Potential of using digestate to regenerate soil and stimulate its biological life
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach
Abstract
Description
The future of humans and our planet, and food security,
require innovative insights across many sectors of the economy
(industry, agriculture, forestry, science and technology develop-
ment). Reducing the use of chemicals, recycling carbon and re-
covering nutrients, caring for soil health, producing healthy food
and adapting to climate change are the main challenges facing
modern agriculture. The high proportion of soils low in organic
matter, combined with manure shortages in some regions of Po-
land, poses a serious problem for maintaining the soil’s ability
to perform productive and environmental functions. The use of
selectively collected biodegradable waste, which contains signifi-
cant amounts of organic matter, can be a key strategy for supple-
menting soil organic matter deficits. Green waste, kitchen waste,
plant biomass produced in agriculture are valuable materials that,
when processed through energy production,should become bio-
fertilisers in line with the circular economy. Soil micro-organisms
play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter and
participate in the circulation and provision of nutrients to plants.
Their role also includes fixing atmospheric nitrogen, stabilising
soil aggregates, participating in the formation of soil humus and
detoxifying soil from harmful substances present in the soil envi-
ronment. Research to date confirms that biogas plant digestate
can be a valuable fertiliser and has the potential to restore soil
biological quality. There are virtually no reports indicating a ne-
gative effect of the digestate on the biological quality of the soil,
especially when using digestate from agricultural substrates. This
fact indicates that the potential of digestate in soil regeneration
is significant, given its effects on soil biology, soil carbon and
nutrient provision, and soil structure. It is more difficult to as-
sess the impact of the digestate on soil biodiversity, especially
the structure of the microbial population, which is strongly de-
pendent on a number of soil, climatic and crop influences. An
important aspect this review is the presentation of research needs
for the potential of using digestate to regenerate soil and stimulate
its biological life.
Keywords
digestate, soil, regeneration, biofertiliser, biodiversity, agriculture, organic matter
Citation
Polish Journal of Agronomy
2023, 52, 157–170