Agronomic Response of Crops Fertilized with Struvite Derived from Dairy Manure

Hilt, Katherine; Harrison, Joe; Bowers, Keith; Stevens, Robert; Bary, Andy; Harrison, Kelsey

Agronomic Response of Crops Fertilized with Struvite Derived from Dairy Manure

2016

Three experiments were performed to compare the P availability between struvite and the commercial fertilizer monoammonium phosphate (MAP). Experiment 1 evaluated triticale grown in a commercial potting medium and fertilized with struvite and MAP at 0, 56, 112, and 224 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Struvite was comparable for dry matter (DM) yield (P < 0.01) and resulted in greater concentrations of P (P < 0.005) compared to MAP. Experiment 2 evaluated triticale and oats planted in two soils differing in pH, and fertilized with either struvite or MAP at 0, 56, 112, and 224 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. When oats were grown in acidic soil, struvite provided greater P uptake (P < 0.0001) and concentration of P (P < 0.0001) in the plant compared to MAP. When triticale was grown in acidic soil, struvite provided the greatest DM yield (P < 0.005), P uptake (P < 0.0001), and concentration of P (P < 0.0001) compared to MAP. When triticale and oats were grown in alkaline soil, struvite produced the greatest concentration of P (P < 0.003) compared to MAP for oats. Experiment 3 evaluated corn and alfalfa over a 3-year period planted in alkaline soil and fertilized with either struvite or MAP at 0, 140, and 280 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. In 2006 and 2007, struvite and MAP were comparable for DM yield (P < 0.05) and concentration of P (P < 0.05) in alfalfa. Using MAP resulted in greater P uptake (P < 0.05) all 3 years for alfalfa, and greater DM yields (P < 0.05) and concentrations of P (P < 0.05) in 2008. For corn, MAP produced the greatest DM yield (P < 0.001), P uptake (P < 0.003), and concentration of P (P < 0.001) all 3 years. Struvite was a comparable or superior P fertilizer compared to MAP in acidic soils and inferior to MAP in alkaline soils.

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