Seasonal dynamics of dry matter accumulation and nutrients in a mature miscanthus × giganteus stand in the lower silesia region of poland

Funding: J.C.B. and P.R.H.R. were funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council strategic programme grant on Resilient Crops (BBS/E/W/10963A01).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Ash Based on Cradle-to-Cradle Approach—Mini-Review

The wastewater treatment process generates large amounts of P-rich organic waste (sewage sludge (SS)). The direct application of SS in agriculture, being controversial, is gradually being replaced by incineration, leading to the concentration of both P and heavy metals in the solid residual-sewage sludge ash (SSA). The novel closed-loop, cradle-to-cradle (C2C) approach leads to maintaining P production at current levels and counteracts its depletion in the future. The aim of this review is the presentation of the implementation of the C2C approach for P recovery. The paper focuses on steps that comprise P C2C, starting from the SS properties, being a derivative of wastewater type and treatment processes, to SS pre-treatment and finally leading to certified P-fertilizers production from SSA by application thermochemical or wet chemical extraction technologies. Examples of SSA treatment technologies and the final products are provided. It has been summarized that future research should focus on the production of SSA-based fertilizers aligning with the C2C concept and determining its effect on the various agriculture and horticulture crops.This article is published as Jama-Rodzeńska, Anna, Józef Sowiński, Jacek A. Koziel, and Andrzej Białowiec. "Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Ash Based on Cradle-to-Cradle Approach—Mini-Review." Minerals 11, no. 9 (2021): 985. DOI: 10.3390/min11090985. Copyright 2021 by the authors. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Posted with permission

Wpływ różnego sposobu aplikacji nawozu YaraRega na efektywność nawożenia i plonowanie sorga cukrowego (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Background. The sorghum (C4) species has a high potential for accumulation of photosynthetic radiation. It is possible to obtain a high biomass yield after meeting the fertilization needs of plants, especially as regards nitrogen. Material and methods. In 2013–2015 at the Experimental Station Pawłowice, which belongs to the Department of Crop Production, a field experiment was conducted that aimed to assess the usefulness of the fertilizer YaraRega to fertilize sweet sorghum. Two methods of using the fertilizer were used: broadcasting application and fertigation, using two rates (40 and 80 kg N per ha), and were compared with the control (without fertilization). The fertilizer in the foliar form was applied in two solutions: 0.20 and 0.40%, respectively, for rates of 40 and 80 kg N per ha. The study estimated the effect of fertilization on the productivity of fresh and dry matter and the effectiveness of these treatments. Results. The statistically significant increase in the fresh matter yield obtained under the influence of nitrogen rates was about 25% (after fertilization with 40 kg N per ha) and 32% (after the application of 80 kg N per ha). Taking into account also the dry matter yield, only fertilization with 40 kg N per ha caused a significant increase in the yield compared with the control. Fertilization with a rate of 40 kg N per ha caused an increase in the fresh matter yield of about 300 and 334 kg per 1 kg of nitrogen used after of broadcasting and fertigation application methods respectively. Agronomic efficiency expressed in dry matter yield amounted to 75 and 76 kg per 1 kg of nitrogen used. Conclusion. YaraRega is recommended to be applied to sorghum with the fertigation method. No toxic effect on sorghum plants was observed after an application of the 0.4% solution.W latach 2013–2015 przeprowadzono badania mające na celu ocenę wpływu nawozu YaraRega na plon, cechy morfologiczne i właściwości chemiczne sorga cukrowego. YaraRega jest nową formulacją nawozów zalecaną do stosowania łącznie z nawadnianiem. Nawóz stosowano dwiema metodami, w tym samym terminie, w dwóch dawkach: poprzez aplikację powierzchniową oraz fertygację, w dawce $90$ i $180 kg⋅ha^(-1)$ masy nawozowej (co odpowiadało $40$ i $80 kg⋅ha^(-1)$ N) w porównaniu z kontrolą (bez nawożenia). Nawóz w formie roztworu zastosowano w dwóch stężeniach 0.20 i 0.40% (odpowiednio dla dawki $90$ i $180 kg⋅ha^(-1)$ masy nawozowej). Określono wpływ nawożenia na wielkość plonu świeżej i suchej masy oraz efektywność tego zabiegu. Pod wpływem nawożenia uzyskano statystycznie istotny większy plonu świeżej masy o 25% (po nawożeniu $90 kg⋅ha^(-1)$) i o 32% (po zastosowaniu $180 kg⋅ha^(-1)$ masy nawozowej). Nawożenie dawką $40 kg⋅ha^(-1)$ N spowodowało istotny wzrost plonu suchej masy o 300 kg (powierzchniowe nawożenie) i o 334 kg (fertygacja) na kg zastosowanego azotu. Efektywność agronomiczna wyrażona w kg suchej masy na kg azotu wynosiła odpowiednio dla obiektów nawożonych powierzchniowo i poprzez fertygację $75$ i $76 kg⋅kg^(-1)$ N

