Fertilization effects of organic waste resources and bottom wood ash: results from a pot experiment

Authors

• Eva Brod Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Soil and Environment Division
• Trond Knapp Haraldsen Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Soil and Environment Division
• Tor Arvid Breland Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.5159

Keywords:

meat and bone meal, fish sludge, wood ash, compost, nitrogen use efficiency, phosphorus

Abstract

We conducted a pot experiment to study the fertilization effects of four N- and P-rich organic waste resources alone and in combination with K-rich bottom wood ash at two application rates (150 kg N ha^–1 + 120 kg K ha^–1, 300 kg N ha^-1 + 240 kg K ha^–1). Plant-available N was the growth-limiting factor. 48–73% of N applied with meat and bone meal (MBM) and composted fish sludge (CFS) was taken up in aboveground biomass, resulting in mineral fertilizer equivalents (MFE%) of 53–81% for N uptake and 61–104% for yield. MFE% of MBM and CFS decreased for increasing application rates. Two industrial composts had weak N fertilization effects and are to be considered soil conditioners rather than fertilizers. Possible P and K fertilization effects of waste resources were masked by the soil’s ability to supply plant-available P and K, but effects on plant-available P and K contents in soil suggest that the waste resources may have positive effects under more nutrient-deficient conditions.