Fertilising effect of sewage sludge ash inoculated with the phosphate-solubilising fungus Penicillium bilaiae under semi-field conditions
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Sewage sludge ashes provide interesting possibilities to recycle phosphorus (P) to soil, although the immediate plant availability is often low. The objective of this work was to increase the P-fertilising effect of sewage sludge ash through inoculation with the phosphate-solubilising fungus Penicillium bilaiae. In a soil incubation study, ash amendment enhanced the content of water-extractable P, but in contrast to previous in vitro experiments, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not further increase P availability, probably due to limited competitiveness of the fungus in soil. In a micro-plot field trial, a moderate P fertiliser effect of the ash was found without any additional effect of P. bilaiae ash inoculation on plant biomass and P-uptake. However, soil microbial functions determined by the MicroResp™ method were not negatively affected by the ash amendment. In conclusion, inoculation with P. bilaiae did not prove to be a suitable strategy to enhance P availability from sewage sludge ash. A better insight into the fungus’ ecology and colonisation ability in soil and rhizosphere as well as into its interactions with ash P is needed to further develop such alternative P-fertilising approaches.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Biology and Fertility of Soils |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 43-51 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 0178-2762 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2019 |
- Fertiliser, Field experiment, P-solubilising microorganisms, Sewage sludge ash, Soil incubation
Research areas
ID: 213662992