Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities
IntroductionAgriculture is undergoing an agroecological transition characterized by adopting new practices to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs. In this context, digestates are emerging as sustainable substitutes for mineral fertilizers. However, large-scale application of digestates in agricultural...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1490034/full |
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| author | Daniela Mora-Salguero Denis Montenach Manon Gilles Vincent Jean-Baptiste Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau |
| author_facet | Daniela Mora-Salguero Denis Montenach Manon Gilles Vincent Jean-Baptiste Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau |
| author_sort | Daniela Mora-Salguero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAgriculture is undergoing an agroecological transition characterized by adopting new practices to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs. In this context, digestates are emerging as sustainable substitutes for mineral fertilizers. However, large-scale application of digestates in agricultural fields requires rigorous studies to evaluate their long-term effects on soil microbial communities, which are crucial for ecosystem functioning and resilience.Material and methodsThis study presents provides a comparative analysis in long-term field conditions of fertilization strategies combining annual applications of raw digestate with biennial applications of different organic waste products (OWPs)—biowaste compost (BIO), farmyard manure (FYM), and urban sewage sludge (SLU)—and compares them to combinations of the same OWPs with mineral fertilizers. The cumulative effects of repeated OWP applications, paired with two nitrogen sources—organic (digestate) and chemical (mineral fertilizer)—were assessed through soil physicochemical and microbial analyses. We hypothesized that the combined effect varied according to the N-supply sources and that this effect also depended on the type of OWP applied. Soil microbial communities were characterized using high-throughput sequencing targeting 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes, following DNA extraction from soil samples collected in 2022, six years after the initial digestate application.ResultsThe results indicated that combining OWPs rich in stable and recalcitrant organic matter, such as BIO and FYM, with raw digestate, offers an improved fertilization practice. This approach maintains soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, increases soil phosphorus and potassium content, and stimulates microbial communities differently than nitrogen supplied via mineral fertilizers. While microbial biomass showed no significant variation across treatments, microbial diversity indices exhibited differences based on the type of OWP and nitrogen source. The fertilization strategies moderately influenced prokaryotic and fungal community structures, with distinct patterns depending on the OWP and nitrogen source. Notably, fungal communities responded more strongly to treatment variations than prokaryotic communities.DiscussionThis study provides new insights into the cumulative effects of substituting mineral fertilizers with digestates on soil microbial communities and soil physicochemical parameters. The sustainable development of agroecosystems significantly depends on a better understanding of the complex responses of soil microbial communities to different fertilization regimes. Future research should continue to assess the long-term impact of digestate application on soil microbiota in real agronomic field conditions, considering associated agricultural practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba9b13ff82bc4d62aa5fcc448507db0b |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba9b13ff82bc4d62aa5fcc448507db0b2025-01-07T06:40:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-01-011510.3389/fmicb.2024.14900341490034Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communitiesDaniela Mora-Salguero0Denis Montenach1Manon Gilles2Vincent Jean-Baptiste3Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau4Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau5Agroécologie, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, FranceFrench National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), UE 0871 Service d’expérimentation Agronomique et Viticole, Colmar, FranceFrench National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), UE 0871 Service d’expérimentation Agronomique et Viticole, Colmar, FranceGaz Réseau de France (GRDF), Paris, FranceAgroécologie, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, FranceInstitut Agro Dijon, FranceIntroductionAgriculture is undergoing an agroecological transition characterized by adopting new practices to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs. In this context, digestates are emerging as sustainable substitutes for mineral fertilizers. However, large-scale application of digestates in agricultural fields requires rigorous studies to evaluate their long-term effects on soil microbial communities, which are crucial for ecosystem functioning and resilience.Material and methodsThis study presents provides a comparative analysis in long-term field conditions of fertilization strategies combining annual applications of raw digestate with biennial applications of different organic waste products (OWPs)—biowaste compost (BIO), farmyard manure (FYM), and urban sewage sludge (SLU)—and compares them to combinations of the same OWPs with mineral fertilizers. The cumulative effects of repeated OWP applications, paired with two nitrogen sources—organic (digestate) and chemical (mineral fertilizer)—were assessed through soil physicochemical and microbial analyses. We hypothesized that the combined effect varied according to the N-supply sources and that this effect also depended on the type of OWP applied. Soil microbial communities were characterized using high-throughput sequencing targeting 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes, following DNA extraction from soil samples collected in 2022, six years after the initial digestate application.ResultsThe results indicated that combining OWPs rich in stable and recalcitrant organic matter, such as BIO and FYM, with raw digestate, offers an improved fertilization practice. This approach maintains soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, increases soil phosphorus and potassium content, and stimulates microbial communities differently than nitrogen supplied via mineral fertilizers. While microbial biomass showed no significant variation across treatments, microbial diversity indices exhibited differences based on the type of OWP and nitrogen source. The fertilization strategies moderately influenced prokaryotic and fungal community structures, with distinct patterns depending on the OWP and nitrogen source. Notably, fungal communities responded more strongly to treatment variations than prokaryotic communities.DiscussionThis study provides new insights into the cumulative effects of substituting mineral fertilizers with digestates on soil microbial communities and soil physicochemical parameters. The sustainable development of agroecosystems significantly depends on a better understanding of the complex responses of soil microbial communities to different fertilization regimes. Future research should continue to assess the long-term impact of digestate application on soil microbiota in real agronomic field conditions, considering associated agricultural practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1490034/fullanaerobic digestatesoil microbial communitieshigh-throughput sequencingorganic fertilizerinorganic fertilizer |
| spellingShingle | Daniela Mora-Salguero Denis Montenach Manon Gilles Vincent Jean-Baptiste Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities Frontiers in Microbiology anaerobic digestate soil microbial communities high-throughput sequencing organic fertilizer inorganic fertilizer |
| title | Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| title_full | Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| title_fullStr | Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| title_short | Long-term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| title_sort | long term effects of combining anaerobic digestate with other organic waste products on soil microbial communities |
| topic | anaerobic digestate soil microbial communities high-throughput sequencing organic fertilizer inorganic fertilizer |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1490034/full |
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