Circular economy fertilization: Phycoremediated algal biomass as biofertilizers for sustainable crop production. (1st June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Gulshan Kumar; Khan, Shakeel Ahmad; Shrivastava, Manoj; Bhattacharyya, Ranjan; Sharma, Anil; Gupta, Dipak Kumar; Kishore, Prabhat; Gupta, Navindu
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 287(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-01
• Subjects: Phycoremediation -- Wastewater -- Biofertilizers -- Plant nutrition -- Soil improvement -- Microalgae; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: There is an urgent need to meet the demand of water and nutrients by their reuse and recycling to gratify sustainable food production system and resource conservation. C hlorella minutissima was found to be very effective in the removal of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids, phosphorous (P), potassium (K), ammonium, nitrate, biological oxygen demand (BOD5 ) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of sewage wastewater. We tested the effects of phycoremediated algal biomass addition to soil in field plots of baby corn and spinach, on plant growth, yield and soil chemical properties. The application of 100% nitrogen (N) fertilizer by algal biomass lead to higher economic yield of spinach and baby corn than recommended dose of mineral fertilizers. The available N and P content in experimental plots applied with algae biomass as biofertilizers were significantly higher than other treatments. The soil enzymes, such as urease, nitrate reductase, and dehydrogenase were analysed during the cropping season of baby corn and spinach. The soil supplied with 100% N by algae biomass (C. minutissima) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the dehydrogenase activity in spinach grown soil. While the nitrate reductase activity in soil supplied with algal manure was maximum (0.13 mg NO2 –N produced g −1 soil 24 h −1 ) and significantly higher than other treatments in baby corn grown soil. This study revealed that phycoremediation coupled with biofertilizers production from algae biomass is a recycling and resource conservation exercise to reduce eutrophication, recycling of wastewater, recycling of plant nutrients and improvement of the soil quality in circular economy fertilization. Highlights: A restorative or regenerative study of circular economy fertilization is evaluated. Centered on the principles of designing out waste and pollution. Win-win case of reuse, recycling, biofertilizers production and resource conservation. Study minimize the use of fertilizers for cleaner production and soil amelioration. Improving the nutrient use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses.