Aug 2026· Frontiers in Soil Science· 0 citations· 66 references
Abstract
Biobased fertilizers are increasingly considered viable alternatives to mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizers, however their agronomic performance in calcareous soils remains insufficiently documented. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of composted organic waste (olive mill pomace, OMP; solid urban residue, SUR, and sewage sludge, SWS), applied individually or in combination with struvite (STR) to increase soil fertility, enhance plant growth and promote crop biofortification. A pot experiment was conducted using wheat as a model crop in three Mediterranean soils (Entisol, Inceptisol, and Vertisol) differing in carbonate content and P phytoavailability. All treatments supplied 50 mg P per kg of soil, including the application of diammonium phosphate (DAP), while unamended soils received no P (CON). Soil type modulated the performance of the biobased fertilizers. SUR and SWS, applied alone in the Entisol and Vertisol or combined with STR in all soils, increased plant-available soil P (74-238%) relative to CON. SWS, applied alone or with STR, achieved wheat yields comparable to those of DAP in the Entisol and Vertisol and exceeded DAP yields in the Inceptisol. The combination of SUR or SWS with STR resulted in plant P use efficiencies comparable to or higher than those obtained with DAP. SUR and SUR+STR enhanced wheat biofortification in the Inceptisol. By contrast, OMP showed limited effectiveness as a biobased fertilizer due to insufficient stabilization during the composting process, although its performance improved when combined with STR. Overall, while SUR and SWS alone or in combination with STR, can substitute mineral P fertilizers, their effectiveness depends on soil type and compost stabilization.
This study evaluated the agronomic potential and environmental impact of a macrophyte-based fertilizer (OMF) in maize cultivation. OMF was previously characterized in accordance with regulatory standards and applied to sandy loam and clayey soils at six rates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g dm⁻³). The experimental design also included a mineral fertilizer (MF) control receiving N, P, and K amounts equivalent to the 10 g dm⁻³ application, arranged in a randomized block design. After 45 days in greenhouse conditions, maize biomass and total nutrient accumulation, soil macronutrient concentrations, and the activities of arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase were quantified. Basal soil respiration (BSR) and nutrient leaching were also evaluated through laboratoy-based analyses. OMF increased BSR, with CO₂ release in sandy loam and clayey soils highest under OMF (11.5; 10.7 mg g⁻¹), moderate under sludge compost (7.06; 7.51 mg g⁻¹), and lowest in unfertilized soil (2.34; 3.40 mg g⁻¹). OMF also promoted linear increases in soil P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, as well as in maize biomass and total N, P, and K accumulation. However, the highest OMF dose achieved only 20–31% of MF biomass. Moreover, organic fertilizers consistently reduced NO₃⁻-N, NH₄⁺-N, and K⁺ leaching compared with MF. In sandy soil, NO₃⁻-N leaching decreased by 31.2% and 38.5%, NH₄⁺-N by 45.6% and 37.4%, and K⁺ by 71.3% and 24.3% under SSC and OMF, respectively. In clayey soil, reductions reached 44.6% and 46.4% for NO₃⁻-N, 24.0% and 20.9% for NH₄⁺-N, and 35.9% and 15.7% for K⁺ under SSC and OMF, respectively. OMF offers environmental advantages by decreasing NO₃⁻-N leaching and supplying a slow-release K⁺ source, although it remains less effective than mineral fertilizer in promoting maize growth.
Paulo Sergio Costa Trindade, Andre Luiz de Freitas Espinoza, João Henrique Silva da Luz et al.· Journal of soil science and...· 0 citations
The intensive use of mineral fertilizers in horticultural systems has improved crop productivity but also increased concerns regarding soil degradation and environmental sustainability. In this context, vermicompost derived from buffalo manure may represent a sustainable alternative for nutrient management and organic waste valorization. This study evaluated the effects of four fertilization strategies on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in loam and clay soils: unfertilized control, mineral fertilization, vermicompost applied at an equivalent nitrogen rate, and the residual effect of vermicompost from a previous cauliflower crop. Agronomic performance, fruit quality, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant-related traits were assessed. Mineral fertilization produced the highest marketable yield, reaching 9.68 and 7.69 kg m−2 in loam and clay soils, respectively, mainly through increased fruit number. Direct vermicompost application maintained substantial productivity, with yields of 7.55 and 5.18 kg m−2 in the two soils. The fertilization strategies also induced distinct changes in fruit composition. Mineral fertilization increased total free amino acids to approximately 160 mg g−1 DW, mainly through the accumulation of glutamine, glutamate, asparagine and γ-aminobutyric acid, but was associated with lower soluble solids and antioxidant activity. Vermicompost promoted the highest lycopene concentration, approximately 2.1 mg g−1 DW, in clay soil and maintained intermediate antioxidant activity and amino acid concentrations. Soil texture also influenced carbohydrate partitioning, with greater fructose accumulation in clay soil and greater starch accumulation in loam soil. The residual vermicompost treatment alone did not adequately sustain tomato productivity or metabolic activity, particularly in clay soil. Overall, vermicompost partially replaced mineral fertilization while maintaining satisfactory yield and modulating fruit metabolic quality, although its effectiveness depended strongly on soil texture.
G. M. Fusco, I. Di Mola, E. Cozzolino et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
Global phosphorus (P) reserves are finite, making the development of sustainable fertilizer alternatives critical for agricultural production. While algae biomass can supply plant-available P, its performance relative to conventional synthetic and organic fertilizers across varying soil textures and soil conditions associated with recurring crop P deficiency remains poorly understood. We conducted two incubation studies to assess the effects of dry microalgae powder on P dynamics. The first study compared
Tribonema minus
algae with synthetic fertilizers and a bone meal pellet across four soils differing in texture (coarse and fine) and whether they originated from fields with or without a history of recurring crop P deficiency. The second compared three algal types (
T. minus
,
Uronema
high P, and
Uronema
low P) with poultry manure, hydrolyzed fish liquid, and corn steep powder in coarse and fine soils from fields with recurring crop P deficiency. Pore water P was measured over 3 months, followed by analysis of Olsen P, resin-extractable P, and microbial P at the end of each incubation. Across both studies, P availability depended strongly on soil texture, field P deficiency history, and amendment composition; soils from fields without recurring crop P deficiency and coarse-textured soils consistently showed greater pore water and resin-extractable P. In Study 1, synthetic fertilizers yielded the highest P recovery, while organic amendments released P more slowly. In Study 2 which focused on soils from fields with a history of crop P deficiency all algal types showed greater pore water P recovery than most other organic fertilizers in the coarse soil. Conversely, in fine textured soil, algae had the lowest pore water P recovery. However, by the end of Study 2, resin-extractable P recovery was greater in
Tribonema
than in one hydrolyzed fish product, regardless of texture. Our findings indicate that dead algal biomass is a promising P source relative to other organic fertilizers, though its performance is highly context-dependent.
A. Brant, Shelley Blackwell, Anna Rodriguez-Paiatsyka et al.· Frontiers in Environmental S...· 0 citations
Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, and sole reliance on inorganic fertilizers raises concerns about long-term soil health. This study evaluated the effects of maize cob biochar and NPK fertilizer, applied individually and in combination, on soil properties, growth, and yield of maize (
Zea mays
L.) in Akure, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Treatments included control, biochar (1.5 and 3.0 t/ha), NPK fertilizer (100 and 200 kg/ha), and a combined application of 1.5 t/ha biochar with 100 kg/ha fertilizer. Growth parameters measured included plant height, leaf area index, internode length, and stem girth, while yield indices and post-harvest soil chemical properties were also assessed. Results showed that all treatments significantly improved maize performance compared to the control. Biochar alone produced the highest growth values and yield components, including cob weight (375.12 g), number of seeds per cob (707.80), and seed weight per cob (203.53 g), compared to the control (161.50 g, 104.73, and 37.49 g, respectively). The combined treatment also recorded high values (313.52 g, 670.50, and 169.94 g). Biochar improved soil properties, increasing organic carbon (0.89%) and organic matter (1.52%) relative to the control (0.69% and 0.19%), while fertilizer enhanced available phosphorus (5.39 cmol/kg). The study concludes that integrating maize cob biochar with inorganic fertilizer is an effective and sustainable strategy for improving soil fertility and maize productivity.
