Agronomic Value of Nutrients in Biosolids

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Agronomic Value ofNutrients in Biosolids

• Randall Warden
• A L Great Lakes Laboratories
• Fort Wayne, IN
• Quality Analyses for Informed Decisions

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Presentation Outline

• Assessment of nutrient levels
• Soil testing
• Biosolids analysis
• Crop nutrient requirements and responsiveness
• Process to determine nutrient value ()

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Assessing Nutrient Levels - What is a Soil Test?

• Analysis of a soil sample to determine nutrient
  availability to plants
• Extract all or proportional part of
  plant-available nutrients from soil
• Goal prescription fertilizer application

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Sample ID pH P (ppm) K (ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn (ppm)
1 5.6 9 VL 61 L 1.7 L 60 VH
2 4.6 6 VL 17 VL 1.7 L 3 VL
3 6.2 47 H 155 H 3.1 M 62 VH
4 7.6 12 L 149 M 6.1 H 18 M
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Soil Test Ratings
Soil Test Unit Very Low Low Medium High Very High
pH 0.0 - 5.0 5.1 - 5.8 5.9 - 6.9 7.0 - 7.5 7.6
Organic Matter 0.0 - 0.9 1.0 - 2.5 2.6 - 4.9 5.0 - 6.9 7.0
Phosphorus (P1) ppm 0 - 9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 49 50
Potassium 0.0 - 0.7 0.8 - 1.4 1.5 - 2.6 2.7 - 4.0 4.1
Magnesium 0.0 - 5.0 5.1 - 10.0 10.1 - 15.0 15.1 - 25.0 25.1
Calcium 0.0 - 45.0 45.1 - 55.0 55.1 - 75.0 75.1 - 85.0 85.1
Sulfur (S) ppm 0 - 3 4 - 7 8 - 12 13 - 17 18
Zinc (Zn) ppm 0.0 - 0.9 1.0 - 2.9 3.0 - 4.9 5.0 - 10.0 10.1
Manganese (Mn) ppm 0 - 5 6 - 14 15 - 29 30 - 49 50
Iron (Fe) ppm 0 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 50 51
Copper (Cu) ppm 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 - 1.1 1.2 - 3.0 3.1
Boron (B) ppm 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 - 0.5 0.6 - 1.2 1.3 - 2.5 2.6
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Soil Test Ratings Economics
Soil Test Rating Probability of Economic Response to Fertilizer Application
Very Low (VL) Very High
Low (L) High
Medium (M) Medium
High (H) Low
Very High (VH) None
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Soil Test Ratings Economics
High
Low
Medium
Probability of Crop Response
ROI
VL
VH
M
Soil Test Nutrient Level
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Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP YIELD Nitrogen N Phosphate P2O5 Potash K2O
Alfalfa 10 T 600 120 600
Corn 200 bu. grain 150 87 57
Corn stover 116 27 209
Soybeans 60 bu. Grain 250 50 86
Soybeans Stover 80 20 60
Wheat 100 bu. grain 160 60 40
Wheat straw 50 12 140
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Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP YIELD Magnesium Mg Calcium Ca Sulfur S
Alfalfa 10 T 53 280 51
Corn 200 bu. grain 18 4 15
Corn stover 47 38 18
Soybeans 60 bu. Grain 17 12 12
Soybeans Stover 10 90 14
Wheat 100 bu. grain 15 5 8
Wheat straw 13 21 16
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Crop Nutrient Removal
Crop Pounds per Acre Pounds per Acre Pounds per Acre Pounds per Acre Pounds per Acre
Crop B Zn Mn Fe Cu
Alfalfa 10 tons 0.70 0.65 1.10 1.50 0.18
Corn 200 Bushels 0.19 0.57 1.35 1.40 0.15
Soybeans 60 bushels 0.22 0.30 0.75 1.05 0.14
Wheat 80 bushels 0.08 0.34 0.55 0.70 0.09
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Micronutrient Response
Crop Mn B Cu Zn Fe
Alfalfa Med High High Low Med
Corn Med Low Med High Med
Soybeans High Low Low Med High
Wheat High Low High Low Low
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Fertilizer Prices Change
Nutrient Unit 2004 2008
Nitrogen lb 0.35 0.65
Phosphate (P2O5) lb 0.19 0.58
Potash (K2O) lb 0.18 0.33
Sulfur (S) lb 0.39
Zinc (Zn) lb 1.34
Manganese (Mn) lb 0.80
Copper (Cu) lb 1.68
Boron (B) lb 0.75
Lime ton 25.00 30.00
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Current Crop Production Costs

