| Title | Use of anaerobic digested-based composts as soil organic amendments: effect on the soil biological status |
| Abstract | Climate changes together with organic matter and plant nutrient loss, low water infiltration and water holding capacity accelerate soil degradation. This is a serious problem
for farmers and food suppliers and also for the reclamation of landscapes for nature conservation. Moreover, intensive livestock production has led to a generation of great
amounts of animal manures and slurries that can constitute an environmental risk, if they are not managed properly. Consequently, there is a need for more environmentally
sound methods for the treatment and utilisation of animal manure. Anaerobic digestion constitutes one of the main alternatives for managing it and is based on the anaerobic
conversion of organic matter, obtaining biogas and a digested substrate called digestate. Although the latter presents a high fertilising value, this material shows some
characteristics that make necessary to treat it prior to its direct soil application. One option is to separate the digestate into a liquid and a solid fraction, the latter can be
composted to obtain valuable and marketable end-products, which can be used with agricultural purposes or for soil restoration. Within this context, different studies have
shown that compost application increases soil organic matter content, improving physical, chemical and biological soil properties and thus, preventing soil erosion. The
general aim of this work was to evaluate if the addition of two anaerobic digestate-based composts to a soil with a low C content could improve the overall microbiological
activity and the C pool conservation. For this purpose, two composts (C1, mainly composed by cattle manure anaerobic digestate and C2, mainly composed by pig slurry
anaerobic digestate), at two different rates (30 t/ha and 60 t/ha respectively) were incorporated into a semiarid soil from central Italy. Two other additionally treatments were
also considered: the unamended soil (control) and a mineral fertilised soil. Subsequently, several plants of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) were planted on these soils. The
efficiency of the treatments was evaluated by analyzing soil physico-chemical and microbiological properties, such as soil respiration, microbial biomass and soil bacterial
community activities, such as dehydrogenase and bacterial viability. |
| Source | Securing a sustainable future: Integrating science, policy and people, Berlin, Germany, 2012-05-20 / 2012-05-20 |
| Keywords | composting anaerobic digestatesemi-arid soilmicrobiological indicators |
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Contributo in atti di convegno |
| Authors | Grenni P., Nogues I., Bustamante M.A., Loreto F., Moral R., Bernal M.P., Barra Caracciolo A. |
| Text | 193107 2012 composting anaerobic digestate semi arid soil microbiological indicators Use of anaerobic digested based composts as soil organic amendments effect on the soil biological status Grenni P., Nogues I., Bustamante M.A., Loreto F., Moral R., Bernal M.P., Barra Caracciolo A. Grenni P., Barra Caracciolo A. IRSA CNR Nogues I., Loreto F. 1 IBAF CNR Bustamante M.A.,, Moral R. Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain Bernal M.P. CSIC, Murcia, Spain Climate changes together with organic matter and plant nutrient loss, low water infiltration and water holding capacity accelerate soil degradation. This is a serious problem for farmers and food suppliers and also for the reclamation of landscapes for nature conservation. Moreover, intensive livestock production has led to a generation of great amounts of animal manures and slurries that can constitute an environmental risk, if they are not managed properly. Consequently, there is a need for more environmentally sound methods for the treatment and utilisation of animal manure. Anaerobic digestion constitutes one of the main alternatives for managing it and is based on the anaerobic conversion of organic matter, obtaining biogas and a digested substrate called digestate. Although the latter presents a high fertilising value, this material shows some characteristics that make necessary to treat it prior to its direct soil application. One option is to separate the digestate into a liquid and a solid fraction, the latter can be composted to obtain valuable and marketable end products, which can be used with agricultural purposes or for soil restoration. Within this context, different studies have shown that compost application increases soil organic matter content, improving physical, chemical and biological soil properties and thus, preventing soil erosion. The general aim of this work was to evaluate if the addition of two anaerobic digestate based composts to a soil with a low C content could improve the overall microbiological activity and the C pool conservation. For this purpose, two composts C1, mainly composed by cattle manure anaerobic digestate and C2, mainly composed by pig slurry anaerobic digestate , at two different rates 30 t/ha and 60 t/ha respectively were incorporated into a semiarid soil from central Italy. Two other additionally treatments were also considered the unamended soil control and a mineral fertilised soil. Subsequently, several plants of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis were planted on these soils. The efficiency of the treatments was evaluated by analyzing soil physico chemical and microbiological properties, such as soil respiration, microbial biomass and soil bacterial community activities, such as dehydrogenase and bacterial viability. Published version https //c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.setac.org/resource/resmgr/Abstract_Books/SE abstract book 2012.pdf Organizzatore 6th SETAC World Congress, SETAC Europe 22nd Annual Meeting Abstract Book pag. 198 MO 298 Securing a sustainable future Integrating science, policy and people Berlin, Germany 2012 05 20 / 2012 05 20 Internazionale Contributo Abstract Book SetacDigestati.pdf Contributo in atti di convegno anna.barracaracciolo BARRA CARACCIOLO ANNA paola.grenni GRENNI PAOLA TA.P04.005.011 Vulnerabilita degli ecosistemi delle acque sotterranee e attenuazione naturale degli inquinanti nel suolo e nel sottosuolo |
