Effects of struvite recovered from wastes on crop cultivation

Struvite recovered from wastes has been considered a promising second generation fertiliser. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of struvite fertilisation on i) rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivation (through a 45-d pot experiment), in terms of macronutrients, micronutrients and heavy metals and ii) on soil fertility (through a 30-d incubation experiment) in terms of available phosphorus and exchangeable bases (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺). Struvite-fertilisation increased the soil available phosphorus resulting in improvement of the soil fertility class from low to medium class. In terms of exchangeable bases, the soil fertility class did not change. Furthermore, the struvite-fertilisation led to the highest concentration of total phosphorus in the plant. No relevant effects were found regarding the concentrations of Ca, Mg and K in the plant as well as the micronutrients. The levels of heavy metals on crop did not increase after soils fertilisation with struvite.