• Corn 180 bu/A medium soil tests
• Nitrogen (210 lb x 0.65/lb 136.50)
• Phosphate (50 lb x 0.58/lb 29.00)
• Potash (200 lb x 0.33/lb 66.00)
• Per acre fertilizer cost 231.50
• Cost per 80 acres 18,520.00

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Biosolids Analysis - Anaerobic
Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value
Lime 175 100 175 0.015 2.63
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 28.1 100 28.1 0.65 18.27
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC) 87.1 40 34.8 0.58 20.21
Potassium (K2O) 3.1 100 3.1 0.33 1.02
Calcium (Ca) 87.5 55 48.1 0.00
Magnesium (Mg) 9.3 55 5.1 0.00
Sulfur (S) 49 55 27.0 0.39 10.51
Zinc (Zn) 3.6 65 2.3 1.34 3.14
Iron (Fe) 58.3 65 37.9 0.00
Manganese (Mn) 1.6 65 1.0 0.80 0.83
Copper (Cu) 1.5 65 1.0 1.68 1.64
Boron (B) BDL 65 0.0 0.75 0.00
Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value 58.25
Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value
Lime 175 0.015 2.63
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 28.1 0.65 18.27
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC) 34.8 0.58 20.21
Potassium (K2O) 3.1 0.33 1.02
Sulfur (S) 27.0 0.39 10.51
Zinc (Zn) 2.3 1.34 3.14
Manganese (Mn) 1.0 0.80 0.83
Copper (Cu) 1.0 1.68 1.64
Boron (B) 0.0 0.75 0.00
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Biosolids Analysis N-Viro
Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value
Lime 726 100 726 0.015 10.89
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 3.744 100 3.7 0.65 2.43
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC) 27.6 20 5.5 0.58 3.20
Potassium (K2O) 6.9 100 6.9 0.33 2.28
Calcium (Ca) 449 55 247 0.00
Magnesium (Mg) 35.2 55 19.4 0.00
Sulfur (S) 106.6 20 21.3 0.39 8.31
Zinc (Zn) 1.9 65 1.2 1.34 1.65
Iron (Fe) 61.6 65 40.0 0.00
Manganese (Mn) 1.2 65 0.8 0.80 0.62
Copper (Cu) 0.28 65 0.2 1.68 0.31
Boron (B) 1.1 65 1.0 0.75 0.00
Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value Maximum Nutrient Value 29.70
Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value
Lime 726 0.015 10.89
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 3.74 0.65 2.43
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC) 27.6 0.58 3.20
Potassium (K2O) 6.9 0.33 2.28
Sulfur (S) 21.3 0.39 8.31
Zinc (Zn) 1.2 1.34 1.65
Manganese (Mn) 0.8 0.80 0.62
Copper (Cu) 0.2 1.68 0.31
Boron (B) 1.0 0.75 0.75
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2007 Michigan Soil Test Summary
Soil Test Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating
Soil Test V Low Low Medium High V High
pH 1.7 10.3 49.4 23.2 15.5
Phosphorus 2.2 10.6 15.1 26.8 45.3
Potassium 1.2 9.4 49.5 29.8 10.0
Sulfur 1.2 40.1 41.2 17.5
Zinc 31.6 40.0 23.2 5.3
Manganese 4.0 9.8 14.6 62.4 9.3
Copper 0.2 44.9 42.4 12.5
Boron 31.3 27.0 35.1 5.8 0.8
gt 50,000 samples
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Biosolids Marketing Approach

• Disposal
• no value for nutrients, large incentive for
  nutrient use, no cost recovery
• Partial cost recovery
• price lt fertilizer, less user
  incentive, labor, fuel
• Market Value
• price ? fertilizer, organic matter,
  micronutrients, nutrient availability, labor,
  fuel, demand, communication

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Opportunities and Challenges

• Increasing fertilizer costs (/A)
• Fertilizer availability - timing
• Cost recovery
• Fair valuation of biosolids nutrients (test)
• Nutrient need (test)
• Availability of nutrients (treatment process)
• Stewardship
• Consistency of Communication

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Time to Stop Questions?