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Title Constraints using the liquid fraction from roadside grass as a bio-based fertilizer
ID_Doc 23347
Authors Scott, H; de Souza, MF; Meers, E; Rintoul-Hynes, NLJ
Title Constraints using the liquid fraction from roadside grass as a bio-based fertilizer
Year 2023
Published Journal Of Plant Nutrition And Soil Science, 186, 4
DOI 10.1002/jpln.202200308
Abstract BackgroundRoadside grass cuttings are currently considered a waste product due to their association with road sweepings as contaminated waste, therefore, their potential as a biofertilizer is understudied. AimThis study aimed to determine whether grass liquid fraction (GLF) collected from a roadside verge in Maldegem, Belgium, and pressed using a screw press was suitable as a biofertilizer. MethodsThe characterization of the heavy metal content of the GLF was conducted using an ICP-OES. From May to September 2019, a pot experiment was set up using a randomized block design to compare tomato plant growth, yield, and nutrition for GLF-treated plants to two commercial fertilizers and tap water as a control. ResultsThe heavy metal content of the GLF was below the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for organic fertilizers as set out by the European Comission fertilizer regulation 1069/2009 and 1107/2009 (European Comission, 2019). However, despite having a fairly well-balanced nutrient content (0.1% N, 0.04% P2O5, and 0.2% K2O), GLF had a negative effect on the growth, root weight, and yield of the tomato plants, killing six out of ten plants. GLF also promoted mold growth in the soil of some plants. Since the GLF was uncontaminated, heavy metal toxicity did not cause the negative effect. ConclusionsPrevious research showed that liquid fractions from some plants negatively affect the growth of others due to allelopathic chemicals; this, together with the stimulation of fungal growth, could have caused the negative effects observed. Future experiments will investigate the herbicidal property of GLF and possible treatments to potentially recover the nutrients contained within the GLF for application as a biofertilizer.
Author Keywords allelopathy; biofertilizer; circular economy; microbiota; tomato
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000976986300001
WoS Category Agronomy; Plant Sciences; Soil Science
Research Area Agriculture; Plant Sciences
PDF https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/jpln.202200308
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