Agronomic Value of

Nutrients in Biosolids

Randall Warden
A & L Great Lakes Laboratories
Fort Wayne, IN

Quality Analyses for Informed Decisions

 Presentation Outline
 Assessment of nutrient levels
 Soil testing
 Biosolids analysis

 Crop nutrient requirements and

responsiveness

 Process to determine nutrient value ($)

Assessing Nutrient Levels -
What is a Soil Test?
 Analysis of a soil sample to determine
nutrient availability to plants

 Extract all or proportional part of plant-

available nutrients from soil

 Goal – prescription fertilizer application

Sample P K Zn Mn
pH
ID (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
1 5.6 9 VL 61 L 1.7 L 60 VH
2 4.6 6 VL 17 VL 1.7 L 3 VL
3 6.2 47 H 155 H 3.1 M 62 VH
4 7.6 12 L 149 M 6.1 H 18 M
 Soil Test Ratings
Soil Test Unit Very Low Low Medium High Very High
pH 0.0 - 5.0 5.1 - 5.8 5.9 - 6.9 7.0 - 7.5 7.6+
Organic Matter % 0.0 - 0.9 1.0 - 2.5 2.6 - 4.9 5.0 - 6.9 7.0+
Phosphorus (P1) ppm 0-9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 49 50+
Potassium % 0.0 - 0.7 0.8 - 1.4 1.5 - 2.6 2.7 - 4.0 4.1+
Magnesium % 0.0 - 5.0 5.1 - 10.0 10.1 - 15.0 15.1 - 25.0 25.1+
Calcium % 0.0 - 45.0 45.1 - 55.0 55.1 - 75.0 75.1 - 85.0 85.1+
Sulfur (S) ppm 0-3 4-7 8 - 12 13 - 17 18+
Zinc (Zn) ppm 0.0 - 0.9 1.0 - 2.9 3.0 - 4.9 5.0 - 10.0 10.1+
Manganese (Mn) ppm 0-5 6 - 14 15 - 29 30 - 49 50+
Iron (Fe) ppm 0-4 5-9 10 - 50 51+
Copper (Cu) ppm 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 - 1.1 1.2 - 3.0 3.1+
Boron (B) ppm 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 - 0.5 0.6 - 1.2 1.3 - 2.5 2.6+
Soil Test Ratings & Economics
Soil Test Rating Probability of Economic Response
to Fertilizer Application
Very Low (VL) Very High
Low (L) High
Medium (M) Medium
High (H) Low
Very High (VH) None
Soil Test Ratings & Economics
High Medium Low
Probability of Crop Response

ROI $
VL M VH
Soil Test Nutrient Level
 Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP YIELD Nitrogen Phosphate Potash
N P2O5 K2O

Alfalfa 10 T
600 120 600
200 bu. grain
150 87 57
Corn
stover
116 27 209
60 bu. Grain
250 50 86
Soybeans
Stover
80 20 60
100 bu. grain
160 60 40
Wheat
straw
50 12 140
 Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)
CROP YIELD Magnesium Calcium Sulfur
Mg Ca S

Alfalfa 10 T 53 280 51
200 bu. grain 18 4 15
Corn
stover 47 38 18
60 bu. Grain 17 12 12
Soybeans
Stover 10 90 14
100 bu. grain 15 5 8
Wheat
straw 13 21 16
 Crop Nutrient Removal
Pounds per Acre
Crop B Zn Mn Fe Cu
Alfalfa
0.70 0.65 1.10 1.50 0.18
10 tons
Corn
0.19 0.57 1.35 1.40 0.15
200 Bushels
Soybeans
0.22 0.30 0.75 1.05 0.14
60 bushels
Wheat
0.08 0.34 0.55 0.70 0.09
80 bushels
 Micronutrient Response
Crop Mn B Cu Zn Fe

Alfalfa Med High High Low Med

Corn Med Low Med High Med

Soybeans High Low Low Med High

Wheat High Low High Low Low

 Fertilizer Prices Change
Nutrient Unit 2004 2008
Nitrogen lb $0.35 $0.65
Phosphate (P2O5) lb $0.19 $0.58
Potash (K2O) lb $0.18 $0.33
Sulfur (S) lb $0.39
Zinc (Zn) lb $1.34
Manganese (Mn) lb $0.80
Copper (Cu) lb $1.68
Boron (B) lb $0.75
Lime ton $25.00 $30.00
Current Crop Production Costs
 Corn – 180 bu/A – medium soil tests

 Nitrogen (210 lb x $0.65/lb = $136.50)

 Phosphate (50 lb x $0.58/lb = $29.00)
 Potash (200 lb x $0.33/lb = $66.00)

