Mitigation of CO<inf>2</inf>, CH<inf>4</inf> and N<inf>2</inf>O from Acidic Clayey Soil Amended with Fertilizer Pellets Based on Alkaline Organic Residues
Citation
Marouani, E., Ziadi, N., Lévesque, V., Kolsi Benzina, N., Bouslimi, B., Koubaa, A. (2021). Mitigation of CO2, CH4 and N2O from Acidic Clayey Soil Amended with Fertilizer Pellets Based on Alkaline Organic Residues. Waste Biomass Valorization, [online] 12(7), 3813-3827. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01276-y
Plain language summary
The application of nitrogen fertilizer in soils can significantly promote the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and alkaline organic residues amendments, such as wood ash (WA), deinking paper sludge (DPS), and mixed paper sludge (MPS) could mitigate this GHG emissions. However, the use of alkaline organic residues in agriculture remains limited due to their application and storage problems.
In our work, the granulation of wood ash with paper sludge (mixed sludge and deinking paper sludge) is proposed as an innovative solution to encourage the use of these residues. To evaluate their potential to mitigate GHG emissions and their capacity to improve fertility of an acidic clayey soil (e.g.: soil pH, nutrient availability and microbial activity), an 56-day incubation study was carried out.
The results showed that alkaline residues significantly increased soil pH and nutrient availability, and had a positive effect on improving soil microbial activity and on the mitigation of CO2 and N2O. No effect was, however, obtained on the mitigation of CH4 emissions. Our study also showed that organic pellets based on alkaline residues improved the soil properties and can play a role in the mitigation of GHG emissions. Therefore, the application of alkaline organic residue pellets in acidic clayey soil might be considered as a sustainable approach in agriculture.
Abstract
Abstract: Alkaline organic residues, such as wood ash (WA), deinking paper sludge (DPS), and mixed paper sludge (MPS) could have a significant potential for mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG) when they are used for land application. The DPS was mixed and then granulated with MPS, WA and/or composted DPS to form pellets. A 56-d incubation study was carried out to investigate the effect of alkaline organic residue pellets on: (1) the biological and chemical properties of acidic clayey soil; (2) on carbon dioxide (CO2), on methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) soil emissions. The experimental design included eight different treatments: unfertilized control (Control), fertilized control with mineral nitrogen (controlF), and six pelleted alkaline organic residue amendments (T1–T6) combined with mineral nitrogen fertilizer. The six amendments were: (T1) 100% DPS; (T2) 100% composted [50% poultry manure and 50% T1]; (T3) 50%WA + 50% T1; (T4) 50% WA + 50% T2; (T5) 50%T2 + 30%WA + 20% MPS; (T6) 50% T1 + 30%WA + 20% MPS. The results showed that alkaline residues significantly increased soil pH, the concentration of water-extractable organic carbon, and water-extractable nitrogen. Alkaline treatments had a positive effect on soil microbial activity. The highest mitigation efficiency of cumulative CO2 was obtained with T4, which released 10% less CO2 than other treatments. No significant effect on cumulative CH4 emissions was observed. Total cumulative N2O emissions were reduced by 37% with T5. Our study also showed that organic pellets based on alkaline residues improved the soil properties and can play a role in the mitigation of GHG in acidic clayey soil. Therefore, the co-application of alkaline organic residue pellets with chemical fertilizer might be considered as a sustainable approach in agriculture. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].