Effect of pre-treatment processes of organic residues on soil aggregates
Chavez-Rico, V.S.; Van den Bergh, Stijn; Bodelier, P.L.E.; van Eekert, M.; Luo, Y.; Nierop, K.G.J.; Sechi, V.; Veeken, