus from calcined rock phosphate compared with superphosphate. Aust J Agric Res 33:1061–1071

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Claassen N, Steingrobe B (1999) Mechanistic simulation models for a better understanding of nutrient uptake from soil. In: Rengel Z (ed) Mineral nutrition of crops: fundamental mechanisms and implications. CRC Press, New York, pp 327–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordell D, Drangert JO, White S (2009) The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought. Global Environmental Change 19:292–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Day PR (1965) Particle fractionation and particle-size analysis. In: Black CA (ed) Methods of soil analysis. Part 1, Agronomy. Madison, pp 545–567

  • Dentel SK (2004) Contaminants in sludge: implications for management policies and land application. Water Sci Technol 49:21–29

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehbrecht A, Patzig D, Schönauer S, Schwotzer M, Schuhmann R (2009) Crystallisation of calcium phosphate from sewage: efficiency of batch mode technology and quality of the generated products. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 521–530

    Google Scholar 

  • Günther L, Dockhorn T, Dichtl N, Müller J, Urban I, Phan L, Weichgrebe D, Rosenwinkel K, Bayerle N (2008) Technical and scientific monitoring of the large-scale seaborne technology at the WWTP Gifhorn. Water Pract Technol 3(1). doi:10.2166/wpt.2008.006

  • Hartmann G (1994) Late-medieval glass manufacture in the Eichsfeld region (Thuringia, Germany). Chemie Erde 54:103–128

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hui-Zhen W, Ya-Jun Z, Cui-Min F, Ping X, Shao-Gui W (2009) Study on phosphorus recovery by calcium phosphate precipitation from wastewater treatment plants. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) international conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 291–299

  • Jakobsen P, Willett I (1986) Comparisons of the fertilizing and liming properties of lime-treated sewage-sludge with its incinerated ash. Fertilizer Res 9:187–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston AE, Richards IR (2003) Effectiveness of different precipitated phosphates as phosphorus sources for plants. Soil Use Manag 19:45–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kern J, Heinzmann B, Markus B, Kaufmann A, Soethe N, Engels C (2008) Recycling and assessment of struvite phosphorus from sewage sludge. Agric Eng Int CIGR Ej. Manuscript number CE 12 01, vol X, http://www.cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/1071. Accessed Dec 2008

  • Kirk GJ, Nye PH (1986) A simple-model for predicting the rates of dissolution of sparingly soluble calcium phosphates in soil. 2. Applications of the model. J Soil Sci 37:541–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machold O (1962) Die Pflanzenaufnehmbarkeit des labilen Phosphats. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung, Düngung, Bodenkunde 98:99–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Machold O (1963) Über die Bindungsform des “labilen” Phosphats im Boden. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung, Düngung, Bodenkunde 103:132–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey MS, Davis JG, Ippolito JA, Sheffield RE (2009) Effectiveness of recovered magnesium phosphates as fertilizers in neutral and slightly akaline soils. Agron J 101:323–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J, Riley JP (1962) A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal Chim Acta 27:31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nanzer S, Janousch M, Huthwelker T, Eggenberger U, Hermann L, Oberson A, Frossard E (2009) Phosphorus speciation of sewage sludge ashes and potential forfertilizer production. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 609–614

  • Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. 2nd edn. Agronomy Monograph 9, ASA, SSSA, CSSA, Madison, WI, pp 539–580

  • Ostmann H (1995) Bestimmung der Phosphate. In: VDLUFA (ed) Methodenbuch: band II.1. Die Untersuchung von Düngemitteln. VDLUFA, Darmstadt

  • Owusu-Bennoah E, Zapata F, Fardeau J (2002) Comparison of greenhouse and 32P isotopic laboratory methods for evaluating the agronomic effectiveness of natural and modified rock phosphates in some acid soils of Ghana. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 63:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petzet S, Cornel P (2009) Phosphorus removal and recovery from sewage sludge as calcium phosphate by addition of calcium silicate hydrate compounds. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 301–315

  • Phan L, Weichgrebe D, Urban I, Rosenwinkel K, Gunther L, Dockhorn T, Dichtl N, Muller J, Bayerle N (2009) Empirical evaluation of nutrient recovery using seaborne technology at the wastewater treatment plant Gifhorn. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 567–577

    Google Scholar 

  • Plaza C, Sanz R, Clemente C, Fernandez J, Gonzalez R, Polo A, Colmenarejo M (2007) Greenhouse evaluation of struvite and sludges from municipal wastewater treatment works as phosphorus sources for plants. J Agric Food Chem 55:8206–8212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn GP, Keough MJ (2002) Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Römer W (2006) Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Pflanzenverfügbarkeit von Phosphat aus verschiedenen P-Recycling-Produkten im Keimpflanzenversuch. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 169:826–832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer F, Pajenkamp H (1952) Phosphatbestimmung in Pflanzenaschen nach der Molybdän-Vanadin-Methode. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung, Düngung Bodenkunde 56:2–8

  • Scheidig K, Schaaf M, Mallon J (2009) Profitable recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge and meat & bone meal by the Mephrec process—a new means of thermal sludge and ash treatment. In: Ashley K, Mavinic D, Koch F (eds) International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams. IWA Publishing, London, pp 563–566

    Google Scholar 

  • SCOPE (2003) Germany, Sweden: national objectives for P-recovery announced. SCOPE Newsletter 2

  • Seaborne-EPM-AG (2010) Seaborne unwelttechnik. In: http://www.seaborne-erl.de/englisch/index.html

  • Smit AL, Bindraban PS, Schröder JJ, Conijn JG, van der Meer HG (2009) Phosphorus in agriculture: global resources, trends and developments. Plant Research International, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Steen I (1998) Phosphorus availability in the 21st century: management of a non-renewable resource. Phosphorous and Potassium 217:25–31

    Google Scholar 

  • VTS (2010) VTS Koop Schiefer GmbH & Co. Thüringen KG, Unterloquitz. In: http://www.vts-unterloquitz.de

  • Weast R (1970) CRC handbook of chemistry and physics. CRC Press, Cleveland

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidelener A (2010) Phosphorrückgewinnung aus kommunalen Klärschlamm als Magnesium-Ammonium-Phosphat (MAP). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Stuttgart

  • Zhang FS, Yamasaki S, Nanzyo M (2002) Waste ashes for use in agricultural production. I. Liming effect, contents of plant nutrients and chemical characteristics of some metals. Sci Total Environ 284:215–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the Ph.D. scholarship granted to the corresponding author. This project was supported by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (Project code: 02WA0786). The authors gratefully acknowledge the Laboratory for Radio Isotopes (LARI) of George-August University, especially Prof. Dr. Polle, Gabriele Lehmann, Bernd Kopka and Thomas Klein.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmento de Ingeniería y Suelos, Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 1004, Santiago, Chile

    Ricardo Cabeza

  2. Department of Crop Sciences, Section of Plant Nutrition and Crop Physiology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany

    Ricardo Cabeza, Bernd Steingrobe, Wilhelm Römer & Norbert Claassen

Authors
  1. Ricardo Cabeza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bernd Steingrobe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wilhelm Römer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Norbert Claassen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo Cabeza.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cabeza, R., Steingrobe, B., Römer, W. et al. Effectiveness of recycled P products as P fertilizers, as evaluated in pot experiments. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 91, 173–184 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-011-9454-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-011-9454-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation