Combined primary/secondary papermill sludge as a nitrogen source in a cabbage-sweet corn cropping sequence

Abstract

Simard, R. R. 2001. Combined primary/secondary papermill sludge as a nitrogen source in a cabbage-sweet corn cropping sequence. Can. J. Soil Sci. 81: 1-10. Combined primary/secondary papermill sludge (PS) is rich in N and may potentially be used as a N source for horticultural crops. A 3-yr experiment was conducted to determine the effects of PS application on crop yields, N uptake and N recovery. The PS was applied in 1996 on a Bedford silty clay (Humic Gleysol) cropped to winter cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L. 'Bartolo') at 0, 8, 16, 32, and 64 Mg ha -1 (dry basis). In 1997, PS was applied at 44% of the 1996 rates to the same plots and cropped to sweet corn (Zea mays L. 'Delectable'). No PS was applied in 1998 to evaluate residual effects on corn. Treatments with ammonium nitrate (AN) at 50, 100 and 200% of N fertiliser recommendations were included each year as a reference for crop response. The PS had a C:N ratio of 42:1 in 1996 and of 28:1 in 1997. About 29% of the total N in PS was inorganic. Cabbage and corn marketable yields and N uptake increased with increasing amounts of PS applied. AN supplemented with PS further increased cabbage yields. Based on the N fertiliser replacement value, the N efficiency coefficient of PS was 44% in the first year. A N residual effect of the PS applied in 1996 was observed on the corn yield in 1997. The two PS applications also had a very significant residual effect on corn yield in the third year, although supplemental AN at 150 kg N ha -1 tended to further increase yields. The apparent total N recovery by the three crops was similar for PS and AN (i.e., 34 vs. 38%). The apparent recovery of organic N from PS decreased with increasing rates of application from 46 to 25%. These results suggest that PS is an effective source of N for crops and that significant residual N effects should be considered when estimating the N needs of subsequent crops. Le supplément en AN aux PS a augmenté encore plus le rendement du chou. Sur base de la valeur de remplacement en engrais N, le coefficient d'efficacité du N des PS a été de 44 % la première année. Un arrière-effet d'azote très important des PS appliquées en 1996 a été observé en 1997 sur le rendement de maïs. Les deux apports de PS ont eu un effet résiduel très significatif sur les rendements de maïs la troisième année quoique le supplément minéral était nécessaire. La récupération du N par les récoltes était comparable pour les PS et l'AN (ex. 34 vs 38 %). Le coefficient estimé de la minéralisation du N organique des PS a baissé avec les doses d'apport de PS de 46 à 25 %. Ces résultats suggèrent que les PS sont une source efficace de N pour les cultures et que des effets résiduels très importants en N disponible devraient être pris en compte dans les années suivant les apports.

Pulp and paper mill by-products as soil amendments and plant nutrient sources

“…capitata L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) (Simard 2001). Apparent N recovery from the sludge (34%) was comparable with that from ammonium nitrate fertilizer (38%).…”

Opportunities for improved fertilizer nitrogen management in production of arable crops in eastern Canada: A review

“…Soil amendments such as composts or vegetable waste products can also be applied to agricultural soils and thereby supply organic N. Other examples of such amendments include combined primary/secondary papermill sludge (Simard 2001) and organo-mineral fertilizers produced using excess animal manures (Zebarth et al 2005b) Genetic Improvement The efficiency of N utilization within a specific species can be increased through genetic improvement (Giller et al 2004). Crop N use efficiency is commonly defined as yield or biomass production per unit of N supply to the crop (Moll et al 1982;Errebhi et al 1998c).…”

Impact of potato-cereal rotations and slurry applications on nitrate leaching and nitrogen balance in sandy soils

“…Overall, immobilization of N in soil organic matter seems more or less plausible after 5 yr of cropping. Mineralization of organic N from CM and PM may contribute to crop nutrition during the following years, especially when large applications have been made or when applied repeatedly, but estimations of this contribution may range from almost zero to very high values according to Paul and Beauchamp (1993) and Simard (2001). Grass roots and stubble in field 1 may act as a sink for nitrogen, which is slowly mineralized or released only upon ploughing.…”