COLUMBUS, Ohio — Manure is commonly used as fertilizer on farms across the country. Biosolids, or treated human waste, may also be an option.

What You Need To Know

  • Availability and cost are factors that farmers consider when deciding which type of fertilizer to use
  • Each week, Spectrum News 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss an aspect of the state's agricultural landscape

Manure comes from livestock. Biosolids come from humans.

According to the EPA, biosolids are created through the wastewater treatment process. Liquids are separated from the solids and then treated physically and chemically to produce a "semisolid, nutrient-rich product."

The EPA reports 1.17 million dmt of biosolids were used as fertilizer on farmland in 2022.

"It's not so much one over the other," Agriculture Expert Andy Vance said when discussing why a farmer may choose to incorporate biosolids as fertilizer.

Availabilty and cost are usually deciding factors.

"We want to be really mindful when we apply any fertilizer, whether it's livestock, municipal waste, biosolids or other types of fertilizer. Are we treating it at the right time and applying it in the right way, so it stays on the soil for use in the field by the crops we're growing and not running off into ditches, into water sources?" Vance said.

If you have an idea for the Ag Report, a question for Chuck and Andy or you’d like to send a photo of your farm and the work you do, email charles.ringwalt@charter.com.

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