Transcript Agronomic Value of Biosolids

Agronomic Value of
Nutrients in Biosolids
Randall Warden
A & L Great Lakes Laboratories
Fort Wayne, IN
Quality Analyses for Informed Decisions
Presentation Outline
 Assessment of nutrient levels
 Soil testing
 Biosolids analysis
 Crop nutrient requirements and
responsiveness
 Process to determine nutrient value ($)
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 plantavailable nutrients from soil
 Goal – prescription fertilizer application
Sample
pH
ID
1
2
3
4
P
K
Zn
Mn
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
5.6 9 VL 61 L
4.6 6 VL 17 VL
6.2 47 H 155 H
7.6 12 L 149 M
1.7 L 60 VH
1.7 L
3 VL
3.1 M 62 VH
6.1 H 18 M
Soil Test Ratings
Soil Test
Unit
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
0.0 - 5.0
5.1 - 5.8
5.9 - 6.9
7.0 - 7.5
7.6+
%
0.0 - 0.9
1.0 - 2.5
2.6 - 4.9
5.0 - 6.9
7.0+
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
0.4 - 0.5
0.6 - 1.2
1.3 - 2.5
2.6+
pH
Organic Matter
Phosphorus (P1)
0.0 - 0.3
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
Soil Test Ratings & Economics
High
Medium
Low
Probability of Crop Response
ROI $
VL
M
Soil Test Nutrient Level
VH
Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP
Alfalfa
YIELD
Nitrogen
N
Phosphate
P2O5
Potash
K2O
10 T
600
150
116
250
80
160
50
120
87
27
50
20
60
12
600
57
209
86
60
40
140
200 bu. grain
Corn
stover
60 bu. Grain
Soybeans
Stover
100 bu. grain
Wheat
straw
Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP
Alfalfa
Corn
Soybeans
Wheat
YIELD
Magnesium
Mg
Calcium
Ca
Sulfur
S
10 T
53
280
51
200 bu. grain
stover
18
47
4
38
15
18
60 bu. Grain
17
12
12
Stover
10
90
14
100 bu. grain
15
5
8
straw
13
21
16
Crop Nutrient Removal
Crop
Alfalfa
10 tons
Corn
200 Bushels
Soybeans
60 bushels
Wheat
80 bushels
B
Pounds per Acre
Zn
Mn
Fe
Cu
0.70
0.65
1.10 1.50 0.18
0.19
0.57
1.35 1.40 0.15
0.22
0.30
0.75 1.05 0.14
0.08
0.34
0.55 0.70 0.09
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
Fertilizer Prices Change
Nutrient
Unit
Nitrogen
lb
Phosphate (P2O5) lb
Potash (K2O)
lb
Sulfur (S)
lb
Zinc (Zn)
lb
Manganese (Mn)
lb
Copper (Cu)
lb
Boron (B)
lb
Lime
ton
2004
$0.35
$0.19
$0.18
$25.00
2008
$0.65
$0.58
$0.33
$0.39
$1.34
$0.80
$1.68
$0.75
$30.00
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
Biosolids Analysis - Anaerobic
Parameter
Parameter
Lime
Lbs per
Dry Ton
% Lbs Lbs
perper Dry
Available
Ton Available
Unit
Cost (lb)
175
Dry Ton
Unit
100%
Available175 Cost$0.015
(lb)
28.1
100%
$0.65
175 28.1 $0.015
87.1
40%
34.8
$0.58
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*)
Plant
Available Nitrogen3.1
(PAN)100%28.1 3.1 $0.65
$0.33
Potassium (K2O)
87.5
55% 34.8 48.1 $0.58
Calcium (Ca)
Phosphorus
(P2O5) (PSC*)
9.3
55%
Magnesium (Mg)
3.1 5.1 $0.33
Potassium (K2O)
49
55%
27.0
$0.39
Sulfur (S)
Sulfur
(S)
3.6
65% 27.0 2.3 $0.39
$1.34
Zinc (Zn)
58.3
65% 2.3 37.9 $1.34
Iron (Fe)
Zinc
(Zn)
1.6
65%
$0.80
Manganese (Mn)
1.0 1.0 $0.80
Manganese (Mn)
1.5
65%
1.0
$1.68
Copper (Cu)
Copper
(Cu)
BDL
65% 1.0 0.0 $1.68
$0.75
Boron (B)
0.0Nutrient
$0.75
Boron (B)
“Maximum”
Value
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN)
Lime
Nutrient
Value
Nutrient
$2.63
Value
$18.27
$2.63
$20.21
$18.27
$1.02
$0.00
$20.21
$0.00
$1.02
$10.51
$10.51
$3.14
$0.00
$3.14
$0.83
$0.83
$1.64
$1.64
$0.00
$0.00
$58.25
Biosolids Analysis – N-Viro
Parameter
Parameter
Lime
Lbs per
Dry Ton
726
$2.43
$10.89
27.6
20%
5.5
$0.58
$3.20
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*)
$2.43
Plant
Available Nitrogen6.9
(PAN)100% 3.74 6.9 $0.65
$0.33
$2.28
Potassium (K2O)
$3.20
449
55% 27.6 247 $0.58
$0.00
Phosphorus
(P2O5) (PSC*)
Calcium (Ca)
35.2
55%
$0.00
Magnesium (Mg)
6.9 19.4 $0.33
$2.28
Potassium (K2O)
106.6
20%
21.3
$0.39
$8.31
Sulfur (S)
21.3 1.2 $0.39
$8.31
Sulfur
(S)
1.9
65%
$1.34
$1.65
Zinc (Zn)
61.6
65% 1.2 40.0 $1.34
$0.00
$1.65
Iron (Fe)
Zinc
(Zn)
1.2
65%
$0.80
$0.62
Manganese (Mn)
0.8 0.8 $0.80
$0.62
Manganese (Mn)
0.28
65%
0.2
$1.68
$0.31
Copper (Cu)
Copper
(Cu)
1.1
65% 0.2 1.0 $1.68
$0.75 $0.31
$0.00
Boron (B)
1.0 Nutrient
$0.75
Boron (B)
“Maximum”
Value $0.75
$29.70
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN)
Lime
3.744
Lbs per Dry
Unit
Nutrient
Lbs per
% Available
Ton Available
Cost (lb)
Value
Dry Ton
Unit
Nutrient
100%Available726 Cost $0.015
$10.89
(lb)
Value
100% 726 3.7 $0.015
$0.65
2007 Michigan Soil Test Summary
Soil Test
Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating*
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
9.8
14.6
62.4
9.3
0.2
44.9
42.4
12.5
27.0
35.1
5.8
0.8
Manganese
4.0
Copper
Boron
31.3
* > 50,000 samples
Biosolids Marketing Approach
 Disposal:
no value for nutrients, large $ incentive
for nutrient use, no cost recovery
 Partial cost recovery:
price < fertilizer, less user $ incentive,
labor, fuel
 Market Value:
$ price  fertilizer, organic matter,
micronutrients, nutrient availability, labor,
fuel, demand, communication
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
Time to Stop – Questions?