This book provides a comprehensive overview of the use of biofertilisers in agriculture to optimise plant and soil health, focussing on the use of treated wastes, animal manure, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.
This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on biofertiliser use in agriculture.
The first chapter examines the role of biofertilisers and consortia of microorganisms to improve the effectiveness of organic fertilisation, before moving on to consider the use of animal excrement, including manures, slurry and guano.
The second chapter presents the key issues in the optimum use of treated wastes in crop nutrition. The chapter also discusses technical processes such as precipitation of salts, incineration and post-treatment of ashes, as well as production of carbonaceous materials.
The third chapter discusses some common issues regarding the use of bio-based fertilisers, such as the concentration of nutrients leading to losses of reactive nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment.
The fourth chapter addresses the key issues of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and soil health, specifically focussing on improved soil structure and stability, soil contamination, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention.
The final chapter provides an overview on the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria (PGPB/PGPR) and its consequent effects on plant and soil health. The chapter also explores interactions between PGPB/PGPR and other components of the rhizosphere, such as AMF.
- Considers the need to replace the application of synthetic fertilisers with more eco-friendly alternatives that have a reduced impact on the environment
- Reviews recent advances in the use of treated wastes to optimise crop health and nutrition
- Addresses key issues that can arise as a result of the use of bio-based fertilisers
Chapter 1 - Organic fertilizers and biofertilizers: Lidia Sas Paszt and
Slawomir Gluszek, Research Institute of Horticulture, Poland;
1 Introduction
2 Biofertilizers
3 Consortia of microorganisms to improve the effectiveness of organic
fertilization
4 Animal excrement: manures, slurry and guano
5 Products and by-products of animal origin
6 Products and by-products of plant origin for fertilizers
7 Composts
8 Untreated minerals and by-products of selected industrial processes
9 Biochar
10 Conclusion
11 Where to look for further information
12 References
Chapter taken from: Kpke, U. (ed.), Improving organic crop cultivation,
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2019, (ISBN: 978 1 78676
184 2)
Chapter 2 - Optimizing the use of treated wastes in crop nutrition: Sylvia
Kratz, Kerstin Panten, Ewald Schnug and Elke Bloem, Julius Kühn-Institute,
Germany;
1 Introduction
2 Key issues for the optimum use of treated wastes in crop nutrition
3 Direct land application of sewage sludge
4 Products derived from the treatment of waste water and further
(posttreatment) processing
5 Future trends and conclusion
6 Where to look for further information
7 References
Chapter taken from: Rengel, Z. (ed.), Achieving sustainable crop nutrition,
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2020, (ISBN 978 1 78676 312
9)
Chapter 3 - Safe and sustainable use of bio-based fertilizers in
agricultural production systems: April Leytem, Robert Dungan, Mindy Spiehs
and Dan Miller, United States Department of Agriculture, USA;
1 Introduction
2 Risk factors associated with utilizing bio-based fertilizers in
agricultural production
3 Case study: intensive dairy production in the northwest United States
4 Conclusion
5 Future trends in research
6 References
Chapter taken from:
Chapter taken from: Amon, B. (ed.), Developing circular
agricultural production systems, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing,
Cambridge, UK, 2024, (ISBN: 978 1 80146 256 3)
Chapter 4 - Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi on soil health: M. J. Salomon, The Waite Research Institute and The
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia;
S. F. Bender, Agroscope, Switzerland; T. R. Cavagnaro, The Waite Research
Institute and The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of
Adelaide, Australia; and M. G. A. van der Heijden, Agroscope and University
of Zurich, Switzerland;
1 Introduction
2 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil health: addressing the key issues
3 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilizer production
4 Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for soil health
5 Conclusion
6 Future trends in research
7 Where to look for further information
8 References
Chapter taken from: Horwath, W. R. (ed.), Improving soil health, Burleigh
Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2023, (ISBN: 978 1 78676 670 0)
Chapter 5 - Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of plant growth-promoting
bacteria (PGPB) or rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soil and plant health: Elisa
Zampieri, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy; Iakovos S.
Pantelides, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus; and Raffaella
Balestrini, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy;
1 Introduction
2 Mechanisms mediated by plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria
3 Tolerance to abiotic stresses
4 Beneficial effects against biotic stresses
5 Interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria and
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
6 Conclusion and future trends in research
7 Acknowledgement
8 Where to look for further information
9 References
Chapter taken from: Horwath, W. R. (ed.), Improving soil health, Burleigh
Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2023, (ISBN: 978 1 78676 670 0)
