Summary
Using organic amendments to fertilise crops is a crucial part in the sustainability of agricultural systems. The residual slurry remaining after biogas production (anaerobic digestate) contains a rich source of plant nutrients that provides an alternative to mineral fertilisers. The delivery of many nutrients to plants is facilitated by a healthy soil biota: free-living and symbiotic microflora (e.g. archaea, bacteria and fungi) mineralize, solubilize and facilitate plant uptake of nutrients and the soil fauna (e.g. protozoa, microarthopods and earthworms) influence nutrient cycling processes as higher-level consumers and litter transformers. The delivery of nutrients to plants via the activity of this soil food web is influenced by fertiliser inputs. Here we review the impact of anaerobic
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.