The Effect of Sowing Date and Harvest Time on Leafy Greens of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Yield and Selected Nutritional Parameters

In 2015–2017, field experiments were conducted, in two facilities of the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences: at the Research and Didactic Station in Psary (51°19′08” N, 17°03′37” E) and in the plots of the Department of Crop Production in Pawlowice (51°17′32” N, 17°11′72” E). The research aimed to evaluate fresh biomass yield and selected quality parameters of quinoa grown as a green leafy vegetable. The study was conducted on two soils: medium (clay soil texture) and light (sand soil texture), sowing quinoa in spring and summer periods. On both soils, quinoa was harvested 5 times at each sowing date. The yields of fresh plant biomass, basic morphological characteristics and certain quality traits were compared. All experimental factors had a significant effect on quinoa fresh biomass yield. On light soil, quinoa yielded 4 times lower than on medium soil, and its cultivation posed a high risk, especially at the summer sowing date. The experimental factors used had the greatest effect on macronutrient content. Growing quinoa on medium soil yielded biomass with higher K, Mg, Ca and N-NO3 concentration, while spring sown plants had higher K and N-NO3 concentration. Harvesting date had the greatest effect on the change in nutritional values. Potassium content decreased as the harvest date was delayed, and N-NO3 content decreased gradually until the fourth harvest date. The results showed that quinoa should be harvested as a green leafy vegetable when it reaches a height of 20–30 cm; biomass production is then at 500–1000 g per m2, potassium content is less than 10 g per 100 g dry matter and N-NO3 content is less than 100 mg 100−1 f.m

Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Ash Based on Cradle-to-Cradle Approach—Mini-Review

The wastewater treatment process generates large amounts of P-rich organic waste (sewage sludge (SS)). The direct application of SS in agriculture, being controversial, is gradually being replaced by incineration, leading to the concentration of both P and heavy metals in the solid residual-sewage sludge ash (SSA). The novel closed-loop, cradle-to-cradle (C2C) approach leads to maintaining P production at current levels and counteracts its depletion in the future. The aim of this review is the presentation of the implementation of the C2C approach for P recovery. The paper focuses on steps that comprise P C2C, starting from the SS properties, being a derivative of wastewater type and treatment processes, to SS pre-treatment and finally leading to certified P-fertilizers production from SSA by application thermochemical or wet chemical extraction technologies. Examples of SSA treatment technologies and the final products are provided. It has been summarized that future research should focus on the production of SSA-based fertilizers aligning with the C2C concept and determining its effect on the various agriculture and horticulture crops

The Effect of Harvest Date on the Chemical Composition and Fodder Yield of Guizotia abyssinica (<i>Guizotia abyssinica</i> (<i>L.f.</i>) <i>Cass.</i>) under the Climatic Conditions of South-West Poland

Guizotia abyssinica (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.) is regarded as a minor oilseed crop, which is important in terms of its nutritional value and potential uses. An important benefit of this crop is its cultivation for green matter and seed yield even under the difficult conditions of marginal cultivation. Guizotia abyssinica has not yet gained popularity in Europe. However, in a changing climate and taking into account its feeding value, it could gain in importance for ruminant nutrition in the near future. A field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in the west part of Poland on a farm in Opolskie voivodship (commune Prudnik). The objective of the field study was to assess the effect of three harvest dates on the yield and the chemical composition of fodder in a 90-day cultivation cycle in each year of the study. Stage of growth seems to be the most important factor affecting yield and the chemical composition of Guizotia abyssinica. In both years of the research, the green fodder yield reached the highest value after 90 days from sowing—32.5 and 36.9 t ha−1—while dry matter was 6.85 and 7.99 t ha−1, respectively. Chemical composition was also significantly dependent on harvesting date. Crude protein (in 2018 from 154.5 to 100.7 g kg−1 and in 2019 from 148.3 to 78.2 g kg−1) and crude ash (in 2018 from 165.8 to 98.7 and in 2019 from 155.2 to 89.9 g kg−1) content decreased with progressive harvest date while nitrogen-free extracts (in 2018 from 500.5 to 562.0 g kg−1 and in 2019 from 582.2 to 605.2 g kg−1) and gross energy increased (in 2018 from 19.4 to 21.17 MJ kg−1 and in 2019 from 18.63 to 19.73 MJ kg−1.). The most favorable date for harvesting green forage is 90 days after sowing, due to the significantly highest yield of fresh and dry matter of green forage and with potential as a forage for animals

