Summary
This field trial conducted in northeast Poland evaluated waste-derived phosphorus biofertilizers (formulated from sewage sludge ash, animal bones, and dried animal blood, activated with phosphorus-solubilising microorganisms) as alternatives to conventional phosphorus fertilizers. The study assessed multiple dimensions of wheat grain quality, including technological properties, amino acid profiles, nutrient composition, and contaminant levels. No statistically significant differences in grain quality parameters were detected between the biofertilizer treatments and conventional fertilizers at the application rates tested, suggesting that these recycled phosphorus products performed comparably to standard fertilizers without compromising grain quality.
UK applicability
The findings may have limited direct applicability to UK wheat production due to regional differences in soil type, climate, and agronomic practices between northeast Poland and typical UK growing regions. However, the methodology and quality assessment parameters used could inform future UK trials evaluating phosphorus recycling products and their suitability for meeting both agronomic and food safety standards.
Key measures
Hectoliter weight, hardness index, Zeleny index, starch content, wet gluten content, protein content, proteogenic amino acids, macro- and micronutrient concentrations, toxic element concentrations in wheat grain
Outcomes reported
The study measured technological properties of wheat grain (hectoliter weight, hardness index, Zeleny index, starch, wet gluten, protein content), proteogenic amino acid composition, macro- and micronutrient content, and selected toxic element concentrations following application of waste-derived phosphorus biofertilizers. No significant effects on any quality parameters were observed from the biofertilizers tested at phosphorus doses up to 35.2 kg ha⁻¹ compared to conventional fertilizers.
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