Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management

• Main Authors: Talboys, Peter J. (Author), Heppell, James (Author), Daniel, Jessica (Author), Roose, Tiina (Author), Healey, John (Author), Jones, Davey L. (Author), Withers, Paul J.A (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2016-04.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 Background and Aim: Recycled sources of phosphorus (P), such as struvite extracted from wastewater, have potential to substitute for more soluble manufactured fertilizers and help reduce the long-term threat to food security from dwindling finite reserves of phosphate rock (PR). This study aimed to determine whether struvite could be a component of a sustainable P fertiliser management strategy for arable crops. Methods: A combination of laboratory experiments, pot trials and mathematical modelling of the root system examined the P release properties of commercial fertiliser-grade struvite and patterns of P uptake from a low-P sandy soil by two different crop types, in comparison to more soluble inorganic P fertilisers (di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple super phosphate (TSP)). Results: Struvite had greatly enhanced solubility in the presence of organic acid anions; buckwheat, which exudes a high level of organic acids, was more effective at mobilising struvite P than the low level exuder, spring wheat. Struvite granules placed with the seed did not provide the same rate of P supply as placed DAP granules for early growth, but fertiliser mixes containing struvite and DAP applied to spring wheat demonstrated optimal early P-uptake and higher rates of P-fertiliser recovery. Conclusions: We conclude that the potential resource savings and efficiency benefits of utilising a recycled slow release fertiliser like struvite offers a more sustainable alternative to only using conventional, high solubility, PR-based fertilisers.?