1. BIO-BASED FERTILIZER FOR GREENHOUSE CROPPING: A LAB AND FIELD SCALE ASSESSMENT
Ivona Sigurnjak, Evi Michels, Sara Crappé, Ellen Dolmans, Filip M.G. Tack, Nico Vergote, Erik Meers

2. OUTLINE 1 INTRODUCTION 2 GREENHOUSE TRIAL 3 CONCLUSION
Problem statement
Objectives
2 GREENHOUSE TRIAL
Methods
Results
3 CONCLUSION
Current work
Future perspectives

3. INTRODUCTION
Problem statement
Objectives

4. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Intensive industrial farming results in localized nutrient (N,P) excesses at a regional level.
Similar situations in France (Brittany region), Netherlands, Germany (Nord Westfalen), Italy (Po Valley)
Sutton et al. Our Nutrient World: Global overview on nutrient management (2013)

5. PROBLEM STATEMENT: FLANDERS, BE
Flanders is the main production location of frozen vegetables, accounting for 46% of European production (Vanhaverbeke et al., 2008).
In 2010, million kg of fertilizer N and 5.5 million kg of fertilizer P was applied on Flemish soil (Eurostat, 2013) in spite of existing excesses for animal manure nutrients.
Manure excess on soil balance kg N/ha
MIRA (2012): Soil balance in Flemish agriculture, figures for
MIRA (2012): Flanders Environment Report – Eutrophication

6. CRADLE – TO – CRADLE CONCEPT
OBJECTIVES
A sustainable resources management (C2C)!
CRADLE – TO – CRADLE CONCEPT

7. GREENHOUSE TRIAL
Methods
Results

8. GREENHOUSE TRIAL Test plant : lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
N-P205-K20 requirements: – 125 – 240 kg/ha
Salt sensitive crop: upper limit of 1,8 mS/cm = 90 – 100 % yield (Naaldwijk method)
Lab & Field scale assessment

9. Bio-digestion and manure derivatives
GREENHOUSE TRIAL: lab scale assessment
1) GREEN FERTILIZERS
Physico-chemical characterisation: Total NPK, Available NPK, EC, pH, OM, DM
In total 12 bio-digestion and manure derivatives
Bio-digestion and manure derivatives 1.
RO – concentrate (3x)
NK – fertilizer 2.
Evaporated effluent from biological treatment 3.
Ammonium sulphate (2x)
N – fertilizer 4.
Struvite
P – fertilizer 5.
Effluent from biological treatment
K – fertilizer 6.
Effluent from constructed wetlands 7.
LF of pig manure 8.
LF of digestate 9.
Urine from separated stable constructions
N - fertilizer

10. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: lab scale assessment
2) POT- EXPERIMENT
Aim: evaluate the use of bio-digestion/manure derivatives as compared to synthetic fertilizers with respect to EC level
60 pots (1 blank + 4 replicates) filled with a mixture of greenhouse soil and bio-digestion/manure derivatives
Result: EC level for tested bio-digestion/manure derivatives was within the limit of 1,8 mS/cm, except in the case of evaporated effluent from biological treatment (as N- fertilizer).
! In order to meet the nutrient requirements of the lettuce.
...after 24h EC was measured.

11. GREEN FERTILIZERS Struvite LF of digestate CW effluent
Ammoniumsulphate
Fertilizers DM
(%)
Total N
(g/kg FW)
Total P2O5
Total K2O pH EC
(mS/cm)
Struvite 92 51
212 11
7,6
0,95
LF of digestate
3,5
5,3
0,86
4,4
8,7 48
CW effluent
0,5
0,02
0,004
1,5
8,1 9
Ammoniumsulfate 33 86
0,11
0,18
2,3
291
Pure struvite contains 9.9 percent Mg, 5.7 percent N, and 12.6 percent P.
P -fertilizer
NK -fertilizer
K -fertilizer
N -fertilizer

12. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: field scale assessment
Kruishoutem, BE
Greenhouse area: 752 m2 (2x 376 m2)
Complete randomized block design
10 objects with 4 parallels = 40 plots (10 m2)

13. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: field scale assessment
Reference: object 11 and 16
Fertilization: Total N system
Objects
Calcium ammonium nitrate
(kg)
Triple Superphosphate
Patentkali
Struvite
Ammonium
sulphate
(L)
CW effluent
Liquid fraction digestate 11
0,78
0,27
0,80 - 12
0,65
0,59 13
2,45 14
161,07 15
0,21
0,25
39,33 16 17
2,00
156,60 18
0,45
35,00 19
0,75 20
54,30
INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT
GREENHOUSE 1
COMBINATION TREATMENT
GREENHOUSE 2
Calcium ammonium nitrate: nitrogen (N) 27 % (ammonia N (N-NH3) %, nitrate N (N-NO3) %), magnesium (MgO) 4.0 %, calcium 6.0 %. Achema.
Triple Superphosphate: 46% P2O5. Patentkali: 30% K2O.

14. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: field scale assessment
Date
Trial progress
04/06/2013
Sampling soil
/06/2013
Applying fertilizers
14/06/2013
Planting
14/06/ - 17/07/2013
Weekly assessment and sampling (EC and pH)
17/07/2013
Harvest + Quality determination

15. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: quality assessment
Quality parameters:
uniformity, volume, color
weight, tipburn, basal rot, yellow leaves, bremia, crop filling and crop closure

16. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: plant results (1)
Physico-chemical assessment:
Fresh weight, Dry weight, Total NPKS, Cu and Zn
R.L
R.L

17. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: plant results (2)
Physico-chemical assessment:
Fresh weight, Dry weight, Total NPKS, Cu and Zn
Objects
Total N
(g/kg DW)
Total P
Total K
Total S Cu
(mg/kg DW) Zn 11
44,95 ± 1,2
3,72 ± 0,17
52,33 ± 6,9
3,10 ± 0,3
7,55 ± 1,6
71,90 ± 11,9 12
43,14 ± 2,8
4,03 ± 0,25
51,12 ± 4,1
2,98 ± 0,3
7,57 ± 0,9
68,74 ± 10,4 13
43,04 ± 1,9
4,12 ± 0,56
56,24 ± 4,9
3,31 ± 0,3
7,03 ± 0,9
80,31 ± 11,6 14
43,14 ± 1,5
3,93 ± 0,18
57,00 ± 8,2
3,15 ± 0,04
8,05 ± 0,9
85,91 ± 8,7 15
41,12 ± 0,6
4,14 ± 0,52
44,39 ± 9,2
3,13 ± 0,4
8,34 ± 2,3
75,56 ± 22,2 16
44,66 ± 1,9
3,53 ± 0,32
66,38 ± 10,4
3,18 ± 0,3
7,71 ± 0,6
60,25 ± 3,6 17
40,93 ± 2,5
3,61 ± 0,13
68,12 ± 3,6
3,34 ± 0,1
7,50 ± 1,8
62,13 ± 9,3 18
43,84 ± 3,3
3,51 ± 0,20
72,31 ± 4,5
3,27 ± 2,3
6,77 ± 1,2
67,13 ± 9,0 19
43,98 ± 5,2
3,61 ± 0,40
62,38 ± 5,3
3,20 ± 2,0
6,65 ± 1,0
63,18 ± 7,2 20
38,38 ± 2,6
3,88 ± 0,61
68,59 ± 6,2
3,29 ± 1,9
7,21 ± 1,0
55,04 ± 5,0
Expressed on DW!

18. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: plant results (2)
Physico-chemical assessment:
Fresh weight, Dry weight, Total NPKS, Cu and Zn
Objects
Total N
(g/kg DW)
Total P
Total K
Total S Cu
(mg/kg DW) Zn 11
44,95 ± 1,2
3,72 ± 0,17
52,33 ± 6,9
3,10 ± 0,3
7,55 ± 1,6
71,90 ± 11,9 12
43,14 ± 2,8
4,03 ± 0,25
51,12 ± 4,1
2,98 ± 0,3
7,57 ± 0,9
68,74 ± 10,4 13
43,04 ± 1,9
4,12 ± 0,56
56,24 ± 4,9
3,31 ± 0,3
7,03 ± 0,9
80,31 ± 11,6 14
43,14 ± 1,5
3,93 ± 0,18
57,00 ± 8,2
3,15 ± 0,04
8,05 ± 0,9
85,91 ± 8,7 15
41,12 ± 0,6
4,14 ± 0,52
44,39 ± 9,2
3,13 ± 0,4
8,34 ± 2,3
75,56 ± 22,2 16
44,66 ± 1,9
3,53 ± 0,32
66,38 ± 10,4
3,18 ± 0,3
7,71 ± 0,6
60,25 ± 3,6 17
40,93 ± 2,5
3,61 ± 0,13
68,12 ± 3,6
3,34 ± 0,1
7,50 ± 1,8
62,13 ± 9,3 18
43,84 ± 3,3
3,51 ± 0,20
72,31 ± 4,5
3,27 ± 2,3
6,77 ± 1,2
67,13 ± 9,0 19
43,98 ± 5,2
3,61 ± 0,40
62,38 ± 5,3
3,20 ± 2,0
6,65 ± 1,0
63,18 ± 7,2 20
38,38 ± 2,6
3,88 ± 0,61
68,59 ± 6,2
3,29 ± 1,9
7,21 ± 1,0
55,04 ± 5,0
Normal range*
3.1 – 4.5
(%)
0.35 – 0.60
4.5 – 8.0
0.20 – 0.30 (%)
7 – 80
(mg/kg)
25 – 250 (mg/kg)
Range in objects
3.8 – 4.5
0.35 – 0.41
4.4 – 7.2
0.29 – 0.33 (%)
7.0 – 8.3 (mg/kg)
55 – 86
Expressed on DW!
* Reference: R J Hill Laboratories Ltd. Crop guide – Glasshouse lettuce.

19. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: soil results
Physico-chemical assessment:
Dry weight, Organic matter, Total content and plant available amounts of macronutrients, Cu and Zn
Objects DM
(%)
OM (%) on DM
Total N
(g/kg)
Min. N (g/kg)
Total P
Av. P (g/kg)
Total K
Av. K (mg/kg)
Total S (mg/kg)
Cu (mg/kg) Zn
(mg/kg) 11
86,16
6,95
2,04±0,14
0,033±0,01
0,79±0,10
0,50±0,05
0,64±0,02
43,5±5,4
329±25
7,63±0,57
27,80±1,17 12
86,33
7,36
2,16±0,31
0,043±0,00
0,74±0,03
0,46±0,03
0,63±0,06
39,9±10,7
360±39
7,59±0,21
28,18±0,50 13
86,07
7,31
1,95±0,20
0,72±0,02
0,51±0,03
0,62±0,03
54,4±7,2
403±38
7,07±0,51
27,05±0,60 14
85,85
7,09
2,23±0,36
0,043±0,03
0,74±0,01
0,49±0,04
0,62± 0,03
45,0±9,6
345±63
7,71±0,21
28,10±0,27 15
86,41
7,13
2,18±0,17
0,046±0,03
0,78±0,02
0,66±0,03
49,9±10,4
353±61
7,34±0,43
27,33±0,57 16
87,51
6,42
1,94±0,12
0,75±0,04
0,51±0,02
72,2±22,2
318±48
7,30±0,43
26,51±1,73 17
86,65
6,35
1,89±0,12
0,013±0,01
0,78±0,03
0,50±0,03
0,58±0,04
63,4±7,9
317±28
7,60±0,88
28,22±2,03 18
86,08
6,88
2,01±0,22
0,055±0,01
0,74±0,04
0,53±0,06
0,57±0,04
100,3±12,6
371±49
7,08±0,38
27,22±2,61 19
86,68
6,52
2,06±0,14
0,77±0,05
0,52±0,05
0,54±0,04
65,9±7,5
365±76
8,01±1,37
27,02±2,20 20
87,00
6,72
1,98±0,33
0,002±0,00
0,70±0,03
0,51±0,04
53,6±18,5
324± 59
7,09±0,47
26,52±0,63
Increase in OM with green fertilizers.
Object 20, high Total N and low Mineral N???
Mineral N is the highest with LFD (15 and 18).

