Purpose
To access and quantify the availability of inorganic soil phosphorous following the application of dried non-living Cyanobacteria biofertilizer (CBF) in oats within a greenhouse environment
What Did We Do?
This study examined the operational and environmental effects of integrating Cyanobacteria biofertilizer (CBF) production into livestock manure management systems. Using a combination of system modeling, laboratory analysis, and field trials, the research assessed the life cycle environmental impacts and practical viability of Cyanobacteria biofertilizer (CBF).
What Have We Learned?
This presentation will provide insights into system configuration and modeled environmental impacts, as well as data from ongoing lab and greenhouse experiments. Key findings indicate that genetically modified strains of cyanobacteria (mutants) are capable of increasing manure phosphorus uptake by 10 times compared to existing strains. The shift to mutant cyanobacteria with greater phosphorus uptake results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as identified through a partial life cycle assessment, and can serve as a phosphorus fertilizer, as determined in greenhouse trials. Greenhouse trials on oat production using cyanobacteria with typical phosphorus uptake levels and the mutant strains with a 10-fold increase in phosphorus uptake produced similar biomass yields to dairy manure and increased biomass compared to chemical/synthetic fertilizers. Further research will expand to field trials for existing cyanobacteria strains, additional greenhouse trials for mutant strains, and efforts to increase nitrogen uptake in alternative mutant strains. . This study underscores both the potential and challenges of adopting CBF as a sustainable solution in livestock-based cropping systems.
Future Plans
We will be taking learnings from our initial laboratory/greenhouse experiments and modeling to field trials in Spring/Summer of 2025.
Authors
Presenting author
Brian M. Langolf, Researcher, University of Wisconsin Madison
Corresponding author
Rebecca A Larson, Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin Madison, rebecca.larson@wisc.edu
Additional authors
Juma Bukomba, Gradúate Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin Madison; Horacio A. Aguirre-Villegas, Scientist, University of Wisconsin Madison; Brenda Casino Loeza, Research Associate, University of Wisconsin Madison; Victor M. Zavala, Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison; Ted Chavkin, Postdoctoral, University of Wisconsin Madison; Brian Pfleger, Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison; Rebecca A Larson, Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison
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