project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Use of treated sewage sludge as amendment for horticultural crop production in Madrid region.
Kontext
The need to increase crop production is based on the use of mineral fertilisers that incorporate essential plant nutrients but are often over-dosed, resulting in diffuse pollution that can lead to eutrophication of groundwater. On the other hand, their production increases the production of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. The use of organic waste would have environmental benefits such as reducing contamination of aquifers, reducing erosion of treated soils, increasing soil organic matter and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
La necesidad de incrementar la producción de cultivos se basa en la utilización de fertilizantes minerales que incorporan nutrientes esenciales a la planta pero que, con frecuencia se dosifican en exceso, suponiendo una contaminación difusa que puede conducir a la eutrofización de aguas subterráneas. Por otro lado, su producción incrementa la producción de gases de efecto invernadero contribuyendo al cambio climático. El empleo de residuos orgánicos conllevará beneficios medioambientales como la reducción de la contaminación de acuíferos, reducción de la erosión de los suelos tratados, el incremento de materia orgánica del suelo y la reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero.
Objectives
To replace inorganic fertilisation in soils destined for horticultural production, through the application of treated sewage sludge in order to maintain or improve productivity and improve soil characteristics. To this aim, it is intended to:
- Define the application doses of the different kind of sludge in soils.
- Evaluate the response of crops and soil to the application of sewage sludge in comparison with the application of mineral fertilisation.
- Assess the effect of the amendment on the soil by analysing its physico-chemical and biological properties.
- Assess the effect on the nutritional composition and physicochemical quality of the products obtained.
Activities
Two types of organic wastes from sewage sludge have been characterised: compost with pruning wastes (CP) and thermally dried sludge (ST) and the soil on which they are intended to be applied. Pot trials were carried out using two doses of CP and ST (including ST combined with struvite) compared with mineral NPK fertilisation in two successive chard crops. After each crop, plants and soil were analysed. The plant material was analysed for nutritional composition and heavy metal content in order to confirm food safety. The soil was analysed for nutrient content, organic matter and heavy metals.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDRP012 Spain - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Comunidad de Madrid
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Madrid
EUR 192854.4
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
Ressourcen
1 Practice Abstracts
The organic residues tested showed similar yields to those obtained with traditional mineral fertilisation.
The application of these products did not produce any negative effect on the plants, obtaining similar values for the quality parameters analysed.
The physicochemical characteristics of the soil improved with the application of this type of product, increasing the percentage of organic matter and the nutrient content, which means an increase in soil fertility.
Although doses used in these trials (3-4.5 t/ha of ST and 30-60 t/ha of CP) have proved to give good results, these products must always be dosed according to the physico-chemical characteristics of the initial soil and the needs of the crop.
The use of these products derived from the treatment of urban waste water could represent a reduction in mineral fertilisation for the farmer, minimising the risks of eutrophication due to leaching, which is an important environmental benefit for the protection of agricultural soil and groundwater. The environmental benefit would be added with the recovery of a waste, in line with the objectives of the circular economy.
The application of this type of material would not require the purchase of new equipment, as ST could be applied in the same way as granulated NPK and CP using manure application equipment.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Carolina Mancho Alonso
Project coordinator
Project partners
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ASAJA-Madrid
Project partner
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Asociación de Horticultores de Villa del Prado
Project partner
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Valoriza Servicios Medioambientales S.A.
Project partner