Changes in Stabile Organic Carbon in Differently Managed Fluvisol Treated by Two Types of Anaerobic Digestate

Abstract

Biogas and anaerobic digestion has begun to be considered an important renewable and sustainable energy source. The sustainable development of the anaerobic digestion process depends largely on the ability to manage large amounts of by-products generated during the biogas production process. We hypothesized that the use of digestate increases the accumulation of C in stable forms. We supposed that the effect of digestate on soil depends on the land-use system, leading to different stratifications of C. The main task of our research was to ascertain changes in the amount of stabile organic carbon (SOCstabile) in digestate-treated soils. Two field experiments were performed using the same design in 2019–2020. We studied the fertilization effects of digestate on Fluvisol. Fertilization: control; separated liquid digestate 85 kg ha−1 N and 170 kg ha−1 170 N; separated solid digestate 85 kg ha−1 N and 170 kg ha−1 N. A randomized experimental design with three field replicates was used. In terms of carbon stabilization in Fluvisol, soil used for grassland showed an advantage over the arable soil. The study showed that digestate, especially solid digestate, contributes to C accumulation and stabilization in the soil.

The Role of Biogas and Biomethane as Renewable Gases in the Decarbonization Pathway to Zero Emissions

“…Rossi and colleagues aim to optimize biogas production through thermophilic dry anaerobic digestion, testing various operational strategies to reduce ammonia inhibition by altering feedstock composition [10]. Slepetiene and co-authors investigate changes in stable organic carbon in fluvisol treated with two types of anaerobic digestate, showing that digestate contributes to carbon accumulation and stabilization in soil [11]. Finally, Micoli and colleagues focus on the anaerobic digestion of olive mill wastewater in the presence of biochar, aiming to improve stability and efficiency by studying the addition of biochar to the digestion mixture [12].…”

The Bioaugmentation of Electroactive Microorganisms Enhances Anaerobic Digestion

“…The digestate slurry, the output from the HAD, underwent further degradation of organic residuals in the BEAR, leading to significant biogas production (Figure 2). Typically, the organic residuals in the digestate contain recalcitrant substances, such as lignin, cutin, humic substances, and complex protein compounds [23]. These components are generally resistant to further anaerobic degradation into methane.…”