Summary
This pot experiment examined how the legacy of previous soil management practices (farmyard manure, green manure, or synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied 18 months prior) influences greenhouse gas emissions following digestate application, relative to inherent soil properties. The study found that legacy effects were the primary determinant of CO₂ and N₂O emissions, whilst soil texture was the main driver of CH₄ flux. The findings suggest that robust prediction of soil GHG responses to digestate requires knowledge of historical organic amendment practices, not merely current edaphic factors.
UK applicability
These findings are directly relevant to UK agricultural practice, where digestate application from anaerobic digestion is increasingly promoted as a circular nutrient-recycling strategy. The results imply that GHG impact assessments for digestate use should incorporate site-specific management history rather than relying solely on soil characterisation.
Key measures
Soil greenhouse gas fluxes (N₂O, CH₄, CO₂) in parts per million or equivalent; soil texture, pH and other edaphic variables; prior management regime
Outcomes reported
The study measured N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes from cattle-slurry-digestate amended soils over 64 days, comparing soil legacy effects (prior farmyard manure, green manure or synthetic N-fertiliser treatment) against edaphic properties.
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