Novel Applications for Oxalate-Phosphate-Amine Metal-Organic-Frameworks (OPA-MOFs): Can an Iron-Based OPA-MOF Be Used as Slow-Release Fertilizer?

Manuela Anstoetz; Terry J Rose; Malcolm W Clark; Lachlan H Yee; Carolyn A Raymond; Tony Vancov

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144169

Novel Applications for Oxalate-Phosphate-Amine Metal-Organic-Frameworks (OPA-MOFs): Can an Iron-Based OPA-MOF Be Used as Slow-Release Fertilizer?

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 3;10(12):e0144169. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144169. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Manuela Anstoetz¹, Terry J Rose², Malcolm W Clark^{1

3}, Lachlan H Yee^{1

3}, Carolyn A Raymond², Tony Vancov^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
² Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
³ Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
⁴ NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, Wollongbar, NSW, 2477, Australia.

Abstract

A porous iron-based oxalate-phosphate-amine metal-organic framework material (OPA-MOF) was investigated as a microbially-induced slow-release nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer. Seedling growth, grain yields, nutrient uptake of wheat plants, and soil dynamics in incubated soil, were investigated using OPA-MOF vs standard P (triple-superphosphate) and N (urea) fertilizers in an acidic Ferralsol at two application rates (equivalent 120 and 40 kg N ha(-1)). While urea hydrolysis in the OPA-MOF treatment was rapid, conversion of ammonium to nitrate was significantly inhibited compared to urea treatment. Reduced wheat growth in OPA-MOF treatments was not caused by N-deficiency, but by limited P-bioavailability. Two likely reasons were slow P-mobilisation from the OPA-MOF or rapid P-binding in the acid soil. P-uptake and yield in OPA-MOF treatments were significantly higher than in nil-P controls, but significantly lower than in conventionally-fertilised plants. OPA-MOF showed potential as enhanced efficiency N fertilizer. However, as P-bioavailability was insufficient to meet plant demands, further work should determine if P-availability may be enhanced in alkaline soils, or whether central ions other than Fe, forming the inorganic metal-P framework in the MOF, may act as a more effective P-source in acid soils.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amines*
Fertilizers*
Iron
Oxalates*
Phosphates*
Soil*
Triticum / growth & development*

Substances

Amines
Fertilizers
Oxalates
Phosphates
Soil
Iron

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation Grant Project No 51426 (http://www.grdc.com.au/). MA was funded by an Australian Postgraduate Award (3.5 years), a scholarship for living support granted by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training (https://education.gov.au/australian-postgraduate-awards). The funders had a role in the decision to publish (publishing results was part of the grant agreement); the funders had no role in data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.