Publication detail

Deciphering the Effectiveness of Humic Substances and Biochar Modified Digestates on Soil Quality and Plant Biomass Accumulation

HOLÁTKO, J. HAMMERSCHMIEDT, T. LÁTAL, O. KINTL, A. MUSTAFA, A. BALTAZÁR, T. MALÍČEK, O. BRTNICKÝ, M.

Original Title

Deciphering the Effectiveness of Humic Substances and Biochar Modified Digestates on Soil Quality and Plant Biomass Accumulation

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The effective use of digestate as exogenous organic matter to enhance soil carbon sequestration depends on the balance between labile and recalcitrant organic carbon, which is influenced by the type of feedstock, the fermentation process, and the fraction (liquid, solid) of the fermented product used. In this work, in order to change the ratio of labile to stable carbon in the resulting fertiliser, the digestate was mixed with organic carbon-rich supplements: biochar and Humac (a humic acid-rich substance). The pot experiment was carried out under controlled conditions with maize (Zea mays L.) in soil amended with the digestate (D), which was incubated with Humac (H), biochar (B), or a combination of both (D + B + H) before the application. Digestate enriched with Humac showed improved short-term nutrient (carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen) transformation, as indicated by soil enzyme activity and the highest maize biomass production of. Total carbon content, C:N ratio, short-term respiration activity, and nitrification were most enhanced by digestate enriched with either biochar or combined biochar + Humac). Long-term nitrogen mineralization was mostly enhanced by digestate + Humac, as indicated by amino-acid-induced respiration and urease activity. Short-term positive effects of digestate + biochar (eventually + Humac) on catabolism were proven, whereas their long-term effects on nutrient mineralization were negative (i.e., biochar-mediated immobilization, sequestration), which should be the focus of further research in future.

Keywords

digestate; soil health; respiration; sustainable agriculture; soil nutrients

Authors

HOLÁTKO, J.; HAMMERSCHMIEDT, T.; LÁTAL, O.; KINTL, A.; MUSTAFA, A.; BALTAZÁR, T.; MALÍČEK, O.; BRTNICKÝ, M.

Released

30. 6. 2022

Publisher

MDPI

Location

BASEL

ISBN

2073-4395

Periodical

Agronomy

Year of study

12(7)

Number

1587

State

Swiss Confederation

Pages from

1

Pages to

12

Pages count

12

URL

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1587

BibTex

@article{BUT182171,
  author="Jiří {Holátko} and Tereza {Hammerschmiedt} and Oldřich {Látal} and Antonín {Kintl} and Adnan {Mustafa} and Tivadar {Baltazár} and Ondřej {Malíček} and Martin {Brtnický}",
  title="Deciphering the Effectiveness of Humic Substances and Biochar Modified Digestates on Soil Quality and Plant Biomass Accumulation",
  journal="Agronomy",
  year="2022",
  volume="12(7)",
  number="1587",
  pages="1--12",
  doi="10.3390/agronomy12071587",
  issn="2073-4395",
  url="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1587"
}