Eco-friendly Production of Maize Using Struvite Recovered from Swine Wastewater as a Sustainable Fertilizer Source

Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) was recovered from swine wastewater and the feasibility of reutilizing it as a slowly-releasing fertilizer was evaluated. Maize growth was investigated with normal and high application rates of MAP and a fused super phosphate (FSP) fertilizer. A total of 5 treatments (T-0 = control, T-1 = MAP based on 30 kg P ha(-1), T-2 = FSP based on 30 kg P ha(-1)+ urea equivalent to nitrogen of MAP applied in T-1, T-3 = MAP based on 40 kg P ha(-1), T-4 = FSP based on 40 kg P ha(-1)+urea equivalent to nitrogen of MAP applied in T-3) were arranged with 3 replications. In the case of height and circumference, significant differences were found between controls and treated maize plants (p<0.01). However, no statistical differences were found between MAP- and FSP-urea treated maize. Leaf area and green biomass yield were significantly (p<0.01) higher in the treated group than control. Leaf area was also found significantly higher (p<0.01) in the higher MAP- treated group (2,374 cm(2) plant) than other treatments. N2O emission was found to be lower in MAP treated soil than that from FSP-urea treated soil, which might be due to the slow releasing pattern of MAP. It could be assumed from the results that MAP would be an eco-friendly sustainable fertilizer source for crop production.