Application of fertilizers based on sewage sludge for additional phosphorus nutrition of plants

Abstract

Goal. To substantiate the use of fertilizers based on sewage sludge (SS) to increase soil fertility and crop yields through additional phosphorus nutrition. Methods. Field experiment — to determine the effectiveness of new types of bio-fertilizers based on SS, mathematical — to analyze and evaluate the reliability of the results. Results. In recent decades, there has been a decline in the livestock industry, which in turn has affected the decline in the production of organic fertilizers and, as a consequence, the deterioration of soil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity. This situation has led to the search for new types of fertilizer resources and the development of effective measures to increase the composition of phosphorus compounds available to plants. These are sewage sludge. One of the promising areas for solving the problem of soil enrichment with available phosphorus compounds for plants may be the composting of SS in urban treatment plants. The result of composting is an available organic product with the participation of phosphate-mobilizing microorganisms, which can be used in agricultural production. Conclusions. The prospects of using non-traditional organic fertilizers — SS and composts based on them — in increasing crop yields are shown. Thus, the main application of the studied types of non-traditional organic fertilizers based on SS of biological treatment plants (BTP) “Pivdenna” and “Pivnichna” (Odessa) with vegetable fillers (winter wheat straw, sunflower seed husk) under corn for grain yield provided an increase of yield ability of crop by 31.6–50.0%.