Per acre fertilizer cost = $231.50

Cost per 80 acres = $18,520.00

 Biosolids Analysis - Anaerobic
Lbs per % Lbs Lbs
perper Dry Unit Nutrient
Parameter Dry Ton Available Ton Available Cost (lb) Value
Dry Ton Unit Nutrient
Parameter
Lime 175 100%
Available175 Cost$0.015
(lb) $2.63
Value
28.1 100%
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN)
Lime 175 28.1 $0.015
$0.65 $18.27
$2.63
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 87.1 40% 34.8 $0.58 $20.21
Plant (PAN)100%28.1 3.1 $0.65
Available Nitrogen3.1
Potassium (K2O) $0.33
$18.27
$1.02
Phosphorus
Calcium (Ca) (P2O5) (PSC*)
87.5 55% 34.8 48.1 $0.58 $20.21
$0.00
9.3 55%
Magnesium (Mg)
Potassium (K2O) 3.1 5.1 $0.33 $0.00
$1.02
Sulfur (S) 49 55% 27.0 $0.39 $10.51
Sulfur
Zinc (Zn)
(S) 3.6 65% 27.0 2.3 $0.39
$1.34 $10.51
$3.14
Zinc (Zn)
Iron (Fe) 58.3 65% 2.3 37.9 $1.34 $3.14
$0.00
1.6 65%
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese (Mn) 1.0 1.0 $0.80
$0.80 $0.83
$0.83
Copper (Cu) 1.5 65% 1.0 $1.68 $1.64
Copper
Boron (B)
(Cu) BDL 65% 1.0 0.0 $1.68$0.75 $1.64
$0.00
Boron (B) “Maximum”0.0Nutrient
$0.75
Value $0.00
$58.25
 Biosolids Analysis – N-Viro
Lbs per Lbs per Dry
Lbs per Unit Nutrient
Parameter Dry Ton % Available Ton Available Cost (lb) Value
Dry Ton Unit Nutrient
Parameter
Lime 726 100%Available726 Cost $0.015(lb) $10.89
Value
Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 3.744 100% 726 3.7 $0.015
$0.65
$2.43
$10.89
Lime
Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 27.6 20% 5.5 $0.58 $3.20
Plant (PAN)100% 3.74 6.9 $0.65
Available Nitrogen6.9
Potassium (K2O) $0.33
$2.43
$2.28
Phosphorus
Calcium (Ca) (P2O5) (PSC*)
449 55% 27.6 247 $0.58 $3.20
$0.00
35.2 55%
Magnesium (Mg)
Potassium (K2O) 6.9 19.4 $0.33 $0.00
$2.28
Sulfur (S) 106.6 20% 21.3 $0.39 $8.31
Sulfur
Zinc (Zn)
(S) 1.9 65%
21.3 1.2 $0.39$1.34
$8.31
$1.65
Zinc (Zn)
Iron (Fe) 61.6 65% 1.2 40.0 $1.34 $1.65
$0.00
1.2 65%
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese (Mn) 0.8 0.8 $0.80$0.80 $0.62
$0.62
Copper (Cu) 0.28 65% 0.2 $1.68 $0.31
Copper
Boron (B)
(Cu) 1.1 65% 0.2 1.0 $1.68 $0.75 $0.31
$0.00
Boron (B) “Maximum”1.0 Nutrient
$0.75
Value $0.75
$29.70
2007 Michigan Soil Test Summary
Soil Test Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating*
V Low Low Medium High V High
pH 1.7 10.3 49.4 23.2 15.5
Phosphorus 2.2 10.6 15.1 26.8 45.3
Potassium 1.2 9.4 49.5 29.8 10.0
Sulfur 1.2 40.1 41.2 17.5
Zinc 31.6 40.0 23.2 5.3
Manganese 4.0 9.8 14.6 62.4 9.3
Copper 0.2 44.9 42.4 12.5
Boron 31.3 27.0 35.1 5.8 0.8

* > 50,000 samples

Biosolids Marketing Approach
 Disposal:
no value for nutrients, large $ incentive
for nutrient use, no cost recovery
 Partial cost recovery:
price < fertilizer, less user $ incentive,
labor, fuel
 Market Value:
$ price  fertilizer, organic matter,
micronutrients, nutrient availability, labor,
fuel, demand, communication
Opportunities and Challenges
 Increasing fertilizer costs ($/A)
 Fertilizer availability - timing
 Cost recovery
 Fair valuation of biosolids nutrients (test)
 Nutrient need (test)
 Availability of nutrients (treatment process)
 Stewardship
 Consistency of Communication
Time to Stop – Questions?