Managing soil fertility on agricultural soils amended with paper biosolids. (5504)
Authors:
G.W. Price* - Univ. of Guelph
R.P. Voroney - Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Abstract:
In 1999, a study was developed to examine the effect on soil fertility and corn yields of applying a high C:N ratio (~120:1) de-inked paper fibre biosolid on agricultural soils. Three differently textured soils were chosen to represent general agricultural conditions in southern Ontario and were planted in corn over a 3 year period. The study sites treatment combinations of a de-inked paper fibre biosolid (0 Mg/ha, 50 Mg/ha, 100 Mg/ha, and 150 Mg/ha) and 4 rates of supplemental nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen rates used were 0.5, 0.75, and 1.25 kg N/ Mg PFB, in
addition to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s recommended corn crop nitrogen requirement based on a preplant spring soil test. Soil inorganic nitrogen levels were also monitored throughout each growing season. Results of the annual measurements indicate that significant treatment differences exist, especially at the higher range of the PFB rates and the lower range of supplemental nitrogen
treatment rates. Crop growth was also significantly affected by some of the
treatment combinations (PFB x supp. N rate). Developing appropriate soil fertility management protocols on agricultural lands amended with PFBs remains an
important focus in southern Ontario.
Speaker Information: G. W. Price, Univ. of Guelph, Dept. of Land Resource Science Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1; Phone: 519-824-4120 X52489; E-mail:
Session Information: Monday, November 1, 2004, 1:30 PM-3:15 PM Presentation Start: 2:05 PM
Keywords: paper biosolids; soil fertility; nitrogen dynamics; crop growth
