Enhancing LysteGro biofertilizer product formulation for increased soil phosphorus availability in agricultural crop production

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The recycling of organic amendments with significant concentrations of organic P, such as biosolids, is asustainable practice. Farmers who use biosolids often do so for the P fertilizer value to meet what crops requirefor growth. Biosolids-P is in a mixture of organic and inorganic forms that is less plant- available thanfertilizers and some types of manures due to physical and chemical changes during the treatment process.LysteGro provides a sustainable way to build soil P concentrations but further information is needed to helpdetermine how existing and new formulations affect phosphorus availability after application. The goal of thisproject is to study different formulation of the LysteGro product in order to develop the most agronomicallybeneficial and environmentally sustainable soil amendment. In this first time collaboration with the InnovativeWaste Management Program, Lystek will be working with researchers at Dalhousie University to developformulations of LysteGrow products that enhance P dynamics in different agricultural soils and optimize plantuptake rates. Lystek is a rapidly expanding company serving the needs of municipalities across the NorthAmerica to convert wastewater solids into commercially viable and safe agricultural soil amendments. Theoutcomes of this research will provide knowledge on the efficacy of current treatment processes andformulations to deliver phosphorus for crop production under different soil conditions. These results willsubstantially enhance the capacity for Lystek to develop new markets in Canada and the United States. Inaddition, Lystek will be able to provide farmers with better information on P availability to support their bestmanagement practices. Currently, Lystek is limited in their capacity to provide specific fertility guarantees tofarmers on the basis of the existing knowledge and the conventional soil tests provided by provincial soillaboratories. Lystek, working with Dr. Price, will be an active participant in conducting the research studies inorder to develop the knowledge to make its products more competitive in the agricultural marketplace.