Potential soil health benefits of lactobionate - a cheese production byproduct

Authors: OLAYEMI, PETER - Colorado State University; KALLENBACH, CYNTHIA - McGill University - Canada; SCHNEEKLOTH, JOEL - Colorado State University; Calderon, Francisco; Vigil, Merle; WALLENSTEIN, MATTHEW - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/23/2019
Publication Date: 1/28/2020
Citation: Olayemi, P., Kallenbach, C., Schneekloth, J., Calderon, F.J., Vigil, M.F., Wallenstein, M. 2020. Potential soil health benefits of lactobionate - a cheese production byproduct. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 3:127. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00127.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00127

Interpretive Summary: In this field experiment, we evaluated the deployment of lactobionate, a byproduct of cheese production as a soil amendment in dryland wheat and corn fields. Results show that lactobionate can be used to successfully increase moisture retention and microbial biomass in soil, but with a possible decline in nitrogen availability. In addition, corn yields responded positively to lactobionate, but not wheat yields. Soil amendments like lactobionate can benefit society by diverting food byproducts from landfills to the farm. As soil amendments, these food byproducts can potentially decrease the environmental impact of agriculture and move towards a more regenerative system of crop production.

Technical Abstract: To meet the nutritional demands of a rapidly growing population in the face of increasing climate variability, innovative tools are needed to rapidly regenerate soil health in agricultural systems. Using food wastes to improve soil health presents a viable opportunity to improve soils and enhance efficient waste management. In a previous laboratory study, we found that potassium lactobionate, a byproduct of cheese production, greatly enhanced soil water holding capacity and nutrient availability. To further explore its potential as a soil amendment, we conducted an agronomic trial in winter wheat and corn at the USDA-ARS Central Great Plains Research Station in Akron, Colorado. Lactobionate was applied using different application modes and rates in the field and soil health indices were measured at two soil depths. Four weeks after the field application, we observed an increase in soil moisture and microbial biomass in the 5-15 cm-depth and a decrease in soil nitrate for the wheat trial. We also saw a 14% increase in corn yield with lactobionate application but no observed changes in soil health parameters in the corn trial. We found no significant changes (p<0.05) in soil pH, total soil carbon and nitrogen, and soil ammonium concentration between treatments for both trials. Our observations suggest the potential for lactobionate to modify soil water content, microbial biomass, nitrate, and yield according to crop, amendment rates, and year. This implies that timing, mode and frequency of application needs to be optimized for maximal effects of lactobionate on soil health. It is also clear that the benefits of soil amendments may vary among years depending on weather and other factors.