Biogas slurry can be used as a nitrogen (N) fertilizer, and has been suggested to reduce chemical fertilizer input and improve vegetable quality. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vegetable waste biogas slurry topdressing on the yield, quality and nitrogen (N) use efficiency of cauliflower. A field experiment consisting of five treatments during topdressing (CK: no N input, CON: farmer’s conventional N fertilizer input, HBS: substitution of half the amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry, BS: substitution of the total amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry, and DBS: substitution of double the amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry) was conducted. When compared with that of the CON treatment, the HBS, BS, and DBS treatments increased the yield of cauliflower by 4.7%, 13.7%, and 15.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the BS and DBS treatments improved cauliflower quality compared with that of the CON treatment. The HBS and BS treatments increased the N use efficiency and the DBS treatment reduced the N use efficiency compared with that of the CON treatment. Considering the increased fruit quality and N use efficiency, the substitution of fertilizer N with equal amount of vegetable waste biogas slurry during topdressing in the production of cauliflower is recommended in northern China.
We conducted a field experiment consisting of five treatments during topdressing (CK: no N input, CON: farmer’s conventional N fertilizer input, HBS: substitution of half the amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry, BS: substitution of the total amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry, and DBS: substitution of double the amount of N fertilizer with vegetable waste biogas slurry) to evaluate the effect of biogas slurry topdressing on the water footprint (WF) of cauliflower. The results showed that The WF of cauliflower production with the BS treatment was the lowest, which was 18%, 15%, 34%, and 52% lower than that with the DBS, HBS, CON and CK treatments, respectively. The main water consumption sources were blue water consumption via irrigation and grey water consumption, and they accounted for 93%~98% of the total water consumption. Considering the increased cauliflower yield, the substitution of fertilizer N with equal amount of vegetable waste biogas slurry during topdressing in the production of cauliflower is recommended in northern China. Water footprint can be reduced by reducing irrigation and nitrogen leaching.
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