Nutrient recycling for sustainable biosolids management

Project Objectives: The project’s overall aim is to demonstrate that OMF are the most sustainable means for sewage sludge recycling by establishing the yield potentials of OMF compared to conventional mineral fertilisers when used according to “good agricultural practices”. These trials are also looking at the possible accumulation of phosphorus (P2O5) and heavy metals on in the soil at recommended fertiliser application rates on selected crops.

Project Manager:  Mr. Steve Whipp

Technology Manager: Dr. Son Le

KTP Associate: Mr. Sid Gedara

United Utilities – AMD Wastewater Asset Management

Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Warrington WA5 3LP

Tel: +44 01925 23 7230 Fax: +44 01925 236760

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In association with Cranfield University and Harper Adams University College

With support of the Technology Strategy Board (KTP reference 001669)

Duration: 15-Apr-2008 to 30-Mar-2010

Demonstration Farm address: Fields Farm, Broxton, Cheshire, CH3 9JR.

Demonstration establishment

Approx: 5ha of farm land have been selected for the OMF demonstrations at Broxton.  The site details are as follows:

• Soil (typical English): clayey loam, slowly permeable and seasonally waterlogged.
• Soil pH: 7.1
• P index: 2.8 Average
• Annual rainfall: 1250-1500 mm
• Previous crop: Winter wheat

The four most popular crops in the area have been selected for the trials, namely Winter wheat, spring Oil Seed Rape, Maize and Rye grass.

Two fertiliser treatments, conventional fertiliser & OMF, were used to supply recommended (based on RB209 & Kemira N-min) nutrient requirement. All fertilisers, except potassium, were applied using a pneumatic (boom width 6m) spreader for accurate spreading on different plots. The same rate of potassium was applied across the field using a spinning disc spreader.

Each fertiliser treatment is replicated 6 times on Winter wheat, Oil Seed Rape and Maize.  The fertiliser treatments were replicated for 3 times on Rye grass. All the treatments were laid out based on randomised complete block design to facilitate statistical analysis of the data 

All the crop management practices other than fertiliser application were similar across the demonstration field.

Expected output 

The demonstration is expected to produce,

• Live example of crops grown with OMF treatments at the farm scale,
• Yield data of the crops grown with different fertiliser treatments,
• Soil nutrient and heavy metal build up data on different fertiliser treatments.

Progress so far