Abstract
Digestate is a nutrient-rich fertilizer and appropriate techniques are required for its application during the maize season to reduce losses and increase the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The performance of two different fertigation techniques (drip irrigation and pivot) were assessed using the digestate liquid fraction. A two-year field test was carried out at two different sites in Lombardy, northern Italy. At each site, fertigation with pivot (P-F, site 1) or drip (D-F, site 2) systems was compared to reference fields where the same irrigation techniques without addition of digestate were used. During the two seasons, the performance of the fertigation systems, amount of fertilizers used, soil nitrogen content, yields, and nitrogen content of the harvested plants were monitored. The digestate application averaged 5 m3/ha per fertigation event with P-F and 4.9 m3/ha with D-F corresponding, respectively, to 28 and 23 kg N/ha. Both irrigation systems were suitable for fertigation provided that the digestate was adequately filtrated. Our results suggest that fertigation with digestate, if properly managed, can be applied during the growing season up to the full amount of nitrogen required by the crop.
Highlights
Recovery of nutrients that come from waste streams has become essential in the evolution of a bio-based economy
Agronomy 2020, 10, x the same systems focusing on the agronomic performance and management using the liquid fraction of digestate after solid separation
The by biomass harvested at site 1 in both seasons was
Summary
Recovery of nutrients that come from waste streams has become essential in the evolution of a bio-based economy. Costs of energy and fertilizers are increasing, and fossil energy is necessary to produce mineral fertilizers. Biogas production through anaerobic digestion can address the increasing desire for green technology. The result of this process is a nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as fertilizer in agriculture [1]. Digestate and its fractions (solid and liquid) can replace mineral fertilizers with subsequent reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for their production [2]. A dual environmental and economic benefit can be achieved by replacing resource-demanding mineral fertilizers with recycled nutrients in the agricultural production system while progressing towards a circular economy
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