Influence of Digestate on Physical Properties of Soil in ZD Budišov

Abstract

One of the main objectives of crop establishment is adjustment of physical properties of soil, on which indicators of soil fertility as well as economic appreciation of the resulting yield depend. During 2014–2016 yield of corn and sorghum was observed in semi‑operational experiments of ZD Budišov in relation to the quantity of the applied digestate and simultaneously, the following physical properties of soil were analysed: porosity, compaction and soil structure. After the application of digestate the porosity and minimal air capacity decreased, and reduced bulk density increased. Soil structure was affected negatively too. Overall, a trend of degradation of physical state of soil in variant with doubled dose of applied digestate was registered. Yields were always higher in variants with digestate due to a higher supply of higher amount of nutrients. Results of this observation indicate that crop yields may be higher but at the same time physical properties of soil may be impaired which may, while increasing doses of digestate, lead to irreversible degradation of soil.