100765

Poster Number 178-535

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
See more from this Session: S4/S8 Ph.D. Poster Competition

Monday, November 7, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE

ABSTRACT WITHDRAWN

Abstract:
Algal biomass grown on wastewater effluent can be an effective nitrogen (N) fertilizer. A high N organic fertilizer, feather meal, and a conventional standard, urea, were used to compare production efficacy against algal biomass. Each fertilizer source was applied at three N rates and used to grow corn and potatoes in three different locations across Oregon. Soil mineral N, as well as microbial biomass carbon and N, enzyme activity, and petiole N, were measured throughout the season, and overall yield, produce N, and quality were measured at harvest. These data were used to calculate the comparative N use efficiency of each fertilizer source and the resulting agronomic value. A laboratory incubation was done to compare different sources of algal biomass mineralization rates and overall microbial activity. Although algal processing methods, particularly the temperature at which they are dried, can impact the overall N mineralization rate of algal biomass added to the soil, these field and laboratory incubations show that algal biomass can be as effective at delivering N to the plant as both feather meal and urea per unit of N. Future models to calculate the market potential of algae production can value this biomass as a high N organic fertilizer, priced relative to the feather meal market on a price per unit of N basis.

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
See more from this Session: S4/S8 Ph.D. Poster Competition