Phosphorus fertiliser equivalent value of dairy processing sludge-derived STRUBIAS products using ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Background: Struvite, biochar and ash products (collectively known as STRUBIAS) derived from different waste streams are used as fertilisers in agriculture. Raw dairy processing sludge (DPS) shows promise as bio-based fertilisers, but secondary STRUBIAS-derived products need further testing as fertilisers.

Aims: The objective of this study was to calculate the phosphorus mineral fertiliser equivalency (P-MFE) for some STRUBIAS products derived from DPS.

Methods:Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) pot trials were used to determine the P-MFE using the apparent P recovery (APR) method for Fe-DPS and DPS-derived struvites (Struvite 1–4), hydrochars (HC1–3) and ash.

Results: The tested STRUBIAS products can be divided into two groups: (1) a range of products that can (i.e. Struvite 1–3) and (2) cannot (i.e. Struvite 4, HC1–3, ash and Fe-DPS) be considered fertilisers. In the first group, the P-MFE ranged from 66.8% to 76.7% for ryegrass and from 77.9% to 93.5% for spring wheat grain. In the second group, the P-MFE ranged from 7.8% to 58.3% for ryegrass and from −34.5% to −151.3% for spring wheat grain. The negative agronomic effects of some products for wheat grain (struvite and HC) in this study were mainly caused by high Fe content, which could be overcome by improved treatment processes.

Conclusions: Future policy and research must be aware that not all the DPS-derived STRUBIAS products are suitable as fertilisers and therefore need to be tested individually.