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Replacing inorganic fertilizer with anaerobic digestate may maintain agricultural productivity at less environmental cost
Author(s) -
Walsh John J.,
Jones Davey L.,
EdwardsJones Gareth,
Williams A. Prysor
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201200214
Subject(s) - digestate , fertilizer , slurry , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , agronomy , ammonium nitrate , anaerobic digestion , nutrient , chemistry , soil water , environmental engineering , soil science , organic chemistry , methane , biology
We applied digestate generated from the anaerobic digestion of slurry, undigested slurry, or inorganic N (ammonium nitrate) or NPK compound fertilizer to pots of grass and a grass–clover mix grown in two soils. Crop yields were equal or enhanced with digestate, and analysis of soil water showed that there was less potential for loss of nutrients via leaching. Replacing inorganic fertilizer with digestate may therefore maintain grassland productivity but with less impact on the environment.