Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Aom Plaimart, Dr Kishor AcharyaORCiD, Dr Wojciech MrozikORCiD, Professor Russell DavenportORCiD, Professor David WernerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Anaerobic digestate and biochar are by-products of the biogasification and pyrolysis of agricultural wastes. This study tested the hypothesis that combined application of anaerobic pig/cattle manure digestate and coconut husk (CH) biochar can improve soil nutrient conditions, whilst minimizing atmospheric and groundwater pollution risks. Microcosms simulated digestate application to agricultural soil with and without CH biochar. Ammonia volatilization and nutrient leaching were quantified after simulated heavy rainfalls. Archaeal and bacterial community and abundance changes in soils were quantified via next generation sequencing and qPCR of 16S rRNA genes. Nitrifying bacteria were additionally quantified by qPCR of functional genes. It was found that CH biochar retarded nitrate leaching via slower nitrification in digestate-amended soil. CH biochar reduced both nitrifying archaea and bacteria abundance in soil by 71–83 percent in the top 4 cm soil layer and 66–80 percent in the deeper soil layer one month after the digestate application. Methanotroph abundances were similarly reduced in the CH biochar amended soils. These findings demonstrate combined benefits of anaerobic digestate and CH biochar application which are relevant for the development of a more circular rural economy with waste minimization, renewable energy production, nutrient recycling and reduced water pollution from agricultural land.
Author(s): Plaimart J, Acharya K, Mrozik W, Davenport RJ, Vinitnantharat S, Werner D
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Environmental Pollution
Year: 2020
Volume: 268
Issue: Part A
Print publication date: 01/01/2021
Online publication date: 18/09/2020
Acceptance date: 15/09/2020
Date deposited: 04/11/2020
ISSN (print): 0269-7491
ISSN (electronic): 1873-6424
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115684
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115684
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
