Evaluation of chemical fertilizer and farm cost savings through the use of filtered liquid fertilizer

Soo-Ryang Kim; Ji-won Jung; Sung-Ha Hong; Byong-O Lee; Sun-Goo Hwang; Myung-Gyu Lee

doi:10.11109/JAES.2025.27.3.176

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2025 Vol.27, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research article

Evaluation of chemical fertilizer and farm cost savings through the use of filtered liquid fertilizer 여과액비 활용에 따른 화학비료 및 농가 경영비 절감 효과 평가

31 December 2025. pp. 176-183

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Abstract

This case study evaluated the agronomic applicability and economic benefits of using filtered liquid fertilizer (FLF) derived from livestock manure for spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) greenhouse cultivation in Pocheon, Korea. The FLF was produced via a membrane filtration process and showed a reduced suspended solids content (SS, 684 mg/L), indicating suitability for fertigation systems. Chemical analysis revealed that the FLF contained high levels of total nitrogen (2,242.32 mg/L) and potassium (K₂O, 2,640.62 mg/L), whereas phosphorus (P₂O₅, 151.80 mg/L) was markedly lower than other major nutrients. Soil diagnosis of the study sites showed excessive accumulation of available phosphate (Av. P₂O₅, 1,028 mg/kg), far exceeding the recommended range, while nitrate-nitrogen was below the optimal range. Therefore, an FLF application strategy based on crop nitrogen requirements was considered optimal to supply nitrogen and potassium without aggravating phosphorus accumulation. Substituting chemical fertilizers with FLF resulted in a fertilizer cost saving of 47,193 KRW per 10a. Although the FLF exhibited high electrical conductivity (EC, 23.41 dS/m), the findings suggest that FLF can serve as an effective alternative to chemical fertilizers in intensive greenhouse systems, particularly for managing nutrient imbalance in phosphorus- accumulated soils while providing tangible economic benefits to farmers.

Keywords

Filtered liquid fertilizer

Spinach

Soil testing-based fertilization

Fertilizer cost saving

Integrated crop-livestock farming

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Animal Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국축산환경학회
Journal Title :Journal of Animal Environmental Science
Journal Title(Ko) :축산시설환경학회지
Volume : 27
No :3
Pages :176-183
Received Date : 2025-12-18
Revised Date : 2025-12-29
Accepted Date : 2025-12-29
DOI :https://doi.org/10.11109/JAES.2025.27.3.176

Journal of Animal Environmental Science ISSN:1226-0274(Print) 축산시설환경학회지

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