A greener fertilizer: Biogas slurry boosts soil health and carbon storage
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
Over-reliance on chemical fertilizers to feed a growing population has often led to soil degradation and a decline in microbial diversity. Scientists are seeking sustainable alternatives that can maintain crop yields while revitalizing the soil. A new field study from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences offers a promising solution by demonstrating how biogas slurry—a nutrient-rich liquid byproduct of anaerobic digestion—can significantly enhance soil health and its ability to sequester carbon.
The investigation was conducted over three years at a dryland agriculture research station in China. Researchers compared the effects of applying biogas slurry topdressing (BST) against conventional chemical fertilizer topdressing (CFT) on maize crops. By collecting soil samples at three different depths and three distinct crop growth stages, the team performed a comprehensive analysis of soil chemistry and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to map the changes in the bacterial communities over time and space.
- Journal
- Carbon Research
- Funder
- Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program, Natural Science Foundation of Beijing