Using Bioethanol Wastes as an Alternative Phosphorus Source for Snap Bean and Radish Production

Abstract

Biorefinery waste has potential to provide alternative sources of phosphorus (P) for plant industry if biomass has been pretreated by phosphoric acids during its production process. In this study, we investigated the potential of the fermentation waste from a bioethanol process as a P fertilizer. Three treatments were set up for growing crops of snap bean (var., Bronco) and radish (var., Crimson Giant), i.e., P source as fermentation wastes from bioethanol production, commercial P fertilizer as triple superphosphate containing 44% P2O5 and control without any P fertilizer. The yields, biomass and leaf greenness of two crops were measured. Results showed that higher leaf greenness, yields and biomass were observed for the crops treated with fermentation wastes, suggesting the wastes from bioethanol production have the potential as P fertilizer. However, more related researches in a large scale will be needed in the future.