Nitrogen dynamics and biological processes in soil amended with microalgae grown in abattoir digestate to recover nutrients

Article


Shayesteh, Hajar, Jenkins, Sasha N., Moheimani, Navid R., Bolan, Nanthi, Buhlmann, Christopher H., Gurung, Sun Kumar, Vadiveloo, Ashiwin, Bahri, Parisa A. and Mickan, Bede S.. 2023. "Nitrogen dynamics and biological processes in soil amended with microalgae grown in abattoir digestate to recover nutrients." Journal of Environmental Management. 344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118467
Article Title

Nitrogen dynamics and biological processes in soil amended with microalgae grown in abattoir digestate to recover nutrients

ERA Journal ID5850
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsShayesteh, Hajar, Jenkins, Sasha N., Moheimani, Navid R., Bolan, Nanthi, Buhlmann, Christopher H., Gurung, Sun Kumar, Vadiveloo, Ashiwin, Bahri, Parisa A. and Mickan, Bede S.
Journal TitleJournal of Environmental Management
Journal Citation344
Article Number118467
Number of Pages12
Year2023
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN0301-4797
1093-0191
1095-8630
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118467
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479723012550
AbstractThe use of microalgae for nutrient recovery from wastewater and subsequent conversion of the harvested biomass into fertilizers offers a sustainable approach towards creating a circular economy. Nonetheless, the process of drying the harvested microalgae represents an additional cost, and its impact on soil nutrient cycling compared to wet algal biomass is not thoroughly understood. To investigate this, a 56-day soil incubation experiment was conducted to compare the effects of wet and dried Scenedesmus sp. microalgae on soil chemistry, microbial biomass, CO2 respiration, and bacterial community diversity. The experiment also included control treatments with glucose, glucose + ammonium nitrate, and no fertilizer addition. The Illumina Mi-Seq platform was used to profile the bacterial community and in-silico analysis was performed to assess the functional genes involved in N and C cycling processes. The maximum CO2 respiration and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) concentration of dried microalgae treatment were 17% and 38% higher than those of paste microalgae treatment, respectively. NH4+ and NO3? released slowly and through decomposition of microalgae by soil microorganisms as compared to synthetic fertilizer control. The results indicate that heterotrophic nitrification may contribute to nitrate production for both microalgae amendments, as evidenced by low amoA gene abundance and a decrease in ammonium with an increase in nitrate concentration. Additionally, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) may be contributing to ammonium production in the wet microalgae amendment, as indicated by an increase in nrfA gene and ammonium concentration. This is a significant finding because DNRA leads to N retention in agricultural soils instead of N loss via nitrification and denitrification. Thus, further processing the microalgae through drying or dewetting may not be favorable for fertilizer production as the wet microalgae appeared to promote DNRA and N retention.
KeywordsMicroalgae; Nutrient cycling; Soil chemistry; Diversity profiling; In-silico functional gene analysis
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020401102. Environmentally sustainable engineering
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsMurdoch University
University of Western Australia
Centre for Agricultural Engineering
Richgro Garden Products, Australia
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z26wx/nitrogen-dynamics-and-biological-processes-in-soil-amended-with-microalgae-grown-in-abattoir-digestate-to-recover-nutrients

