Browsing by Author "Godwin, Richard J."

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    Effects of biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers, urea, and biosolids granules on crop and soil established with ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)
    (Taylor and Francis, 2014-04-25) Antille, Diogenes Luis; Sakrabani, Ruben; Godwin, Richard J.
    A pot scale trial investigated the agronomic performance of two organomineral fertilizers (OMF15—15:4:4 and OMF10—10:4:4) in comparison with urea and biosolids granules to establish ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Two soils of contrasting characteristics and nitrogen (N) application rates in the range of 0–300 kg ha−1 were used over a period of 3 years. Fertilizer effects were determined on: (1) dry matter yield (DMY) and crop responses, (2) nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and (3) selected soil chemical properties. Ryegrass responded linearly (R2 ≥ 0.75; P < 0.001) to organomineral fertilizers (OMF) application increasing DMY by 2–27% compared with biosolids but to a lesser extent than urea (range: 17–55%). NUE was related to concentration of readily available N in the fertilizer: urea and OMF showed significantly (P < 0.05) greater N recoveries than biosolids. Total N in soil and soil organic matter showed increments (P < 0.05), which depended on the organic-N content in the fertilizer applied. Soil extractable P levels remained close to constant after 3 years of continuous OMF application but increased with biosolids and decreased with urea, respectively (P < 0.05). The application of biosolids changed soil P Index from 5 to 6; hence, there is a need to monitor soil P status. Both OMF10 and OMF15 formulations are suitable for application in ryegrass.
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    Field-scale evaluation of biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers applied to winter wheat in England
    (American Society of Agronomy, 2017-02-23) Antille, Diogenes Luis; Godwin, Richard J.; Sakrabani, Ruben; Seneweerad, Saman; Tyrrel, Sean F.; Johnston, A. Edward
    Field-scale experiments in four crop seasons established the agronomic performance of biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers (OMF) for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in England. Two OMF formulations (OMF10 10:4:4 and OMF15 15:4:4) were compared with urea and biosolids granules (≈5:6:0.2) to determine crop responses and fertilizer effects on soil chemical properties. Fertilizers were applied at N rates between 0 and 250 kg ha–1 at regular increments of 50 kg ha–1 N. Average grain yields with OMF10 and OMF15 were higher than with biosolids granules, but lower than with urea (P < 0.05). The optimum N application rates, and corresponding grain yields, were 245 and 7900 kg ha–1 for biosolids, 257 and 9100 kg ha–1 for OMF10, 249 and 9500 kg ha–1 for OMF15, and 225 and 10350 kg ha–1 for urea, respectively. Differences in grain yield between fertilizer treatments were explained by differences in yield components, particularly number of grains and thousand-grain-weight. Grain-N recoveries were 31% for biosolids, ≈40% for OMF, and 52% for urea. Organomineral fertilizers-induced changes in soil extractable P and soil P Index were not significant. Thus, application of OMF replenished P offtake by the crop and therefore supported the choice of the proposed OMF formulations. By contrast, extractable P increased in biosolids and decreased in urea-treated soils, respectively. Heavy metals in soil were unaffected by fertilizer treatment and lower than permissible limit values. The use of OMF for winter wheat production appears to be a sustainable approach to recycling biosolids to land.
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    Nitrogen release characteristics from biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers
    (Taylor and Francis, 2014-04-25) Antille, Diogenes Luis; Sakrabani, Ruben; Godwin, Richard J.
    This study investigated the availability of nitrogen (N) following soil application of a novel biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizer (OMF15—15:4:4) in comparison with urea (46% N). OMF15 is produced by coating biosolids granules (particle size range: 1.10–5.50 mm in diameter) with urea and potash [60% potassium oxide (K2O)], which increase the concentration of mineral N and potassium (K), respectively, resulting in a balanced fertilizer material suitable for application in cereal and grass crops. The study comprised two soil types of contrasting characteristics which were incubated over a period of 90 days at 25 °C and maintained near field capacity. Nitrogen was applied at rates equivalent to 0 (control), 150, and 300 kg ha−1, and soil mineral N measured routinely using standard laboratory techniques. Results showed that the majority of N was released from OMF15 within 30 days from application (range: 40% to 72% of total OMF15-N applied) with a further 10% to 28% in the following 60–90 days. OMF15 required an accumulated thermal time of 2250 degrees-day to release between 68% and 79% of the total OMF15-N applied. From this, it was inferred that mineralization of the organic-N fraction in OMF15 is likely to progress beyond harvest of winter cereal crops in-field conditions in England. The results of this study aided the development of fertilization strategies for the best use of OMF in winter cereal and grass crops.
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    Phosphorus release characteristics from biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizers
    (Taylor & Francis, 2014-09-25) Sakrabani, Ruben; Godwin, Richard J.; Antille, Diogenes Luis
    This study investigated the availability of phosphorus (P) following soil application of a novel biosolids-derived organomineral fertilizer (OMF15; 15:4:4) in comparison with single superphosphate (0:18:0). Two soil types of contrasting characteristics were incubated over a period of 90 days at 25 °C and maintained near field capacity. Phosphorus was applied at rates equivalent to 0 (control), 150, and 300 kg ha−1 of P2O5, respectively. Availability of P from OMF15 was low throughout the experiment accounting for less than 6.5% of total OMF15-P applied. It was shown that after the 90 days incubation period, the overall increase in soil extractable P in OMF15-treated soil was marginal in both soil types. For single superphosphate (SSP), P availability ranged from 16% to 46% of total SSP-P applied. Application of SSP increased soil extractable P levels significantly (P < 0.001) compared with unfertilized control soils. The results of this study aided the development of fertilization strategies for the best use of OMF produced from nutrient-enriched biosolids granules for applications in winter cereal and grass crops in England.