A farm-scale sustainability assessment of the anaerobic digestate application methods

Piccoli, Ilaria; Grillo, Federico; Longo, Matteo; Furlanetto, Ivan; Ragazzi, Francesca; Obber, Silvia; Bonato, Tiziano; Meneghetti, Francesco; Ferlito, Jacopo Carlo; Saccardo, Luca; Morari, Francesco

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2023.126811

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 35 publications

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“…The yield results indicate that higher values are achieved with an increasing digestate rate, which was confirmed by the results of the study by Przygocka-Cyna and Grzebisz [50]. Results from other authors have shown that digestate provides satisfactory agronomic performances that are comparable to mineral fertilizers in maize cultivation [57,58]. Concerning the rational use of the landscape in maize production, apart from conventional tillage (including autumn ploughing), minimal-or no-tillage systems have been used in research and agricultural practice in recent years.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Digestate Application Methods and Rates with Regard to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Crop Conditions

Korba,

Šařec,

Novák

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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Digestate is commonly used as a liquid organic fertilizer, as it contains nutrients that are important for plant growth and thus help reduce usage of mineral fertilizers. Since the digestate application leads to the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, it is necessary to find a suitable application method and fertilizer rate with minimal gas emissions while providing sufficient nutrients to crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected GHGs and ammonia (NH3) release into the atmosphere and different rates of digestate applied, i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 m3 ha−1. Two digestate incorporation methods were used, i.e., a disc application unit (D) and strip-till (S). The fluxes, i.e., methane (CH4), ammonia, and carbon dioxide (CO2), were monitored using the wind tunnel method. Crop growth and potential nutrient utilization by silage maize were assessed through stand condition monitoring by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) using remote sensing. Under the given conditions, the digestate rates and the compared application methods had significant effects on the level of fluxes. The rate of digestate was confirmed to affect the yield of silage maize. The yield increased by more than 8% when using the disc applicator. Based on our results, it is advisable to apply digestate by strip-till technology at rates of approximately 20 m3 ha−1.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Digestate Application Methods and Rates with Regard to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Crop Conditions

Korba,

Šařec,

Novák

et al. 2024

Agronomy

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How water table level influences C balance under different fertilization regimes

Longo,

Delle Vedove,

Grignani

et al. 2023

Agricultural Water Management

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Characterisation and causal model of the holistic dynamics of the integral sustainability of the agri-food system

Leon-Romero,

Zamora-Polo,

Luque-Sendra

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The transformation of the food and industrial agricultural production system into adaptative and sustainable systems capable of being productive within social, environmental, and economic limits is a crucial factor in reducing the risk to food security and to economic growth. However, the analysis structure of the effect of these variables in sustainable environments remains unknown, whereby the technology and processes are considered as variables of the equivalent critical level as those already described. The purpose of this study is to design a model that enables the characterisation of the agri-food sector based on the determination of sustainable variables from a sustainable and integral systemic approach. Tools, such as the viable system model, are employed to analyse the dynamics and generate the balanced scorecard, to which the items of learning and continuous improvement are added. Lastly, the impact of the principles of sustainability versus the variation of sustainability in the agri-food system is revealed, which is useful in determining the appropriate levels to guarantee a balance in the foundations of circularity. From a systemic approach, this model can be adopted by agronomists and scientists to design alternative strategies for the management of food sustainability.

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A farm-scale sustainability assessment of the anaerobic digestate application methods

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Digestate Application Methods and Rates with Regard to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Crop Conditions

Digestate Application Methods and Rates with Regard to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Crop Conditions

How water table level influences C balance under different fertilization regimes

Characterisation and causal model of the holistic dynamics of the integral sustainability of the agri-food system

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