  • 46
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Transforming waste to wealth: Impact of food waste-derived soil amendments and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on soil dynamics
O'Connor, James, Mickan, Bede S., Gurung, Sun K., Siddique, Kadambot H. M., Leopold, Matthias, Bühlmann, Christopher H. and Bolan, Nanthi S.. 2024. "Transforming waste to wealth: Impact of food waste-derived soil amendments and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on soil dynamics." Soil Use and Management. 40 (3). https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.13093
Exploring the hidden environmental pollution of microplastics derived from bioplastics: A review
Piyathilake, Udara, Lin, Chuxia, Bolan, Nanthi, Bundschuh, Jochen, Rinklebe, Jörg and Herath, Indika. 2024. "Exploring the hidden environmental pollution of microplastics derived from bioplastics: A review." Chemosphere. 355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141773
Value of food waste-derived fertilisers on soil chemistry, microbial function and crop productivity
O'Connor, James, Mickan, Bede S., Gurung, Sun K., Buhlmann, Christopher H., Jenkins, Sasha N., Siddique, Kadambot H.M., Leopold, Matthias and Bolan, Nanthi S.. 2024. "Value of food waste-derived fertilisers on soil chemistry, microbial function and crop productivity." Applied Soil Ecology. 198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105380
Biochemical methane potential of dairy manure residues and separated fractions: An Australia-wide study of the impact of production and cleaning systems
Grell, Torben, Harris, Peter W., Marchuk, Serhiy, Jenkins, Sasha, McCabe, Bernadette K. and Tait, Stephan. 2024. "Biochemical methane potential of dairy manure residues and separated fractions: An Australia-wide study of the impact of production and cleaning systems." Bioresource Technology. 391 (Part A). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129903
Lactic acid production from food waste at an anaerobic digestion biorefinery: effect of digestate recirculation and sucrose supplementation
Buhlmann, Christopher H., Mickan, Bede S., Tait, Stephan, Batstone, Damien J. and Bahri, Parisa A. 2023. "Lactic acid production from food waste at an anaerobic digestion biorefinery: effect of digestate recirculation and sucrose supplementation." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1177739
Lactic acid from mixed food waste fermentation using an adapted inoculum: Influence of pH and temperature regulation on yield and product spectrum
Buhlmann, Christopher H., Mickan, Bede S., Tait, Stephan, Batstone, Damien J., Mercer, George D. and Bahri, Parisa A.. 2022. "Lactic acid from mixed food waste fermentation using an adapted inoculum: Influence of pH and temperature regulation on yield and product spectrum." Journal of Cleaner Production. 373, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133716
Interaction of arsenic with biochar in soil and water: A critical review
Vithanage, Meththika, Herath, Indika, Joseph, Stephen, Bundschuh, Jochen, Bolan, Nanthi, Ok, Yong Sik, Kirkham, M. B. and Rinklebe, Jorg. 2017. "Interaction of arsenic with biochar in soil and water: A critical review." Carbon. 113, pp. 219-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2016.11.032
Developing a food waste biorefinery: Lactic acid extraction using anionic resin and impacts on downstream biogas production
Buhlmann, Christopher H., Mickan, Bede S., Tait, Stephan and Bahri, Parisa A.. 2022. "Developing a food waste biorefinery: Lactic acid extraction using anionic resin and impacts on downstream biogas production." Chemical Engineering Journal. 431 (3), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.133243
Biomass production of marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica using biogas and wastewater as nutrients
Herold, Clemens, Ishika, Tasneema, Nwoba, Emeka G., Tait, Stephan, Ward, Andrew and Moheimani, Navid R.. 2021. "Biomass production of marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica using biogas and wastewater as nutrients." Biomass and Bioenergy. 145, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105945
Lactic acid from mixed food wastes at a commercial biogas facility: Effect of feedstock and process conditions
Buhlmann, Christopher H., Mickan, Bede S., Tait, Stephan, Renton, Michael and Bahri, Parisa A.. 2021. "Lactic acid from mixed food wastes at a commercial biogas facility: Effect of feedstock and process conditions." Journal of Cleaner Production. 284, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125243
Ammonia stress on a resilient mesophilic anaerobic inoculum: methane production, microbial community, and putative metabolic pathways
Buhlmann, Christopher H., Mickan, Bede S., Jenkins, Sasha N., Tait, Stephan, Kahandawala, Tharanga K. A. and Bahri, Parisa A.. 2018. "Ammonia stress on a resilient mesophilic anaerobic inoculum: methane production, microbial community, and putative metabolic pathways." Bioresource Technology. 275, pp. 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.012
Phytoremediation of Landfill Leachates
Kumarathilaka, Prasanna, Wijesekara, Hasintha, Bolan, Nanthi, Kunhikrishnan, Anitha and Vithanage, Meththika. 2017. "Phytoremediation of Landfill Leachates." Ansari, Abid A., Gill, Sarvajeet Singh, Gill, Ritu, Lanza, Guy R. and Newman, Lee (ed.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants. Switzerland. Springer. pp. 439-467