The Effect of Harvest Date on the Chemical Composition and Fodder Yield of Guizotia abyssinica (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.) under the Climatic Conditions of South-West Poland

Guizotia abyssinica (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.) is regarded as a minor oilseed crop, which is important in terms of its nutritional value and potential uses. An important benefit of this crop is its cultivation for green matter and seed yield even under the difficult conditions of marginal cultivation. Guizotia abyssinica has not yet gained popularity in Europe. However, in a changing climate and taking into account its feeding value, it could gain in importance for ruminant nutrition in the near future. A field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in the west part of Poland on a farm in Opolskie voivodship (commune Prudnik). The objective of the field study was to assess the effect of three harvest dates on the yield and the chemical composition of fodder in a 90-day cultivation cycle in each year of the study. Stage of growth seems to be the most important factor affecting yield and the chemical composition of Guizotia abyssinica. In both years of the research, the green fodder yield reached the highest value after 90 days from sowing&mdash;32.5 and 36.9 t ha&minus;1&mdash;while dry matter was 6.85 and 7.99 t ha&minus;1, respectively. Chemical composition was also significantly dependent on harvesting date. Crude protein (in 2018 from 154.5 to 100.7 g kg&minus;1 and in 2019 from 148.3 to 78.2 g kg&minus;1) and crude ash (in 2018 from 165.8 to 98.7 and in 2019 from 155.2 to 89.9 g kg&minus;1) content decreased with progressive harvest date while nitrogen-free extracts (in 2018 from 500.5 to 562.0 g kg&minus;1 and in 2019 from 582.2 to 605.2 g kg&minus;1) and gross energy increased (in 2018 from 19.4 to 21.17 MJ kg&minus;1 and in 2019 from 18.63 to 19.73 MJ kg&minus;1.). The most favorable date for harvesting green forage is 90 days after sowing, due to the significantly highest yield of fresh and dry matter of green forage and with potential as a forage for animals

Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach

Phosphorus (P) is a limited yet essential resource. P cannot be replaced, but it can be recovered from waste. We proposed the TRIZ approach (Teoria reszenija izobretatielskich zadacz - Rus., Theory of Inventive Problem Solving - Eng.) to identify a feasible solution. We aimed at minimizing the environmental impact and, by eliminating contradictions, proposed viable technical solutions. P recovery can be more sustainable based on circular economy and 4Rs (reduction, recovery, reuse, and recycling). The TRIZ approach identified sewage sludge (SS) as waste with a large potential for P recovery (up to 90%). Successful selection and application of SS management and P recovery require a transdisciplinary approach to overcome the various socio-economic, environmental, technical, and legal aspects. The review provides an understanding of principles that must be taken to improve understanding of the whole process of P recovery from wastewater while building on the last two decades of research.This article is published as Jama-Rodzeńska, Anna, Andrzej Białowiec, Jacek A. Koziel, and Józef Sowiński. "Waste to phosphorus: A transdisciplinary solution to P recovery from wastewater based on the TRIZ approach." Journal of Environmental Management 287 (2021): 112235. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112235. Posted with permission.</p

Effect of Different Doses of Phosgreen Fertilization on Chlorophyll, K, and Ca Content in Butterhead Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) Grown in Peat Substrate

Struvite is regarded as a promising phosphorus (P) fertilizer compared to commercial pristine mineral phosphorus fertilizers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Phosgreen fertilizer, with struvite as its phosphorus source, on the chlorophyll, potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) contents in lettuce grown in peat compared to superphosphate. The study was carried out as a pot experiment with different doses of P fertilization. The study presents the chlorophyll a, b, total (a + b) chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents of the lettuce plants. Significant differences in the chlorophyll a and b contents were observed between the different phosphorus applications, and this can have a direct impact on the crop yields. Significantly higher contents of both chlorophyll contents were observed under Phosgreen fertilization as well as the chlorophyll a + b content *. The results of the study on lettuce indicate a dependence of vitamin C content on phosphorus fertilizer, but with no significant increase under Phosgreen fertilization; the contents of K and Ca were not significantly dependent on the type of phosphorus fertilizer. Due to the favorable composition of Phosgreen, it may be recommended for use as a phosphorus fertilizer in the agriculture and horticulture sectors