Hideaki Nagare

Nutrient recovery from biomass cultivated as catch crop for removing accumulated fertilizer in farm soil

As a result of long-term continuous use of fertilizers in farm land, a large amount of nutrients accumulate in the soil, increasing the risk of eutrophication or nitrate pollution of groundwater. For rehabilitating the farm soil and recovering nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, a new system has been developed by our research group. This paper discusses the methodology of extracting nutrients from biomass in order to recover phosphorus and other nutrients in crystal form. Around 80% or higher extraction rates were achieved for phosphorus and potassium by soaking the powdered tissue in distilled water or 1% NaOH solution for 24 h. The extracted phosphorus and potassium act as a potential resource for recycled fertilizer or other industrial materials.

Comparison of simultaneous and separate processes: saccharification and thermophilic L-lactate fermentation of catch crop and aquatic plant biomass.

Catch crop candidates (corn, guinea grass) for recovering nutrients from farm soil and aquatic plants (water caltrop, water hyacinth) were utilized to produce l-lactic acid. The efficiencies of pre-treatment methods for enzymatic saccharification and l-lactate production of two fermentation processes, thermophilic simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), as well as separate saccharification and fermentation, were compared. Conditions were set at 55°C and pH 5.5 for non-sterile fermentation. Alkaline/peroxide pre-treatment proved the most effective for saccharification in pre-treated corn, guinea grass, water caltrop and water hyacinth with glucose yields of 0.23, 0.20, 0.11 and 0.14 g/g-dry native biomass (24-hour incubation period), respectively. Examination of the two types of thermophilic l-lactate fermentation employed following alkaline/peroxide pre-treatment and saccharification demonstrated that the l-lactate yield obtained using SSF (0.15 g/g in the case of corn) was lower than that obtained using separate saccharification and fermentation (0.28 g/g in the case of corn). The lower yield obtained from SSF is likely to have resulted from the saccharification conditions used in the present study, as the possibility of cellulase deactivation during SSF by thermophilic l-lactate producing bacteria existed. A cellulase that retains high activity levels under non-sterile conditions and a l-lactate producer without cellulose hydrolysis activity would be required in order for SSF to serve as an effective method of l-lactate production.

Behavior of inorganic elements during sludge ozonation and their effects on sludge solubilization.

The behavior of inorganic elements (including phosphorus, nitrogen, and metals) during sludge ozonation was investigated using batch tests and the effects of metals on sludge solubilization were elucidated. A decrease of ∼ 50% in the ratio of sludge solubilization was found to relate to a high iron content 80-120 mgFe/gSS than that of 4.7-7.4 mgFe/gSS. During sludge ozonation, the pH decreased from 7 to 5, which resulted in the dissolution of chemically precipitated metals and phosphorus. Based on experimental results and thermodynamic calculation, phosphate precipitated by iron and aluminum was more difficult to release while that by calcium released with decrease in pH. The release of barium, manganese, and chrome did not exceed 10% and was much lower than COD solubilization; however, that of nickel, copper, and zinc was similar to COD solubilization. The ratio of nitrogen solubilization was 1.2 times higher than that of COD solubilization (R(2)=0.85). Of the total nitrogen solubilized, 80% was organic nitrogen. Because of their high accumulation potential and negative effect on sludge solubilization, high levels of iron and aluminum in both sewage and sludge should be considered carefully for the application of the advanced sewage treatment process with sludge ozonation and phosphorus crystallization.

Seasonal changes in the performance of a catch crop for mitigating diffuse agricultural pollution

An in situ technology for mitigating diffuse agricultural pollution using catch crops was developed for simultaneously preventing nitrate groundwater pollution, reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) gas emissions, and removing salts from the topsoil. Seasonal changes in the performance of a catch crop were investigated using lysimeters in a full-scale greenhouse experiment with 50 d cultivation of dent corn. Catch crop cultivation significantly reduced the leached mineral nitrogen by 89-91% in summer, 87-89% in spring, and 61-82% in winter, and it also significantly reduced the N2O emission by 68-84% in summer. The amounts of nitrogen uptake by the catch crop were remarkably higher than those of leached nitrogen and N2O emission in each season. Catch crop cultivation is a promising technology for mitigating diffuse agricultural pollution.

Characteristics of Nutrient Salt Uptake Associated with Water Use of Corn as a Catch Crop at Different Plant Densities in a Greenhouse

Abstract Dent corn, as a catch crop used for salt removal, was cultivated at different densities, i.e ., 7.3 (low density), 59.7 (normal density), and 119.5 plants m −2 (high density), during a 50 d fallow period after cultivation of a commercial crop in a greenhouse, to analyze the characteristics of nutrient salt (N, K, Mg, and Ca) uptake by roots and to study the effect of plant density on the characteristics associated with crop water use. Leaf area index for the high and normal density treatments reached extremely high values of 24.3 and 14.9, respectively. These values induced higher transpiration rates that were estimated using the Penman-Monteith model with the incorporation of specific parameters for crop and greenhouse conditions. The total N, K, Mg, and Ca contents in the crop canopy at harvest were 26.8, 13.0, 1.0, and 1.7 g m −2 , respectively, under the high density treatment. The dynamics of salt uptake rates for high, normal, and low density treatments were evaluated by assessing weekly changes in salt content, and were subsequently compared against the transpiration rate. A positive linear relationship was obtained between these 2 parameters for all 3 density treatments and all tested salts. Hence, higher transpiration rates caused higher salt uptake rates through water absorption. On the other hand, salt uptake efficiency per unit water use by cultivation was lower in the low density treatment. Therefore, management procedures with dense planting that induce higher transpiration rates and lower evaporation rate are extremely important for the effective cultivation of corn catch crops.

Advantages of pre-harvest temporal flooding in a catch crop field in relation to soil moisture and nutrient salt removal by root uptake

Catch crop cultivation coupled with subsequent flood activity is an environmental friendly method of removing nutrient salts from soil in greenhouse. However, in comparison with the usual fallow period in greenhouse horticulture in Japan, a longer time is required for cultivation and soil drying after flooding. To minimize such time while retaining catch crop performance, temporal flooding was conducted in an experimental catch crop field of corn before harvest (i.e., pre-harvest temporal flooding), when crops were growing well and most nutrient salts within the soil had been taken up by the roots. Results showed that pre-harvest temporal flooding enhanced crop growth and stomatal opening; hence, evapotranspiration (mostly transpiration) was increased to a high value (3.5 times that of bare soil plot in greenhouse). Therefore, compared with the bare soil field, there was a remarkable pronounced decrease in the soil water content due to evapotranspirational water loss in the catch crop field after temporal flooding. Furthermore, the total nutrient (nitrogen) uptake by crops was also significantly accelerated in relation to pre-harvest flooding owing to the increase in crop growth. It was also found that electrical conductivity and nitrate nitrogen concentration of soil solution (at a soil-water ratio of 1:5) decreased with time owing to root uptake, and were at a fairly low level when pre-harvest flooding was conducted. These results suggest that pre-harvest temporal flooding shortens the implementation time by accelerating soil drying, and increases salt removal by root uptake; thus, this method delivers considerable advantages for practical use in catch crop cultivation.

Effects of soil type and nitrate concentration on denitrification products (N2O and N2) under flooded conditions in laboratory microcosms

Abstract Denitrification products nitrous oxide ((N2O) and nitrogen (N2)) were measured in three flooded soils (paddy soil from Vietnam, PV; mangrove soil from Vietnam, MV; paddy soil from Japan, PJ) with different nitrate (NO3–) concentrations. Closed incubation experiments were conducted in 100-mL bottles for 7 d at 25°C. Each bottle contained 2 g of air-dried soil and 25 mL solution with NO3– (concentration 0, 5 or 10 mg N L−1) with or without acetylene (C2H2). The N2O + N2 emissions were estimated by the C2H2 inhibition method. Results showed that N2O + N2 emissions for 7 d were positively correlated with those of NO3– removal from solution with C2H2 (R2 = 0.9872), indicating that most removed NO3– was transformed to N2O and N2 by denitrification. In PJ soil, N2O and N2 emissions were increased significantly (P < 0.05) by the addition of greater NO3– concentrations. However, N2O and N2 emissions from PV and MV soils were increased by the addition of 0 to 5 mg N L−1, but not by 5 to 10 mg N L−1. At 10 mg N L−1, N2 emissions for 7 d were greater in PJ soil (pH 7.0) than in PV (pH 5.8) or MV (pH 4.3) soils, while N2O emissions were higher in PV and MV soils than in PJ soil. In MV soil, N2O was the main product throughout the experiment. In conclusion, NO3– concentration and soil pH affected N2O and N2 emissions from three flooded soils.

Nitrous oxide emissions during biological soil disinfestation with different organic matter and plastic mulch films in laboratory-scale tests.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a greenhouse gas, may be more emitted as an intermediate product of denitrification during biological soil disinfestation. The biological soil disinfestation is a method to suppress soil-borne pathogens under reductive soil conditions produced by the application of organic matter and water irrigation with plastic film. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of different organic matter and mulch films on N2O emissions during biological soil disinfestation. Grey lowland soil amended with cattle compost plus rice bran (0.2%), rice husk (0.2%) or dent corn (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4%) was incubated at 100% water-holding capacity with or without plastic films made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and triple-layer polyolefin (3PO) for 72 h at 50°C. Permeation of the two films was also measured at 25°C and 50°C. Results showed that incorporation of organic matter increased N2O emissions compared with no organic matter addition at 50°C. Incorporation of rice bran and dent corn with easily decomposable C and low C:N ratios increased N2O emissions for the first 12 h, but thereafter, available C supply from these amendments suppressed N2O emissions. Permeability of mulch films increased at a higher temperature and was larger for PVC than for 3PO. Our study indicated that rice husk should not be used for soil disinfestation and that application rates of organic matter must be determined based on their decomposability. Moreover, mulch film covering would not suppress N2O emission in biological soil disinfestation because of high temperature.

Development of a new wastewater treatment process for resource recovery of carotenoids

A new wastewater treatment process that involves coagulation, ozonation, and microalgae cultivation has been developed. Here, two challenges are discussed. The first was minimizing phosphorus removal during coagulation in order to maximize algal production. The second was to optimize microalgae cultivation; algal species that grow rapidly and produce valuable products are ideal for selection. Haematococcus pluvialis, which produces the carotenoid astaxanthin, was used. Growth rate, nutrient removal ability, and astaxanthin production of H. pluvialis in coagulated wastewater were investigated. After coagulation with chitosan, the turbidity and suspended solids decreased by 89% ± 8% and 73% ± 16%, respectively. The nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the supernatant remained at 86% ± 6% and 67% ± 24%, respectively. These results indicate that coagulation with chitosan can remove turbidity and SS while preserving nutrients. H. pluvialis grew well in the supernatant of coagulated wastewater. The astaxanthin yield from coagulated wastewater in which microalgae were cultured was 3.26 mg/L, and total phosphorus and nitrogen contents decreased 99% ± 1% and 90% ± 8% (Days 31–35), respectively [corrected].