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Agronomy
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Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges
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Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2024) | Viewed by 12523

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesc Xavier Prenafeta Boldú

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Program of Sustainability in Biosystems, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Torre Marimon, E-08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: circular economy and bioeconomy; environmental biotechnology; extremophilic fungi, environmental microbiology, mycology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Albert Magrí

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment (IMA), University of Girona (UdG), E-17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Interests: nutrients; environment; wastewater treatment; environmental biotechnologies; sustainability; resource recovery; phosphate crystallization processes; potassium
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jaume Boixadera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
Interests: manure management; organic fertilization; soil structure and function

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the dawn of the agricultural revolution, the first civilizations relied on the basic principle of applying organic fertilizers to crops. It was not until the second industrial revolution, with the advent of the Haber–Bosch process, that this paradigm shifted towards the large-scale manufacture of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers that currently sustains half of the human population. However, this model needs to be revised because of the increasing environmental externalities it causes: soil deterioration, depletion of soil organic matter, direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases, etc.

Given the good reception of the previous Special Issue on “Organic Wastes as a Source of Innovative Fertilizers”, this renewed number invites the scientific community to submit original research studies, literature reviews, and position papers dealing with:

  • New bio-based fertilizers for a more sustainable agriculture: production processes and use
  • Biofertilizers and soil health
  • Induced biological interactions of the rhizosphere trough biofertilizers and biostimulants
  • Soil carbon sequestration by means organic fertilization
  • Management of legacy phosphorous in soils
  • Innovative policy and regulatory developments for bio-based fertilization

Dr. Francesc Xavier Prenafeta Boldú
Dr. Albert Magrí
Dr. Jaume Boixadera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agricultural nutrients
  • bio-based fertilizers and soil amendments
  • circular bioeconomy
  • nutrient management and environmental emissions
  • soil microbiology
  • sustainable agriculture
  • waste-to-fertilizer production techniques

