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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 32804

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vladimír Frišták

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry, University of Trnava, Hornopotočná 23, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia
Interests: pyrolysis; biochar; carbon sequestration; waste valorization; nutrients recycling; soil chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Martin Pipíška

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry, University of Trnava, Hornopotočná 23, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia
Interests: remediation; biosorption process modelling; water contamination; heavy metals and radionuclides accumulation; biochar
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A major issue of our society is the global increase in food demand due to the extreme growth rate of the world human population. Hence, to deliver the required food supplies, inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides have been intensively applied to improve the yield of key crops. The need for sustainable fertilization with minimal impact on the environment has started the search for sources of potential fertilizer alternatives for application in agronomy. This has generated interest in renewable feedstock from biomass waste. Many of these wastes, such as plant and animal residues, sewage sludge or animal excrements, are disposed of in landfills, composed or incinerated. However, these materials are valuable sources of nutrients for plant production. Additionally, the suitable pretreatment of input biomass feedstock (composting, pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonisation, gasification) can lead to the production of ecotoxicologically safe products in sustainable agriculture.

As guest editors of this Special Issue of Agriculture, we would like to invite researchers and scientists to provide excellent advances on the various aspects of waste utilization as potential soil fertilizers and additives to improve soil characteristics and crop yields in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Vladimír Frišták
Dr. Martin Pipíška
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

biomass waste
waste conversion
organic farming
soil carbon sequestration
nutrients recycling
nutritional security
ecological agriculture
alternative soil additives
innovative fertilizers
farm innovation

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomass Accumulation and Technical and Economic Efficiency of Potassium Sources Applied via Fertigation to Corn

by Fernando Rodrigues Cabral Filho, Frederico Antonio Loureiro Soares, Daniely Karen Matias Alves, Marconi Batista Teixeira, Fernando Nobre Cunha, Edson Cabral da Silva, Cícero Teixeira Silva Costa, Nelmício Furtado da Silva, Gabriela Nobre Cunha and Wendson Soares da Silva Cavalcante

Agriculture 2022, 12(4), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040497 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1777

Abstract

To achieve high corn yield, optimal amounts of nutrients that can be extracted by the crop must be supplied at adequate proportions. Vinasse from sugarcane ethanol production can be applied as a soil fertilizer to corn crops in ethanol production plants. In this context, the present study compared the effects of mineral potassium fertilization with potassium chloride and organic fertilization with concentrated sugarcane vinasse on corn dry matter and grain yield and explored the technical and economic efficiency of these sources. The experiment was carried out at the experimental station of the Federal Institute Goiano, Rio Verde Campus, Brazil. The experiment followed a randomized block design in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with three replicates. The treatments comprised two sources of potassium, namely concentrated vinasse and potassium chloride, applied at four doses of potassium, representing 0%, 50%, 100%, and 200% of the recommended rate for corn. The dry matter accumulation of corn throughout the crop cycle, yield components at harvest, and technical and economic efficiency of the applied potassium sources were measured. Neither potassium dose nor its source affected leaf, stem, and aboveground dry matter accumulation at harvest. Regardless of the potassium source, the 100% dose produced higher cob dry mass, grain dry mass, grain dry mass per ear, grain yield, number of bags of 60 kg ha⁻¹ produced per hectare, and harvest index. The agronomic efficiency of vinasse compared to potassium chloride was 68.5% at the 100% dose of the recommendation, showing enough potential as an organic fertilizer in corn crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 3000 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Utilization of Sewage Sludge-Derived Pyrogenic Material as a Promising Soil Amendment

by Vladimír Frišták, Martin Pipíška, Dominika Koperová, Reinhard Jagerhofer, Gerhard Soja and Stephen M. Bell

Agriculture 2022, 12(3), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12030360 - 03 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2600

