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Copy link Benefits of recycled phosphorus
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Bangor University, Wales
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Key Conclusions
This independent ‘Masters By Research’ programme demonstrates the value of incorporating recycled phosphorus – struvite into turf grass fertilisers.
The significantly greater rootmass is proposed to be derived from continual access to phosphorus from the slow-release struvite granule.
Objective
To investigate the benefits of utilising recycled phosphorus in sports turf management.
Trial Details
Trial station
Bangor University, Wales
Treatments
Anna Raunder, an MRes candidate, completed a year of laboratory and glasshouse trials under the guidance of Professors Davey Jones and Dave Chadwick.
The study encompassed a series of experiments aimed at understanding turf rooting, the impact on soil microbiology, and the optimal application of struvite found in Sierrablen Plus Pearl
Treatments
Anna Raunder, an MRes candidate, completed a year of laboratory and glasshouse trials under the guidance of Professors Davey Jones and Dave Chadwick.
The study encompassed a series of experiments aimed at understanding turf rooting, the impact on soil microbiology, and the optimal application of struvite found in Sierrablen Plus Pearl
Results
A series of 14C glucose addition trials demonstrated how struvite additions affected microbiology activity in a different way to conventional phosphate fertilisers.
Cumulative CO2 emission was similar to control tubes illustrating slower C utilisation and turnover. Benefits from addition of mycorrhizae was also demonstrated (data not shown) indicating no effect from use of struvite with mycorrhizal associations.
Figure 1. Cumulative CO2 emission from rootzones following phosphate fertiliser addition. Error bars show SE of mean.
Root chamber trials for Lolium perenne in a sand based rootzone with different combinations of MAP (mono-ammonium phosphate) and pearl struvite at a rate of 60kg/ha P clearly illustrated significantly (P<0.05) better rooting where higher proportions of pearl are utilised
(100% pearl, 80:20 Pearl:MAP, 60:40 pearl:MAP).
The greatest rootmass was measured for 80:20 combination.
Figure 2. Root biomass (g/pot) for struvite pearl and MAP combinations. Error bars show SE from mean. Letters signify comparative significant difference (P<0.05)
A second series of root chamber trials again with seeded Lolium perenne illustrated the importance of depth of incorporation of any seeding fertiliser.
Significantly greater rootmass (P<0.05) was measured when fertilizers were incorporated at 60mm compared with 30mm and surface application.
Results were significant for all P fertiliser types measured (data not shown).
Figure 3. Root biomass (g/chamber) measured at different fertiliser placement depths. Error bars show SE from mean. Letters signify comparative significant difference (P<0.05)
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