Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids

Biosolids are utilized as nutrient rich fertilizer. Little material is available on benefits to forage crops resulting from fertilization with biosolids. This paper aimed to compare the effects of fertilization with biosolids versus commercial nitrogen fertilizer on growth, root formation, and nutri...

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Main Authors: Wendy Mercedes Rauw, Michael Bela Teglas, Sudeep Chandra, Matthew Lewis Forister
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/467052
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author Wendy Mercedes Rauw
Michael Bela Teglas
Sudeep Chandra
Matthew Lewis Forister
author_facet Wendy Mercedes Rauw
Michael Bela Teglas
Sudeep Chandra
Matthew Lewis Forister
author_sort Wendy Mercedes Rauw
collection DOAJ
description Biosolids are utilized as nutrient rich fertilizer. Little material is available on benefits to forage crops resulting from fertilization with biosolids. This paper aimed to compare the effects of fertilization with biosolids versus commercial nitrogen fertilizer on growth, root formation, and nutrient value of triticale plants in a greenhouse experiment. Per treatment, five pots were seeded with five triticale seeds each. Treatments included a nonfertilized control, fertilization with 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ml biosolids per pot, and fertilization with a commercial nitrogen fertilizer at the recommended application rate and at double that rate. Biomass production, root length, root diameter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentration were analyzed at harvest. Fertilization with biosolids increased triticale production (P<0.001); production was similar for the 100 to 400 mL treatments. Root length, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentration increased, and potassium concentration decreased linearly with application rate. At the recommended rate, biomass production was similar between fertilization with biosolids and commercial fertilizer. However, plants fertilized with commercial fertilizer had considerably longer roots (P<0.001), higher nitrogen concentration (P<0.05), and lower potassium concentration (P<0.01) than those fertilized with biosolids. Our results indicate that at the recommended application rate, biomass production was similar between fertilization with biosolids and with commercial nitrogen fertilizer, indicating the value of biosolids fertilization as a potential alternative.
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spelling doaj-art-9b7e85beb2724e7c80c0a8145e0c70422025-02-03T01:01:16ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/467052467052Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with BiosolidsWendy Mercedes Rauw0Michael Bela Teglas1Sudeep Chandra2Matthew Lewis Forister3Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Mail Stop 202, Reno, NV 89557, USADepartment of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Mail Stop 186, Reno, NV 89512, USADepartment of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Mail Stop 314, Reno, NV 89557, USABiosolids are utilized as nutrient rich fertilizer. Little material is available on benefits to forage crops resulting from fertilization with biosolids. This paper aimed to compare the effects of fertilization with biosolids versus commercial nitrogen fertilizer on growth, root formation, and nutrient value of triticale plants in a greenhouse experiment. Per treatment, five pots were seeded with five triticale seeds each. Treatments included a nonfertilized control, fertilization with 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ml biosolids per pot, and fertilization with a commercial nitrogen fertilizer at the recommended application rate and at double that rate. Biomass production, root length, root diameter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentration were analyzed at harvest. Fertilization with biosolids increased triticale production (P<0.001); production was similar for the 100 to 400 mL treatments. Root length, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentration increased, and potassium concentration decreased linearly with application rate. At the recommended rate, biomass production was similar between fertilization with biosolids and commercial fertilizer. However, plants fertilized with commercial fertilizer had considerably longer roots (P<0.001), higher nitrogen concentration (P<0.05), and lower potassium concentration (P<0.01) than those fertilized with biosolids. Our results indicate that at the recommended application rate, biomass production was similar between fertilization with biosolids and with commercial nitrogen fertilizer, indicating the value of biosolids fertilization as a potential alternative.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/467052
spellingShingle Wendy Mercedes Rauw
Michael Bela Teglas
Sudeep Chandra
Matthew Lewis Forister
Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
The Scientific World Journal
title Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
title_full Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
title_fullStr Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
title_full_unstemmed Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
title_short Growth, Root Formation, and Nutrient Value of Triticale Plants Fertilized with Biosolids
title_sort growth root formation and nutrient value of triticale plants fertilized with biosolids
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/467052
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AT sudeepchandra growthrootformationandnutrientvalueoftriticaleplantsfertilizedwithbiosolids
AT matthewlewisforister growthrootformationandnutrientvalueoftriticaleplantsfertilizedwithbiosolids