Abstract

The use of advanced treatment technologies such as pyrolysis and carbonization of bio-waste materials has the promise to develop coupled solutions for organic C and P problems in the future of food processing. Sewage sludge-derived pyrogenic materials that are applied to the soil system contain notable levels of P (1–20%). However, only a small portion of total phosphorus is available for plants. Therefore, our study assessed the pretreatment of sewage sludge with Na₂CO₃ and subsequent pyrolysis at 400 °C and 500 °C for the production of MPCM400 and MPCM500 as potential alternatives for inorganic P fertilizers. Non-pretreated sewage sludge-derived pyrogenic carbonaceous materials (PCM400 and PCM500) were produced as controls. The derived materials obtained by slow pyrolysis at a residence time of 120 min and pyrolysis temperatures of 400 °C and 500 °C, were analyzed by determination of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, elemental analysis of total C, H, N, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and total concentrations of P, Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn. PCM400, PCM500, MPCM400 and MPCM500 were characterized by analysis of total 16 US-EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) PAHs by a toluene extraction procedure. Additionally, PCM400, PCM500, MPCM400 and MPCM500 were tested by a germination test with cress seeds (Lepidium sativum L.) and a short-term rye seedling test. Total C concentrations were raised in the order: MPCM500 < MPCM400 < PCM500 < PCM500. Concentration of Σ16 US-EPA PAHs was almost five times higher at PCM500 (21.87 mg/kg) compared to PCM400 (4.38 mg/kg) and three times higher at MPCM500 (23.12 mg/kg) compared to MPCM400 (7.55 mg/kg) with a dominant role of two and three-ring aromatic structures. Total P-concentrations in rye biomass increased in the order for the controls: (2.43 ± 0.95 mg/g) < PCM400 (3.57 ± 0.27 mg/g) < PCM500 (4.04 ± 0.24 mg/g) < MPCM400 (5.23 ± 0.09 mg/g) < MPCM500 (5.57 ± 0.70 mg/g) < IF (7.53 ± 2.65 mg/g). Obtained results showed that pyrolysis materials produced from sewage sludge represent a potential alternative of conventional P inorganic fertilizers and organic C suppliers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Composts Made from Broiler Chicken Residues and Blended with Biochar on the Minerals and Phenolic Compounds in Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.)

by Francielly T. Santos, Henrique Trindade, Mônica S. S. M. Costa, Luiz A. M. Costa and Piebiep Goufo

Agriculture 2021, 11(11), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111168 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

Soil amendments, such as composts and biochar, are currently widely used as substrates in container gardening. Although different types of wastes have been used in composting, formulating growing mediums for specific plants using different materials is necessary. In the present study, organic substrates comprising mixtures of (a) broiler chicken wastes composted with sugar bagasse, sawdust, urban tree, napier grass, or cotton residues, and (b) five different proportions of biochar (0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60%) were used to produce mineral and flavonoid-rich parsley plants. The sawdust-based substrate led to the highest yields (27.86 g pot⁻¹ on average), regardless of the amount of biochar added; however, this substrate resulted in plants with no appreciable antioxidant activities. Plants grown using the tree-based substrate had moderate yields (16.95 g pot⁻¹), and the highest phenolic levels (e.g., 7.93 mg GAE g⁻¹) and antioxidant activities (DPPH scavenging activity over 11.17 g TE g⁻¹). Such activities were better described by the presence of apigenin-7-apiosylglucoside and diosmetin-apiosylglucoside. Moderate yields were also obtained with the cotton-based substrate; however, such yields were only obtained at biochar proportions greater than 30%; this substrate led to the highest K contents (47.19 g kg⁻¹). The lowest yields (3.20 g pot⁻¹) and N (20.96 g kg⁻¹), P (1.33 g kg⁻¹), K (33.26 g kg⁻¹), and flavonoid (13.63 mg CE g⁻¹) contents were obtained with the napier-based substrate. However, this substrate led to the production of parsley plants with the highest levels of anthocyanins (0.40 mg CGE g⁻¹), which may have accumulated as stress sensors and defense components. The bagasse-based substrate also led to high yields and appreciable flavonoid contents with 60% biochar. In most cases, no linear relationship was found between the biochar amount and the chemical parameters evaluated. Overall, the substrates formulated using urban tree residues had higher suitability for parsley development than those formulated using sugar bagasse, sawdust, napier grass, or cotton residues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 2673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Gypsum-Containing Waste on Ammonia Binding in Animal Waste Composting

by Valeriy Voropaev, Nataliya Alfimova, Ivan Nikulin, Tatyana Nikulicheva, Aleksej Titenko and Vitaly Nikulichev

Agriculture 2021, 11(11), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111153 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2199

Abstract

The possibility of using gypsum-containing waste–citrogypsum, which is a by-product of the chemical biosynthesis of citric acid, was considered as an additive for composting poultry manure from poultry farms that practice litter-free poultry keeping. The research was carried out on an experimental batch of 1500 tons. The production of the batch was carried out by mixing citrogypsum with a moisture content of 30% and litterless chicken manure with a moisture content of no more than 80% in a ratio of 1:2. The resulting mixture was placed on an open landfill in piles 3 m wide, 1 m high and 400 m long and was mixed twice with a compost turner. Further processing consisted of mixing the mass once every seven days. The controlled parameters were changes in humidity, temperature, pH and nitrogen content during composting. In the course of the experiment, it was found that the introduction of citrogypsum into the composition of the compost helps to optimize the moisture, temperature and pH of the mixture, and a decrease in ammonia emission to 87% was recorded, with an increase in nitrogen content of 2.4 times compared to the initial value. It was concluded that citrogypsum can be used in composting poultry waste to reduce volatilization of ammonia and preserve nutrients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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14 pages, 1832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Polycomposite Fertilizer Obtained by Recycling and Processing Three Organic Wastes

by Anca Rovena Lacatusu, Aurelia Meghea, Adina Elena Rogozea and Carolina Constantin

Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11101021 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2135

Abstract

The paper aims at testing an innovative organic fertilizer obtained from waste by processing a mixture of marine algae biomass, sewage municipal sludge and farmyard manure. Design of this polycomposite fertilizer is based on adequate conceptual and experimental models by taking into account the complex interactions among these three biomasses. In the first step a detail physico-chemical analysis has been performed on the composition of the three raw materials and also on the soil. In the second phase similar analyses have been carried out on representative samples of soil treated with the compost as compared with untreated soil samples. Analytical methods applied were FT-IR spectroscopy in correlation with organic/inorganic and total carbon (TOC/TIC/TC) analysis. The efficiency of applying this compost on the field at large scale has been assessed by means of fatty acid content of the oleaginous plants cultivated. Based on correlation between production quality and chemical composition of the composted soil, the optimal proportions of the mixture of the three organic wastes will be selected for designing an eco-friendly fertilizer able to improve agrochemical properties of the soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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14 pages, 1867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amendment of Livestock Manure with Natural Zeolite-Clinoptilolite and Its Effect on Decomposition Processes during Composting

by Eva Šubová, Naďa Sasáková, František Zigo, Ingrid Mindžáková, Mária Vargová, Ján Kachnič and Katarína Veselitz Laktičová

Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100980 - 09 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1749

Abstract

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of amendment of cow manure with natural zeolite-clinoptilolite and hydrated lime on decomposition processes over the period of 90 days. Two static piles of amended substrates were constructed consisting of cow manure with an addition of bulking material (2.5% by weight): (1) manure mixed with zeolite (S1); manure mixed with zeolite and lime (S2). Third amendment-free pile served as a control (C). During the experiment, pH level, temperature (T), dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), C/N ratio, ammonia nitrogen (N-NH₄⁺) and total nitrogen (N_t) were determined. We also determined the counts of total coliform and faecal coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci as indicators of the hygiene level of compost. A significant increase (p < 0.001) in temperature to 53 °C was observed in S2 compared to C. In S2 we observed a significantly reduced release of N-NH₄⁺ from the composting substrate compared to C (p < 0.05). The significant differences were in N_t content in C and S2 (p < 0.001) and between S1 and S2 (p < 0.05). The concentration of N_t increased and caused decrease in the C/N ratio. The content of N_t in the substrates with zeolite increased by 44% in S1 and 45% in S2 compared to C. The differences in counts of coliform and faecal coliform bacteria between C and S2 were significant (p < 0.001). This experiment showed that amendment with zeolite and lime decreased nitrogen losses during composting and indicated sorption effects of zeolite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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15 pages, 860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Municipal Solid Waste Compost in Combination with Proper Irrigation Scheduling Influences the Productivity, Microbial Activity and Water Use Efficiency of Direct Seeded Rice

by Dharminder, Ram Kumar Singh, Vishal Kumar, Biswajit Pramanick, Walaa F. Alsanie, Ahmed Gaber and Akbar Hossain

Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100941 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2176

Abstract

Appropriate irrigation scheduling, along with proper nutrient management practice for direct seeded rice (DSR), are very much essential to attain higher water use efficiency. Huge amounts of municipal waste are been produced every year and these wastes are left untreated and have caused many environmental hazards. However, these wastes can be converted into potential manures for crop production when enhanced with microbial consortia. Concerning these, the current research was carried out to know the effect of compost of enriched municipal soil waste (E-MSWC) with suitable irrigation scheduling on growth, yield, microbial activity, and water use efficiency of the DSR grown under Indo-Gangetic plains during two consecutive rice seasons of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 at Varanasi, India. From the experiment, it was found that E-MSWC applied at 10 Mg·ha⁻¹ along with 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was capable to improve growth, yield, soil microbes, and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice. Amongst different enriched MSWC, the consortia (blend of N-fixing, P and Zn-solubilizing bacteria and Trichoderma) enriched MSWC was found to be the most effective. Concerning, different irrigation scheduling, it was observed that 50 mm cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) based irrigation was the most suitable as compared to providing irrigation at 75 mm CPE. Comparing rice varieties used in the research, the rice variety Swarna has appeared as a better choice in terms of yield and WUE than the variety, Sahbhagi. Thus, it can be recommended that irrigation at 50 mm of CPE in conjunction with 75% RDF + E-MSWC (consortia) at 10 Mg·ha⁻¹ could improve the water use efficiency of rice grown in Indo-Gangetic plains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 3417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Magnesium Composite/Walnut Shells-Derived Biochar for As and P Sorption from Aqueous Solutions