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 450 KiB  
Article
Phosphorus Release Dynamics from Ashes during a Soil Incubation Study: Effect of Feedstock Characteristics and Combustion Conditions
by Berta Singla Just, Pablo Martín Binder, Nagore Guerra-Gorostegi, Laura Díaz-Guerra, Rosa Vilaplana, Nicola Frison, Erik Meers, Laia Llenas and Ana Robles Aguilar
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 935; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050935 - 30 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1166
Abstract
Recovering phosphorus (P) through combustion from waste streams, like wastewater sludge and animal manure, offers a promising solution. This research explores the P release patterns in different ashes derived from secondary raw materials, using a long-term soil incubation lasting 160 days. The study [...] Read more.
Recovering phosphorus (P) through combustion from waste streams, like wastewater sludge and animal manure, offers a promising solution. This research explores the P release patterns in different ashes derived from secondary raw materials, using a long-term soil incubation lasting 160 days. The study evaluated the P release dynamics in five types of ashes from enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems and pig slurry burned at different temperatures. According to the results, a primary effect was observed on P bioavailability during the initial incubation period. All tested ashes release more than 50% of the total P applied between days 5 and 10. Ashes from EBPR exhibited higher P release than those from pig manure, indicating ash origin as a key factor in P release. Additionally, combustion temperature was crucial, with higher temperatures resulting in increased P release rates. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation revealed a strong relationship between the characteristics of the ashes and the amount of P release. Overall, these findings suggest that ashes could be a valuable P-source for agriculture avoiding the process of wet chemical P extraction, thus reducing both economic and environmental costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges)
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13 pages, 1532 KiB  
Article
Impact of Pyrolyzed and Unpyrolyzed Animal Manures on Soil Properties, Carbon Sequestration, and Clover Productivity in Andisol
by Cristina Muñoz, Milagros Ginebra and Erick Zagal
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030592 - 15 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1375
Abstract
The use of organic waste in agricultural soil can enhance crop yields, improve waste management, and boost soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, more field data are required to fully understand the impacts of pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed animal manures. The objectives of this study [...] Read more.
The use of organic waste in agricultural soil can enhance crop yields, improve waste management, and boost soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, more field data are required to fully understand the impacts of pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed animal manures. The objectives of this study were (i) to analyze the impact of two pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed manures on soil properties, soil C storage, and clover productivity and (ii) to examine the biochar’s movement through the soil profile. Poultry litter (PL), dairy manure (DM), poultry litter biochar (PLBC), and dairy manure biochar (DBC) were applied at rates of 8 t ha−1 in a field experiment with red clover (Trifolium pratense L. var. Quiñequeli) in an Andisol. We monitored changes in soil chemical properties, foliar properties, and crop yield after three clover cuttings. To examine the movement of biochars through the soil profile, we set up a lab experiment where field conditions were simulated. PLBC, DBC, and PL increased soil pH by 0.5 (6.44), 0.28 (6.22), and 0.25 (6.19) units, respectively. Soil available P increased in both pyrolyzed and unpyrolyzed PL treatments (by 8.53 mg P kg−1, on average). Clover yields only increased in treatments with amendments that provided more available P and increased the pH. The addition of DBC increased soil total C (30.3%). Both biochars added to the soil surface exhibited little movement through the soil profile (2 to 4 cm). In this study, the pyrolysis of manures emerged as an option for reducing waste volume from the farming industry. Manure biochars proved useful at low rates for enhancing crop yields (PLBC) and storing C in the soil (DBC). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges)
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13 pages, 2093 KiB  
Article
Effects of Organic Liquid Waste Derived from Bioethanol Fermentation on Corn Production
by Nobuki Morita, Yo Toma, Yasuhiko Kato, Tooru Izumiya and Hideto Ueno
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2904; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122904 - 26 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1118
Abstract
The liquid waste (LW) discharged during bioethanol production needs treatment. In this study, LW was applied to corn, and its effects on corn growth, yield, and nitrogen (N) content, as well as on soil chemical properties, were evaluated. Five treatments were applied during [...] Read more.
The liquid waste (LW) discharged during bioethanol production needs treatment. In this study, LW was applied to corn, and its effects on corn growth, yield, and nitrogen (N) content, as well as on soil chemical properties, were evaluated. Five treatments were applied during corn cultivation: no fertilizer (NF), chemical fertilizer (CF), LW at a standard application rate (LW1.0), LW at 1.7 times the rate of LW1.0 (LW1.7), and split application of LW1.7 (S-LW1.7) in six replications. The amount of N applied was 30 kg 10a−1 for CF and LW1.0, and 51 kg 10a−1 for LW1.7 and S-LW1.7. N was applied separately three times in CF, LW1.0, and LW1.7 and six times in S-LW1.7. A higher corn yield, corn ear weight, and number of leaves was observed in LW treatments than in CF. N content of the corn plant top was higher in S-LW1.7 than in LW1.7; N availability was 56.9% and 40.5% higher, respectively, indicating that split application improved N availability. Soil total N content increased significantly in LW treatments, and soil total carbon content tended to increase in S-LW1.7. Therefore, application of LW could increase corn yield and soil fertility, and its effect could be enhanced by split application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges)
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15 pages, 306 KiB  
Article
Synthetic Fertilizer Application Coupled with Bioslurry Optimizes Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Growth and Yield
by Zeqiang Shao, Emmanuel R. Mwakidoshi, Esther M. Muindi, Rogério P. Soratto, Shivani Ranjan, Smruti Ranjan Padhan, Andrew W. Wamukota, Sumit Sow, Daniel O. Wasonga, Jamal Nasar, Mahmoud F. Seleiman and Harun I. Gitari
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2162; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082162 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2715
Abstract
Biogas bioslurry, which is normally a bio-digestion product from livestock refuse, can be utilized as an inorganic fertilizer, thus boosting not only soil fertility but also crop growth and yield. Its use can mitigate climate change by reducing methane gas emissions, which are [...] Read more.
Biogas bioslurry, which is normally a bio-digestion product from livestock refuse, can be utilized as an inorganic fertilizer, thus boosting not only soil fertility but also crop growth and yield. Its use can mitigate climate change by reducing methane gas emissions, which are associated with the direct application of fresh animal manure. The current study was carried out on farmer’s fields based at Wusi-Kishamba and Werugha wards in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, and it aimed at investigating the effect of bioslurry coupled with synthetic fertilizer on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and yield. There were four treatments: sole bioslurry, sole fertilizer (DAP), bioslurry + DAP, and control, which were replicated five times in a randomized, complete block-designed layout. Data were collected on plant growth (plant height and leaf length) and yield (marketable and unmarketable tubers and the number of tubers plant−1). The results indicated a general increase in plant height from week one to week seven, where peak values were noted with sole slurry, sole fertilizer, and bioslurry + DAP treatments, which recorded 9, 18, and 43% taller plants, respectively, relative to control. Further, the combined application of bioslurry and DAP fertilizer significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved potato growth and yield. For instance, there was a higher (23.3 t ha−1) yield in bioslurry + DAP treatment compared to the respective least record of 14.2 t ha−1 in control. Therefore, the study recommends a synergistic application of synthetic fertilizer (DAP) and bioslurry to potato crops for optimal crop growth and production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges)
15 pages, 4610 KiB  
Article
The Integrated Minapadi (Rice-Fish) Farming System: Compost and Local Liquid Organic Fertilizer Based on Multiple Evaluation Criteria
by Amir Yassi, Muh Farid, Muhammad Fuad Anshori, Hamdani Muchtar, Rajuddin Syamsuddin and Adnan Adnan
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13040978 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4394
Abstract
Rice-fish cultivation, also known as Manipadi in Indonesia, is one of the many integrated farming systems where fish are grown concurrently with rice. However, this integrated system needs to be optimized by organic fertilizer. The application of organic fertilizers, such as compost and [...] Read more.
Rice-fish cultivation, also known as Manipadi in Indonesia, is one of the many integrated farming systems where fish are grown concurrently with rice. However, this integrated system needs to be optimized by organic fertilizer. The application of organic fertilizers, such as compost and local biofertilizers, when implemented into this integrated system, can optimize the yield per land for both rice and fish. However, this combination must be evaluated systematically by multiple evaluation criteria and statistical analyses. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the combination of compost doses and/or local liquid organic fertilizer concentrations, based on multiple evaluation criteria, that supports the productivity of rice-fish integration agriculture. The experiment was carried out in the Wanuae farmer group of the Barebbo District, Bone Regency, Indonesia, between September 2018 and January 2019. The experiment employed a split plot design with a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The main plot consisted of compost (four levels), and the subplot was the local biofertilizer source (four levels). The results demonstrated that the number of fill grains was significantly affected by the compost treatment and the type of local biofiller. The effect of the compost dosing was more dominant in comparison with the local liquid organic fertilizer character and its interactions. A compost dosage of four tons ha−1 and a local liquid organic fertilizer, sourced from soaked coconut fiber with cow urine, has been recommended as the combination treatment to optimize the rice and fish yield potential. The Minapadi (rice fish) with additional high composting effectively increased the farmer’s outcome with a 2-point R/C ratio, more so than those without composting. Moreover, the compost dosage in this Minapadi study requires further exploration for a better understanding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Fertilizers in Agriculture: New Opportunities and Challenges)
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