Recycling Manure as Vermicompost: Assessing Phosphorus Fertilizer Efficiency and Effects on Soil Health Under Different Soil Management

Summary

Abstract Vermicompost from organic wastes can provide nutrients and benefits to soil health. Its effects on P availability to plants is still poorly understood, specially under different soil management practices. This work aimed to assess vermicompost as a P fertilizer able to enhance soil functioning. Phosphorus forms of vermicompost were studied by 31 P NMR and chemical P fractionation to explain its efficiency as fertilizer. This efficiency was assessed with a pot experiment using soil from two different soil management (conventional tillage–CT – and non-tillage–NT–) and from two depths (0–5 and 20–40 cm). Under NT, the soil showed a higher initial P bioavailability than under CT. In vermicompost, 65% of total P corresponded to ortophosphate, meanwhile 35.4% was extractable with neutra