TY - JOUR
T1 - Fertilising effect of sewage sludge ash inoculated with the phosphate-solubilising fungus Penicillium bilaiae under semi-field conditions
AU - Raymond, Nelly Sophie
AU - Jensen, Lars Stoumann
AU - van der Bom, Frederik
AU - Nicolaisen, Mette Haubjerg
AU - Müller-Stöver, Dorette
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Sewage sludge ashes provide interesting possibilities to recycle phosphorus (P) to soil, although the immediate plant availability is often low. The objective of this work was to increase the P-fertilising effect of sewage sludge ash through inoculation with the phosphate-solubilising fungus Penicillium bilaiae. In a soil incubation study, ash amendment enhanced the content of water-extractable P, but in contrast to previous in vitro experiments, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not further increase P availability, probably due to limited competitiveness of the fungus in soil. In a micro-plot field trial, a moderate P fertiliser effect of the ash was found without any additional effect of P. bilaiae ash inoculation on plant biomass and P-uptake. However, soil microbial functions determined by the MicroResp™ method were not negatively affected by the ash amendment. In conclusion, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not prove to be a suitable strategy to enhance P availability from sewage sludge ash. A better insight into the fungus’ ecology and colonisation ability in soil and rhizosphere as well as into its interactions with ash P is needed to further develop such alternative P-fertilising approaches.
AB - Sewage sludge ashes provide interesting possibilities to recycle phosphorus (P) to soil, although the immediate plant availability is often low. The objective of this work was to increase the P-fertilising effect of sewage sludge ash through inoculation with the phosphate-solubilising fungus Penicillium bilaiae. In a soil incubation study, ash amendment enhanced the content of water-extractable P, but in contrast to previous in vitro experiments, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not further increase P availability, probably due to limited competitiveness of the fungus in soil. In a micro-plot field trial, a moderate P fertiliser effect of the ash was found without any additional effect of P. bilaiae ash inoculation on plant biomass and P-uptake. However, soil microbial functions determined by the MicroResp™ method were not negatively affected by the ash amendment. In conclusion, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not prove to be a suitable strategy to enhance P availability from sewage sludge ash. A better insight into the fungus’ ecology and colonisation ability in soil and rhizosphere as well as into its interactions with ash P is needed to further develop such alternative P-fertilising approaches.
KW - Fertiliser
KW - Field experiment
KW - P-solubilising microorganisms
KW - Sewage sludge ash
KW - Soil incubation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055976521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00374-018-1326-1
DO - 10.1007/s00374-018-1326-1
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85055976521
SN - 0178-2762
VL - 55
SP - 43
EP - 51
JO - Biology and Fertility of Soils
JF - Biology and Fertility of Soils
IS - 1
ER -
