Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-temperature-produced (torrefied at 300°C) hay biochar (BC) on the fertilisation effectiveness of digestate (SD) and the loss of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). We also examined whether acidification could increase the effect of BC on SD effectiveness and c...

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Main Authors: Pavel Covali, Henn Raave, Jordi Escuer-Gatius, Tõnu Tõnutare, Alar Astover
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2025.2538465
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author Pavel Covali
Henn Raave
Jordi Escuer-Gatius
Tõnu Tõnutare
Alar Astover
author_facet Pavel Covali
Henn Raave
Jordi Escuer-Gatius
Tõnu Tõnutare
Alar Astover
author_sort Pavel Covali
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-temperature-produced (torrefied at 300°C) hay biochar (BC) on the fertilisation effectiveness of digestate (SD) and the loss of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). We also examined whether acidification could increase the effect of BC on SD effectiveness and compared the effects of untreated and acidified BCs with that of sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄). The treatments included unamended SD (SDUT) and SD amended with untreated BC (BCUT), H3PO4-acidified BC, (BCH3PO4) H2SO4-acidified BC (BCH2SO4), or pure H2SO4. These treatments were compared in a pot experiment with ryegrass (Lolium perenne, L.) and evaluated based on N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) taken up by plants and remaining in the soil. The N input to the soil was doubled for all applied amendments compared with SDUT. However, the fertilisation effectiveness of SD amended with BCUT alone was comparable to that of SD treated with pure H₂SO₄, offering the additional benefits of higher C input and reduced C loss from the soil. We concluded that the effect of BC on the effectiveness of SD as a fertiliser is similar to, or even better than, that of H2SO4.
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series Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-bd9cbffbc5f24ce5b029d02e250134e32025-08-20T03:39:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupActa Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science0906-47101651-19132025-12-0175110.1080/09064710.2025.2538465Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestatePavel Covali0Henn Raave1Jordi Escuer-Gatius2Tõnu Tõnutare3Alar Astover4Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, EstoniaChair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, EstoniaChair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, EstoniaChair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, EstoniaChair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, EstoniaThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-temperature-produced (torrefied at 300°C) hay biochar (BC) on the fertilisation effectiveness of digestate (SD) and the loss of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). We also examined whether acidification could increase the effect of BC on SD effectiveness and compared the effects of untreated and acidified BCs with that of sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄). The treatments included unamended SD (SDUT) and SD amended with untreated BC (BCUT), H3PO4-acidified BC, (BCH3PO4) H2SO4-acidified BC (BCH2SO4), or pure H2SO4. These treatments were compared in a pot experiment with ryegrass (Lolium perenne, L.) and evaluated based on N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) taken up by plants and remaining in the soil. The N input to the soil was doubled for all applied amendments compared with SDUT. However, the fertilisation effectiveness of SD amended with BCUT alone was comparable to that of SD treated with pure H₂SO₄, offering the additional benefits of higher C input and reduced C loss from the soil. We concluded that the effect of BC on the effectiveness of SD as a fertiliser is similar to, or even better than, that of H2SO4.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2025.2538465Acidified biocharbiocharliquid manure digestateorganic fertiliserN and C lossnutrient uptake
spellingShingle Pavel Covali
Henn Raave
Jordi Escuer-Gatius
Tõnu Tõnutare
Alar Astover
Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section B, Soil and Plant Science
Acidified biochar
biochar
liquid manure digestate
organic fertiliser
N and C loss
nutrient uptake
title Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
title_full Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
title_fullStr Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
title_full_unstemmed Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
title_short Low-temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
title_sort low temperature hay biochar and acid treatment increases fertiliser value of slurry digestate
topic Acidified biochar
biochar
liquid manure digestate
organic fertiliser
N and C loss
nutrient uptake
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09064710.2025.2538465
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AT jordiescuergatius lowtemperaturehaybiocharandacidtreatmentincreasesfertiliservalueofslurrydigestate
AT tonutonutare lowtemperaturehaybiocharandacidtreatmentincreasesfertiliservalueofslurrydigestate
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