1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.23
Published online: 4 October 2024

The influence of biogas digestate on the plant yield
Magdalena Myszura-Dymek*, Grażyna Żukowska, Marta Bik-Małodzińska

Institute of Soil Science, Environmental Engineering and Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author:

Abstract
Global biogas production has tripled over the past decade, partially replacing fossil fuels, but biogas production through anaerobic digestion generates significant amounts of waste called digestate. The properties of digestate residues from biogas production indicate that they can be returned to the soil to fertilize crops and support carbon sequestration. In the current context aimed at agroecological transformation and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, this practice could provide an alternative to mineral fertilizers and a solution for the recycling of organic matter by farmers. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of digestate from biogas plants on plant yield. The research was carried out in a two-year pot experiment in which the fertilizing and yield-forming potential of digestates from 2 biogas plants (A – digestate from the biogas plant in Przybroda, B – digestate from the biogas plant in Międzyrzec Podlaski) applied in 2 doses (full dose and ½ dose) was assessed on soils with different granulometric composition (sand, light clay, normal clay). The control objects were soil fertilized with manure and NPK, and the test plants were barley and maize. The obtained results showed that the type of soil, the use of digestates from biogas plants and the dose in which they were applied had a significant impact on the yield of the assessed plants. The highest yields (100% higher) of both barley and maize were recorded on light clay, and the lowest on sand. The increase in corn yield in soil fertilized with digestates, compared to control treatments, was greater than that of barley. Moreover, it was shown that the yield potential of the assessed digestates was correlated with the dose at which they were introduced into the soil.

Keywords: digestate from biogas plants, soil fertilization, plant yields

How to cite
Myszura-Dymek M., Żukowska G., Bik-Małodzińska M., 2024. The influence of biogas digestate on the plant yield. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.23