Author(s)

A. Stepien & S. Szymczyk

Abstract

Application of meat and bone meals in A. Stepien1 & S. Szymczyk2 1Department of Agriculture Systems, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland 2Department of Land Reclamation and Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis that meat and bone meal, added to soil as fertilisers, may pose a hazard to the aquatic environment. Fertilisation with meat and bone meal and with manure resulted, on average, in an increase in mineral nitrogen concentration in underground water. It is noteworthy that phosphorus concentration in underground water on the plot fertilised with the highest dose of MBM increased by 79%, as compared to the variant without fertilisation. The results achieved in the experiment indicate that supporting MBM fertilisation with potassium did not result in an increase in its concentration in underground water. On the contrary, the lowest concentration of potassium was determined in the underground water taken from the plots where 1.5 t and 2.5 t of MBM had been applied. Such results may be the consequence of a lack of potassium balance necessary to satisfy the nutritional needs of the crops. Introducing organic matter to soil as manure and MBM resulted in an increase in magnesium and calcium concentration in underground waters. Keywords: meat and bone meal, MBM, farm yard manure, agricultural ecosystems, aquatic environment, fertilization.

Keywords

meat and bone meal, MBM, farm yard manure, agricultural ecosystems, aquatic environment, fertilization