Initial Effects of Differently Treated Biogas Residues from Municipal and Industrial Wastes on Spring Barley Yield Formation

Abstract

Soil application of biogas residues (BGRs) is important for closing nutrient cycles. This study examined the efficiency and impact on yields and yield formation of solid-liquid separated residues from biodegradable municipal and industrial wastes (bio-waste) in comparison to complete BGRs, nitrification inhibitor, agricultural BGRs, mineral fertilizer and unfertilized plots as control. The experiment was set up as a randomized block design on silt loam Cambisol. Biogas residues from four biogas plants were evaluated. Plants per m², ears per plant, grains per ear and thousand grain weight (TGW) were measured at harvest. Fertilization with BGRs resulted in similar biomass yields compared with mineral fertilizer. Mineral fertilizer (71 dt/ha) and plots fertilized with liquid fraction (59–62 dt/ha) indicated a trend to higher yields than solid fraction or complete BGR due to its high ammonia content. Liquid fractions and fraction with nitrification inhibitor induced fewer plants per m² than corresponding solid and complete variants due to a potential phytotoxicity of high NH4-N concentration during germination. However, barley on plots fertilized with liquid fraction compensated the disadvantages at the beginning during the vegetation period and induced higher grain yields than solid fraction. This was attributable to a higher number of ears per plant and grains per ear. In conclusion, BGRs from biodegradable municipal and industrial wastes can be used for soil fertilization and replace considerable amounts of mineral fertilizer. Our study showed that direct application of the liquid fraction of BGR is the most suitable strategy to achieve highest grain yields. Nevertheless potential phytotoxicity of the high NH4-N concentration in the liquid fraction should be considered.

Biogas production and changes in soil carbon input - A regional analysis

“…Biogas residues contain high levels of plantavailable nutrients (N, P, K) and a considerable amount of organic carbon, which explains their widespread usage in agriculture for closing nutrient cycles (Möller, 2015;Tambone et al, 2010). Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of the agricultural use of BGRs for soil (Nkoa, 2014;Prays and Kaupenjohann, 2016). Anaerobic digestion transforms approximately 20-95% of the carbon in the feedstock into gaseous carbon compounds.…”

“…Biogas residues are usually applied as fertilizers to return nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients to the soil. The effects of BGR application on crop yield, soil chemical, physical and microbial properties have been studied in small-scale experiments (Fouda et al, 2013;Sänger et al, 2014) and short-term field experiments (Prays and Kaupenjohann, 2016;Terhoeven-Urselmans et al, 2009). Nevertheless, there is still little information available on the long-term effects of BGR on soil organic carbon (SOC) (Möller, 2015).…”

“…Prays, N., and Kaupenjohann, M. (2016): Initial Effects of Differently Treated Biogas Residues from Municipal and industrial Wastes on Spring Barley Yield Formation. PLoS ONE 11, e0154232.…”

Biogas residue parameterization for soil organic matter modeling

“…BGRs contain high levels of plant-available nutrients (N, P, K) and a considerable amount of organic carbon, which explains their widespread usage in agriculture for closing nutrient cycles [ 4 , 5 ]. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of the agricultural use of BGRs for yields and soil fertility [ 6 , 7 ]. Anaerobic digestion may transform 20–95% of the carbon in the feedstock into gaseous carbon compounds.…”

Long-Term Impact of Biogas Production on Soil Organic Carbon Storage

“…Biogas residues are usually applied as fertilizers to return nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients to the soil. The effects of BGR application on crop yield, soil chemical, physical and microbial properties have been studied in small-scale experiments (Fouda, von Tucher, Lichti, & Schmidhalter, 2013;Sänger, Geisseler, & Ludwig, 2014) and short-term field experiments (Prays & Kaupenjohann, 2016;Terhoeven-Urselmans, Scheller, Raubuch, Ludwig, & Joergensen, 2009).Nevertheless, there is still little information available on the long-term effects of BGR on soil organic carbon(SOC) (Möller, 2015). Odlare et al (2011)observed an increase in SOC after eight years of BGR application compared to a control treatment.…”