by Vladimír Frišták, Martin Pipíška, Vladimír Turčan, Stephen M. Bell, Haywood Dail Laughinghouse IV, Libor Ďuriška and Gerhard Soja

Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080714 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

Elevated or unnatural levels of arsenic (As) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in soils and waterbodies from anthropogenic sources can present significant hazards for both natural ecosystems and human food production. Effective, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive materials, such as biochar, are needed to reduce mobility and bioavailability of As and P. While biochar features several physicochemical properties that make it an ideal contaminant sorbent, certain modifications such as mineral-impregnation can improve sorption efficiencies for targeted compounds. Here, we conducted sorption experiments to investigate and quantify the potential utility of magnesium (Mg) for improving biochar sorption efficiency of P and As. We synthesized a Mg-modified walnut shells-derived biochar and characterized its ability to remove As and P from aqueous solutions, thereby mitigating losses of valuable P when needed while, at the same time, immobilizing hazardous As in ecosystems. SEM-EDX, FTIR and elemental analysis showed morphological and functional changes of biochar and the formation of new Mg-based composites (MgO, MgOHCl) responsible for improved sorption potential capacity by 10 times for As and 20 times for P. Sorption efficiency was attributed to improved AEC, higher SSA, chemical forms of sorbates and new sorption site formations. Synthetized Mg-composite/walnut shell-derived biochar also removed >90% of P from real samples of wastewater, indicating its potential suitability for contaminated waterbody remediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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8 pages, 1468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Vitamin B₁₂ Compounds in Fermented Poultry Manure Fertilizers

by Hiromi Katsura, Kyohei Koseki, Tomohiro Bito, Shigeo Takenaka and Fumio Watanabe

Agriculture 2021, 11(7), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070627 - 05 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2879

Abstract

(1) Background: Currently, no data are available on the vitamin B₁₂ content of an organic fertilizer product, viz. fermented poultry manure, or whether the organic fertilizer product contains vitamin B₁₂ or inactive corrinoids (or both). (2) Methods: This study conducted a microbiological assay to determine the vitamin B₁₂ content of various commercially available fermented poultry manure fertilizer products. (3) Results: The results varied from 1.4 μg to approximately 20 μg per 100 g of dry weight. In the bioautography analysis, selected products had two positive spots with identical R_f values of vitamin B₁₂ and pseudovitamin B_12. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization−mass spectrometry analyses of the selected products indicated that these fertilizers primarily contained vitamin B₁₂. They also contained minor inactive cobamides such as pseudovitamin B₁₂, 2-methyladenyl cobamide, and 2-methylmercaptoadenyl cobamide. (4) Conclusions: These results suggested that edible plants would enrich vitamin B₁₂ using fermented poultry manure organic fertilizer products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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Review

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25 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessReview

Low-Rank Coal as a Source of Humic Substances for Soil Amendment and Fertility Management

by Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Kuanysh T. Tastambek, Dinara K. Sherelkhan, Dariya B. Jussupova and Nazym P. Altynbay

Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121261 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 10163

Abstract

Humic substances (HS), as important environmental components, are essential to soil health and agricultural sustainability. The usage of low-rank coal (LRC) for energy generation has declined considerably due to the growing popularity of renewable energy sources and gas. However, their potential as soil amendment aimed to maintain soil quality and productivity deserves more recognition. LRC, a highly heterogeneous material in nature, contains large quantities of HS and may effectively help to restore the physicochemical, biological, and ecological functionality of soil. Multiple emerging studies support the view that LRC and its derivatives can positively impact the soil microclimate, nutrient status, and organic matter turnover. Moreover, the phytotoxic effects of some pollutants can be reduced by subsequent LRC application. Broad geographical availability, relatively low cost, and good technical applicability of LRC offer the advantage of easy fulfilling soil amendment and conditioner requirements worldwide. This review analyzes and emphasizes the potential of LRC and its numerous forms/combinations for soil amelioration and crop production. A great benefit would be a systematic investment strategy implicating safe utilization and long-term application of LRC for sustainable agricultural production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Waste to Fertilizer in Sustainable Agriculture)

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