20. GREENHOUSE TRIAL: soil results
Physico-chemical assessment:
Dry weight, Organic matter, Total content and plant available amounts of macronutrients, Cu and Zn
Objects DM
(%)
OM (%) on DM
Total N
(g/kg)
Min. N (g/kg)
Total P
Av. P (g/kg)
Total K
Av. K (mg/kg)
Total S (mg/kg)
Cu (mg/kg) Zn
(mg/kg) 11
86,16
6,95
2,04±0,14
0,033±0,01
0,79±0,10
0,50±0,05
0,64±0,02
43,5±5,4
329±25
7,63±0,57
27,80±1,17 12
86,33
7,36
2,16±0,31
0,043±0,00
0,74±0,03
0,46±0,03
0,63±0,06
39,9±10,7
360±39
7,59±0,21
28,18±0,50 13
86,07
7,31
1,95±0,20
0,72±0,02
0,51±0,03
0,62±0,03
54,4±7,2
403±38
7,07±0,51
27,05±0,60 14
85,85
7,09
2,23±0,36
0,043±0,03
0,74±0,01
0,49±0,04
0,62± 0,03
45,0±9,6
345±63
7,71±0,21
28,10±0,27 15
86,41
7,13
2,18±0,17
0,046±0,03
0,78±0,02
0,66±0,03
49,9±10,4
353±61
7,34±0,43
27,33±0,57 16
87,51
6,42
1,94±0,12
0,75±0,04
0,51±0,02
72,2±22,2
318±48
7,30±0,43
26,51±1,73 17
86,65
6,35
1,89±0,12
0,013±0,01
0,78±0,03
0,50±0,03
0,58±0,04
63,4±7,9
317±28
7,60±0,88
28,22±2,03 18
86,08
6,88
2,01±0,22
0,055±0,01
0,74±0,04
0,53±0,06
0,57±0,04
100,3±12,6
371±49
7,08±0,38
27,22±2,61 19
86,68
6,52
2,06±0,14
0,77±0,05
0,52±0,05
0,54±0,04
65,9±7,5
365±76
8,01±1,37
27,02±2,20 20
87,00
6,72
1,98±0,33
0,002±0,00
0,70±0,03
0,51±0,04
53,6±18,5
324± 59
7,09±0,47
26,52±0,63
1) No significant difference as compared to the reference
2) Increase in organic matter observed in treatments with green fertilizers
Increase in OM with green fertilizers.
Object 20, high Total N and low Mineral N???
Mineral N is the highest with LFD (15 and 18).
3) Attention point!
Ammonium sulphate: S content
LF digestate: Cu and Zn content

21. CONCLUSION
Current work
Future perspectives

22. CONCLUSION
Struvite, LF digestate, CW effluent and Ammonium sulphate = sustainable substitutes for chemical fertilizers in agriculture.
Attention point!
Bio-digestion/manure derivatives should be used in accordance with Good Agricultural Practices.

23. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Stimulation of green fertilizer use in European legislation
Field trials “Optimalization of nutrient fluxes in European agriculture by using bio-based mineral fertilizer substitutes: a field experiment”
Field trial a wider range of bio-digestion derivatives, such as evaporated effluent from biological treatment, will be tested on cauliflower

24. THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION.
QUESTIONS?
Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry
Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry
Coupure Links 653
B – 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Prof. Dr. ir. Erik Meers
Dr. ir. Evi Michels
M.Sc. Ivona Sigurnjak