Gypsum-based management practises to prevent phosphorus transportation Liisa Pietola Research Centre Hanninghof, Yara Yara Suomi Mechelininkatu 1a PO Box 900 FIN-00181 Helsinki NJF seminar 401 on Phosphorus management in Nordic-Baltic agriculture reconciling productivity and environmental protection 22-23.9.2008
Contents 1. Background 2. Introduction to the principles Gypsum as soil amendment Gypsum-based precipitate in manure treatment 3. Testing principles: preliminary studies 2006-2007 4. Testing principles in full scale 2008-2010 5. Conclusions
1. Background The eutrophication of the Baltic Sea is severe: many efforts are currently underway to improve the situation. the phosphorus transportation from agricultural soils should be strongly limited Hot spots for P losses from agriculture Erodible clayed fields: With slopes Without slopes during snow-melt period and rains soil particles escape fields transporting P to waters Fields with high soil test P: Fields used for sugar beets, vegetables etc. (non-grains) Fields where manure has been spread for years on N content basis P surplus in manure use: Pig manure P:N 1:3 vs. cereals 1:6 or grasses 1:9
1. Background Farmers need specific tools to control P losses in addition to best management practises like drainage and liming Reduced tillage direct sowing Constructed wetlands Buffer zones + Chemical methods P absorption In-field not out For crop reuse no too strong precipitation mechanisms Our targets
2. Introduction to the principles - Approach to keep P in soil (root zone) as a part of ecological cycle for continuous use in agriculture by addition of Ca-based amendments - Focus on gypsum based products for environment tools in farming with two main applications: 1. Gypsum as soil amendment enhancing phosphorus trapping - by erosion / particle P control via improved soil aggregation - by P leaching control via enhanced adsorption on particle surfaces 2. Gypsum in liquid manure treatment for phosphorus fractioning - P-free effluent after solid removal and settling of phosphates - P-rich solids at the bottom of farm pit I Soil application II Manure Kuva: application Asko Kinnunen
Both tools base on utilization of Siilinjärvi phosphogypsum CaSO 4. 2H 2 O is by-product produced by wet process phosphoric acid by the reaction of phosphate rock with sulphuric acid Originates from Siilinjärvi phosphate rock Figs: Asko Kinnunen
PRINCIPLE 1. Liquid Manure treatment - P fractioning on focus Precipitate (0,2-0,5 %) 1. Precipitate powder/fine granules 2. Stirring 3. Sedimentation by settling 4. For NK-fertilizer use no / low P high P 5. For NPK-fertilizer or energy production Ca-phosphates MgNH 4 -phosphate P available for crops
Testing principle ws P concentration in upper part of the manure ph 8.4 Ortho-P (mg/kg) in liquid phase: Fig: S. Alasuutari 14 May 20 May 30 May Sampled from 0-10 cm, May 21 and 30 also from 30 cm (no differences between depths)
Testing principle 2006-07: Application with liquid pig manure (at 15-20 degrees C, after 1-2 days) 1 big bag gypsum-based precipitate is mixed into the slurry container (90 m 3 ) P 100 m 3 P-tot 105 kg P-ws 73 kg Precipitate Powder at ~5 kg/tn 70-80 m 3 100 m3 P-tot 5 kg P-ws 2 kg P-tot 5 kg P-ws 2 kg DM 2% ph 8.5 P-free effluent after solid removal by settling = NK fertilizer P-rich solids* = P-fertilizer/for energy 20-30 m 3 P-tot 100 kg P-ws 40 kg * Ca-phosphates MgNH 4 -phosphate P available for crops (unlike Al- or Fe-phosphates)
PRINCIPLE 2. Soil treatment -P trapping into soils on focus By controlling P transportation through runoff / erosion: typically particle P or drainage water: typically soluble P Fig: Asko Kinnunen Aiming to keep P usable for crops: Chemical treatment on Ca-based compounds Ca-sulphate dissolves readily and Increases soil Ca and EC Which enable P trapping PO 4 3- P in leaching water by in mass flow: decreases by increased EC P in particles in runoff: decreases by aggregation by increased Ca
P µg Testing principle 2008: Laboratory results from incubation-leaching tests 4500 Kipsimuhitus Loamy soil, 2_06: test Fosforin P huuhtoutuminen 6 mg/l; ph 6,9; EC 0.1 (P-fertilization 10 mg/l) 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 206 211 270 204 273 354 433 479 575 938 138 167 182 143 151 183 175 224 271 Each box represents ws P / 300 ml watering which was percolated through soils EC ~ 0.2 µs/mm 117 94 110 99 89 49 93 99 95 133 91 154 128 128 146 182 209 212 93 79 72 43 91 137 144 171 240 552 510 441 535 0 2,1 3,2 4,2 6,3 63d 56d 49d 42d 35d 28d 21d 14 d 7 d 1d Gypsum g / ½ l soil
P µg/pot NTU Testing principle 2007-08: Laboratory results for different soils after 5 months incubation with wettingdrying cycles, no P fertilization Turbidity 24.1.2008 =TOT-P 200 150 100 50 0 P (µg/pot) 24.1.2008 P-36 loam P-6 loam P-11 fine sand 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 P-9 clay P-13 organic P-36 loam P-6 loam P-11 fine sand = Ws-P no gypsum gypsum P-9 clay P-13 organic no gypsum gypsum Numbers represent soil test-p (mg/l soil, with acid AAc extraction) Phosphorus in percolated water from gypsum treated (4 g per soil litre) soil columns, control (no gypsum) (n=3)
4. Testing principles in full scale 2008-2010 by TraP project / Yara s environmental research on water quality In-field P trapping = TraP and Recycle
TraP - Novel gypsum-based products for farm scale phosphorus trapping Under farm conditions & at catchment scale With Finish Funding Agency for Technology (Tekes) support Yara coordinates and purchases research from partners SYKE Finnish Environment Institute MTT Agrifood Research Finland Plant production Economics TTS Work Efficiency Institute Luode Consulting Ltd. Yara focus on R&D on product recipes, quality control, manufacturing and logistics: In co-operation with other partners: Water Protection Association of The River Vantaa and Helsinki region Uusimaa Environment Centre, local farmers
Conclusions / Project mission Significant agricultural P load decrease on waters is observed 1. In accordance with the goals set by the Government of Finland in national water protection policy 2. HELCOM & Practical methods to achieve the load decrease is developed 1. Provide solutions for farmers to be used in hot spots of P-loading: erodible soils high P status soils; by better manure management 2. Are included into the Finnish agri-environmental support scheme Practical methods includes: Gypsum as soil amendment for erosion and soluble P control Gypsum-based precipitate in manure treatment to fractionate P