O. Nwafor, A. Johnson, Akinbuwa Olumakinde et al.· Advances in Bioscience and B...· 0 citations
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a commercial microbial fertilizer containing Bacillus megaterium, Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas fluorescens on soil biological properties and plant growth during eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation under greenhouse conditions in calcareous soils. While 70% of the phosphorus (P) requirement was supplied via fertigation, the remaining 30% was provided through organo-mineral basal fertilization at four reduction levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) combined with microbial inoculation. Soil samples collected prior to the experiment and at 4 different growth stages were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological properties, while plant samples collected at the end of the harvest were evaluated for pomological and physiological traits. The results indicated that microbial treatments substantially enhanced soil biological activity. Specifically, the full-dose P + microbial treatment (100+) produced the highest urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase activities, and total bacterial count. The 100+ treatment also yielded the most pronounced improvements in soil EC, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available P. Plant parameters, including fruit length, peduncle length, dry biomass, soluble solids content, and chlorophyll concentrations, responded positively to P–microbial combinations. The highest leaf phosphorus concentration was obtained from the 100+ treatment, while the maximum total yield was achieved in both the 100 and 100+ treatments. These findings demonstrate that microbial inoculants create a strong synergy with mineral fertilization by enhancing P bioavailability and nutrient use efficiency. Consequently, it was determined that an integrated microbial-chemical fertilization strategy is an effective method for sustainable eggplant production in calcareous soils.
Ahmet Cemil Eken, Ismail Emrah Tavalı, A. Maltas· Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban...· 0 citations
Soil acidity is one of the most serious constraints limiting crop productivity in regions with high rainfall in Ethiopia. To address this issue, field experiments were conducted during the 2024 main cropping season in farmers’ fields in two distinct ecological locations. This study aimed to explore the response of soil chemical properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to organic and inorganic amendments of acidic soils in Jaldu district and Cheha district in central Ethiopia. Application rates of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 t/ha vermicompost; 0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha agricultural lime; and 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer were applied to acidic soils of the study areas. Soil chemical properties related to acidity were determined using standard laboratory procedures, which indicated low pH, available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity, along with high exchangeable acid before planting. After harvesting, agricultural lime improved acidity-related soil conditions, including pH, organic C, available P, and total exchangeable bases, while reducing exchangeable acids in both districts. Vermicompost specifically improved soil organic C and total N in the soil of Jaldu district. The improvement in soil acidity due to liming was greater than that achieved by vermicompost or NPS fertilizer. Wheat yield increased in response to all rates of agricultural lime, vermicompost, and NPS-fertilizer applications. The highest yields of 5.71 t/ha and 4.62 t/ha were obtained with the application of 6 t/ha of agricultural lime in Cheha district and Jaldu district, respectively. The study demonstrated that sustainable agricultural practices soil amendment with agricultural inputs decreases soil acidity and improve wheat grain yields. Locational disparities in soil physical–chemical properties and wheat production with limited amendment options can limit the applicability of the findings from the selected study districts to wider regions. Therefore, investigations over diverse locations, seasons, and wheat varieties are needed to examine the effects on soil fertility and crop yield returns, and the economic viability of using diverse agricultural inputs.
A. Chimdi, Yunting Fang, Ang Wang et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
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