The effect of fermentation residue and wood ash fertilisers on the productivity of grasses

摘要

Energy-efficient farming systems that include bioenergy production from biomass can provide high agricultural output and a use of resources that is in accordance with environmental requirements. Plant nutrient recycling by using bioenergy waste products as fertilisers is a significant step in promoting it. The aim of our studies was to evaluate the effectiveness of two bioenergy by-products (wood ash (WA) and anaerobic digestion fermentation residue (FR)) when used as fertilisers for Phalaris arundinacea and Festulolium. A field experiment was conducted in the central part of Latvia (56°42' N and 25°08' E) from 2013 to 2015. In all treatments (WA, FR, MF - mineral fertilisers) the same amount of main plant nutrients was applied annually: N 100; P_20_5 80; K_20 160 kg ha~(-1). Dry matter yield (DMY) was assessed in single-cut and two-cut regimes. During the three ley years DMY varied considerably depending on the fertiliser, harvest regime and species, ranging up to 10.0 Mg ha~(-1) for P. arundinacea and 7.7 Mg ha~(-1) for Festulolium. The best results were provided by the WA and MF treatments. Surface application of FR provided a significant DMY increase compared to the control; however the yield was considerably lower than that of the WA and MFtreatments, suggesting partial nitrogen losses from surface application.