Abstract
Excessive N and P in surface waters can promote eutrophication (algae-dominated, low-O 2 waters), which decreases water quality and aquatic life. Duckweed (Lemnaceae), a floating aquatic plant, rapidly absorbs N and P from water and its composition shows strong potential as a soil amendment. Therefore, it may be used to transfer N and P from eutrophic water bodies to agricultural fields. In this work, dried duckweed was incorporated into agricultural soil in microcosm, column, and field tests to evaluate biological N cycling, nutrient retention, and crop yield compared with compost, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and an amendment-free control. In microcosm tests, 25 ± 13% of duckweed N was mineralized, providing on average less mineral N than DAP (107 ± 21%), but more than compost (11 ± 12%). In columns, duckweed treatments leached only 2% of the N added, significantly less than DAP, which leached 60% of its N. Compared with the control, DAP leached significantly more phosphate (78%), whereas duckweed and compost treatments leached less (56 and 27%, respectively). Crop yield, as well as runoff N and P, were measured in field tests growing forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]. Although less total N was applied to duckweed plots than to DAP plots (75 vs. 130 kg ha −1 , respectively), duckweed was found to retain 30% more total mineral N in a tilled agricultural field than DAP, while supporting a comparable yield. These tests indicate that duckweed may provide a sustainable source of N and P for agriculture.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 469-475 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Environmental Quality |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2019 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Science and Technology
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
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Duckweed as an agricultural amendment : Nitrogen mineralization, leaching, and sorghum uptake. / Kreider, Andrew N.; Fernandez Pulido, Carlos R.; Bruns, Mary Ann; Brennan, Rachel A.
In: Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 48, No. 2, 01.03.2019, p. 469-475.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Duckweed as an agricultural amendment
T2 - Nitrogen mineralization, leaching, and sorghum uptake
AU - Kreider, Andrew N.
AU - Fernandez Pulido, Carlos R.
AU - Bruns, Mary Ann
AU - Brennan, Rachel A.
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Excessive N and P in surface waters can promote eutrophication (algae-dominated, low-O 2 waters), which decreases water quality and aquatic life. Duckweed (Lemnaceae), a floating aquatic plant, rapidly absorbs N and P from water and its composition shows strong potential as a soil amendment. Therefore, it may be used to transfer N and P from eutrophic water bodies to agricultural fields. In this work, dried duckweed was incorporated into agricultural soil in microcosm, column, and field tests to evaluate biological N cycling, nutrient retention, and crop yield compared with compost, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and an amendment-free control. In microcosm tests, 25 ± 13% of duckweed N was mineralized, providing on average less mineral N than DAP (107 ± 21%), but more than compost (11 ± 12%). In columns, duckweed treatments leached only 2% of the N added, significantly less than DAP, which leached 60% of its N. Compared with the control, DAP leached significantly more phosphate (78%), whereas duckweed and compost treatments leached less (56 and 27%, respectively). Crop yield, as well as runoff N and P, were measured in field tests growing forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]. Although less total N was applied to duckweed plots than to DAP plots (75 vs. 130 kg ha −1 , respectively), duckweed was found to retain 30% more total mineral N in a tilled agricultural field than DAP, while supporting a comparable yield. These tests indicate that duckweed may provide a sustainable source of N and P for agriculture.
AB - Excessive N and P in surface waters can promote eutrophication (algae-dominated, low-O 2 waters), which decreases water quality and aquatic life. Duckweed (Lemnaceae), a floating aquatic plant, rapidly absorbs N and P from water and its composition shows strong potential as a soil amendment. Therefore, it may be used to transfer N and P from eutrophic water bodies to agricultural fields. In this work, dried duckweed was incorporated into agricultural soil in microcosm, column, and field tests to evaluate biological N cycling, nutrient retention, and crop yield compared with compost, diammonium phosphate (DAP), and an amendment-free control. In microcosm tests, 25 ± 13% of duckweed N was mineralized, providing on average less mineral N than DAP (107 ± 21%), but more than compost (11 ± 12%). In columns, duckweed treatments leached only 2% of the N added, significantly less than DAP, which leached 60% of its N. Compared with the control, DAP leached significantly more phosphate (78%), whereas duckweed and compost treatments leached less (56 and 27%, respectively). Crop yield, as well as runoff N and P, were measured in field tests growing forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]. Although less total N was applied to duckweed plots than to DAP plots (75 vs. 130 kg ha −1 , respectively), duckweed was found to retain 30% more total mineral N in a tilled agricultural field than DAP, while supporting a comparable yield. These tests indicate that duckweed may provide a sustainable source of N and P for agriculture.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063792595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063792595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2134/jeq2018.05.0207
DO - 10.2134/jeq2018.05.0207
M3 - Article
C2 - 30951113
AN - SCOPUS:85063792595
VL - 48
SP - 469
EP - 475
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
SN - 0047-2425
IS - 2
ER -