Anaerobic Digestate Administration: Effect on Soil Physical and Mechanical Behavior

Beni, Claudio; Servadio, P.; Marconi, Stefania; Neri, Ulderico; Aromolo, Rita; Diana, Giampietro

doi:10.1080/00103624.2012.648359

Cited by 34 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Soil penetration resistance measurements have been used in many studies as a tool for characterizing soil strength after tillage [5,6]. However, soil penetration resistance and other soil properties are often affected by soil spatial variability [7] and are strongly dependent on soil water content [8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Tillage Systems and Wheat Yield under Climate Change Scenarios

2016

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Abstract:In this study, the effects of three different main preparatory tillage operations: ploughing at 0.4 m (P40) and 0.20 m (P20) depth and harrowing at 0.20 m depth (MT) were investigated. The tillage operations were carried out at two different times, as the soil water content increased over time from rainfall: (low, 58% (LH) and high, 80% (HH) of field capacity). Results obtained from the soil monitoring carried out before and after tillage showed high values of soil strength in terms of Penetration resistance and shear strength particularly in deeper soil layers at lower water content. During tillage, fossil-fuel energy requirements for P40 LH and P20 LH were 25% and 35% higher, respectively, with respect to the HH treatments and tractor slip was very high (P40 LH = 32.4%) with respect to the P40 HH treatment (16%). Soil water content significantly influenced tractor performance during soil ploughing at 0.40 m depth but no effect was observed for the MT treatment. The highly significant linear relations between grain yield and soil penetration resistance highlight how soil strength may be good indicator of soil productivity. We conclude that ploughing soil to a 0.20 m depth or harrowing soil to a 0.20 m depth is suitable for this type of soil under climate change scenarios.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Tillage Systems and Wheat Yield under Climate Change Scenarios

2016

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“…Application of digestates improved soil properties by reducing the bulk density, increasing saturated hydraulic conductivity, moisture retention capacity of soils (Garg et al 2005;Beni et al 2012), and aggregate stability (Beck and Brandhuber 2012;Beni et al 2012;Erhart et al 2014;Frøseth et al 2014), compared to an untreated control. However, an assessment on the long-term direct effects of digestate application on soil physical properties in comparison to the undigested feedstock is not available.…”

Section: Effects Of Anaerobic Digestion On Soil Properties and Soil Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of anaerobic digestion on soil carbon and nitrogen turnover, N emissions, and soil biological activity. A review

Möller¹

2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

240

139

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Sustainability in agriculture means the inclusion of several aspects, as sustainable agriculture systems must not compromise not only their ability to satisfy future needs by undermining soil fertility and the natural resource base but also sustainable agriculture has had to address a range of other issues including energy use, efficient use, and recycling of nutrients, the effects on adjacent ecosystems including the effects on water bodies and climate change. Organic manures are an important factor to keep the soil fertility level of soils. However, their management is often related to large emissions. In this context, anaerobic digestion is-similarly to composting-a treatment option for stabilization of biogenic wastes leading to a residual product called digestates, enabling the sanitation and the recycling and use as fertilizer. It is also a means to obtain energy from wastes as well as from dedicated energy crops. Therefore, anaerobic digestion potentially addresses several aspects of agricultural sustainability. This review discusses the current state of knowledge on the effects of anaerobic digestion on organic compounds in digestates and the most important processes influencing N emissions in the field, as well as the possible longterm effects on soil microbial biomass and soil fertility. The main findings are that (1) the direct effects of anaerobic digestion on long-term sustainability in terms of soil fertility and environmental impact at the field level are of minor relevance. (2) The most relevant effects of anaerobic digestion on soil fertility as well as on N emissions will be expected from indirect effects related to cropping system changes such as changes in crop rotation, crop acreage, cover cropping, and total amounts of organic manures including digestates. Furthermore, (3) the remaining organic fraction after anaerobic digestion is much more recalcitrant than the input feedstocks leading to a stabilization of the organic matter and a lower organic matter degradation rate after field application, enabling a similar reproduction of the soil organic matter as obtained by direct application of the feedstock or by composting of the feedstock. (4) Regarding emissions, the main direct effect of anaerobic digestion on a farm level is the influence on gaseous emissions during manure or digestate treatment and handling, whereas the direct effects of anaerobic digestion on a field level on emissions (NH 3 − and N 2 O − emissions, NO 3 -leaching) are negligible or at least ambiguous. (5) The main direct effects of anaerobic digestion on the field level are short-term effects on soil microbial activity and changes in the soil microbial community. Therefore, in terms of the effects on agricultural sustainability, potential cropping system-based changes induced by introduction of biogas plants are probably much more relevant for the overall performance and sustainability of the cropping system than the direct effects triggered by application of digestates in comparison to the undigested feedstock...

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“…By improving soil aggregate stability and reducing soil compaction, soils are less prone to degradation by erosion. Beni et al (2012) linked the improvement of soil physical properties to aggregate stability and porosity, and observed that digestate had a greater ability to do this than conventional inorganic fertilizers and compost.…”

Section: Ad Digestate and Soil Quality Improvement For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though the full potential of the digestate in soil quality improvement is not fully understood, it is widely recognised as a rich organic fertilizer (Meester et al 2012;Alburquerque et al 2012a;Motte et al 2013;Thomsen et al 2013;Guercini et al 2014). Some areas of research that have been explored on the use of digestate for agricultural purpose include but are not limited to digestate dry matter yield in relation to feedstock (Meester et al 2012), digestate application as an amendment and fertilizer , carbon dynamics and retention in soil after digestate application (Thomsen et al 2013), relationship between digestate and carbon and nitrogen dynamics in amended soils (Alburquerque et al 2012 a), the effect of digestate on soil physical and mechanical properties (Beni et al 2012) and the use of digestate for horticultural crop production and soil properties improvement (Alburquerque et al 2012b). Digestate from AD can therefore improve soil quality in the following ways:…”

Section: Ad Digestate and Soil Quality Improvement For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Achieving Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agricultural Development in the UK

Duruiheoma

Burek²,

Bonwick³

et al. 2015

JEE

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Anaerobic digestion represents one form of renewable energy technology but has many wider benefits. This paper reviews the processes involved in anaerobic digestion, the type of systems in place and the use of digestate to improve soil quality. A case is made for the technology in the UK in the context of soil conservation and sustainable agricultural production. Its broader contribution to sustainable development in the United Kingdom is also considered. Low levels of awareness of the benefits of anaerobic digestion, poor access to funds, inadequate incentives, an unfavourable legislative and policy framework for the technology, limited application of digestate for agricultural purposes and the need for further research on digestate use are identified as key factors hindering uptake of the technology. Anaerobic digestion is presented as a technology that can support soil conservation and sustainable agricultural development while also generating both energy and income, enhancing waste and nutrient recycling and promoting environmental protection.

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Anaerobic Digestate Administration: Effect on Soil Physical and Mechanical Behavior

Cited by 34 publications

References 41 publications

Soil Tillage Systems and Wheat Yield under Climate Change Scenarios

Soil Tillage Systems and Wheat Yield under Climate Change Scenarios

Effects of anaerobic digestion on soil carbon and nitrogen turnover, N emissions, and soil biological activity. A review

The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Achieving Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agricultural Development in the UK

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