Soybean growth and production as affected by struvite as a phosphorus source in eastern Arkansas

Abstract

Struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 •6H 2 O) has been precipitated from liquid waste streams to recover valuable nutrients, such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), that can be used as an alternative fertilizer-P source. Because prior research has focused on greenhouse studies, it is necessary to expand struvite evaluations to the field-scale to include row-crop responses. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effects of two struvite materials (electrochemically precipitated struvite, ECST; and chemically precipitated struvite, CPST) relative to other common fertilizer-P sources (diammonium phosphate, DAP; triple superphosphate, TSP; rock phosphate, RP; and monoammonium phosphate, MAP) on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] response and economics in two consecutive growing seasons in a P-deficient, silt-loam soil (Aquic Fraglossudalfs) in eastern Arkansas. Averaged across years, soybean aboveground tissue P uptake was largest (P < .05) from ECST (28.4 kg ha −1 ), which was similar to CPST (26.7 kg ha −1 ) and TSP (25.9 kg ha −1 ) and was smallest from RP (21.4 kg ha −1 ). In 2019, seed yield was largest (P < .05) from ECST (4.1 Mg ha −1 ), which was similar to DAP, CPST, RP, TSP, and MAP, and was smallest from the unamended control (3.6 Mg ha −1 ). In 2020, seed yield was numerically greatest from CPST (2.8 Mg ha −1 ) and was numerically smallest from ECST (2.2 Mg ha −1 ). Results showed that wastewater-recovered struvite materials have the potential to be a viable, alternative fertilizer-P source for soybean production in a P-deficient, silt-loam soil, but further work is needed to confirm struvite's cost effectiveness.

Electrochemical Struvite Precipitation Enhanced by an Amelogenin Peptide for Nutrient Recovery

“…Furthermore, effluents containing high concentrations of P and nitrogen (N) have led to eutrophication in receiving waters . Struvite is recognized as a sustainable slow-release fertilizer, − and companies have successfully produced struvite fertilizer via chemical precipitation. These dedicated units require expensive magnesium (Mg) salts and pH additives.…”

Water regime and fertilizer‐phosphorus source effects on greenhouse gas emissions from rice

“…(2022), and Omidire et al. (2023) encountered and overcame the same limited‐quantity issue in several recent field studies, which substantiated an initial study in the greenhouse before moving to the field. Furthermore, greenhouse studies allow for treatment evaluations in a more‐controlled environment than in the field, limiting potential confounding variables, and can guide the development and design of field studies based on some degree of prior knowledge (van Es et al., 2007).…”

“…Second, the ECST material evaluated in this study is still experimental, such that only a limited quantity was available for testing; thus, a greenhouse study facilitated the judicious use of the ECST, while still being able to conduct a meaningful comparative study. , Omidire, Brye, English, et al (2022), andOmidire et al (2023) encountered and overcame the same limited-quantity issue in several recent field studies, which substantiated an initial study in the greenhouse before moving to the field. Furthermore, greenhouse studies allow for treatment evaluations in a morecontrolled environment than in the field, limiting potential confounding variables, and can guide the development and design of field studies based on some degree of prior knowledge (van Es et al, 2007).…”

Soil Chemical Property Changes over Time from Struvite Compared to Other Fertilizer-Phosphorus Sources in Multiple Soils

“…Although struvite has been reported to have slow-release properties because of struvite's low solubility in water and greater solubility with increasing acidity [19], results of this study indicated that ECST exhibits fertilizer-P behavior that is comparable to commercially available CPST and other commonly used fertilizer-P sources, such as MAP and TSP, in a range of soil textures. Consequently, struvite can be used directly as fertilizer-P source for agricultural production among numerous crops [28] [29] [30].…”

“…The ECST shares similar characteristics as the chemically precipitated struvite (CPST), like its partial solubility in water, but increasing solubility with a decrease in pH, and also the ability to increase soil pH over time [3] [19]. However, struvite precipitation and crystal formation are impacted by several factors, such as Mg 2+ , crop production [2] [3] [7] [13] [19] [21]- [30], commercially available CPST's dissolution dynamics have been studied in a series of plant-less, moist-soil incubation experiments in Arkansas loam, silt loam, and silty clay loam soils. The fertilizer-P materials used and compared included finely ground and pelletized CPST, MAP, DAP, TSP, and rock phosphate to determine their fertilizer-P behavior over a 6-month period in several Arkansas soils [31] [32] [33].…”