Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters

The transition to a circular and bio-based economy requires nutrient recycling from agricultural, industrial, and societal by-products and wastes. Beyond their role in nutrient supply for crop production, bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) also have the potential to improve soil health by contributing org...

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Main Authors: Tine Engedal, Bianca Messmer, Jakob Magid, Lars Stoumann Jensen, Veronika Hansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Geoderma
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002629
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author Tine Engedal
Bianca Messmer
Jakob Magid
Lars Stoumann Jensen
Veronika Hansen
author_facet Tine Engedal
Bianca Messmer
Jakob Magid
Lars Stoumann Jensen
Veronika Hansen
author_sort Tine Engedal
collection DOAJ
description The transition to a circular and bio-based economy requires nutrient recycling from agricultural, industrial, and societal by-products and wastes. Beyond their role in nutrient supply for crop production, bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) also have the potential to improve soil health by contributing organic matter. However, as the legal framework evolves and a broader range of BBFs becomes available, a key challenge for implementation and adaptation lies in the great variability of their nutritional value and effects on soil health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a diverse sample of BBFs on both nutrient release (nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus) and a range of soil health parameters. In an 11-month incubation study, we evaluated eleven different bio-based fertilizers: four digestates, two composts, insect frass, and by-products from animal, medicinal, and plant production and processing. The results revealed a trade-off between high nutrient release and soil health improvements. High N availability was significantly and negatively correlated to all examined soil health parameters, while most soil health parameters were positively linked to the amount of added carbon (C). To overcome the trade-off between nutrient availability and soil health, customized BBF blends with optimized nutrient and C profiles tailored to specific field needs may offer a practical solution for farmers. Further research, particularly under field conditions, is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of BBFs on soil properties and crop growth.
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issn 1872-6259
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Geoderma
spelling doaj-art-0365a3be5de543f084b7a80eb02c9fb72025-07-06T04:23:07ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592025-08-01460117424Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parametersTine Engedal0Bianca Messmer1Jakob Magid2Lars Stoumann Jensen3Veronika Hansen4Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkCorresponding author.; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkThe transition to a circular and bio-based economy requires nutrient recycling from agricultural, industrial, and societal by-products and wastes. Beyond their role in nutrient supply for crop production, bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) also have the potential to improve soil health by contributing organic matter. However, as the legal framework evolves and a broader range of BBFs becomes available, a key challenge for implementation and adaptation lies in the great variability of their nutritional value and effects on soil health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a diverse sample of BBFs on both nutrient release (nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus) and a range of soil health parameters. In an 11-month incubation study, we evaluated eleven different bio-based fertilizers: four digestates, two composts, insect frass, and by-products from animal, medicinal, and plant production and processing. The results revealed a trade-off between high nutrient release and soil health improvements. High N availability was significantly and negatively correlated to all examined soil health parameters, while most soil health parameters were positively linked to the amount of added carbon (C). To overcome the trade-off between nutrient availability and soil health, customized BBF blends with optimized nutrient and C profiles tailored to specific field needs may offer a practical solution for farmers. Further research, particularly under field conditions, is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of BBFs on soil properties and crop growth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002629
spellingShingle Tine Engedal
Bianca Messmer
Jakob Magid
Lars Stoumann Jensen
Veronika Hansen
Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
Geoderma
title Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
title_full Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
title_fullStr Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
title_full_unstemmed Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
title_short Bio-based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
title_sort bio based fertilizers typically deliver on either high nutrient release or soil health parameters
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002629
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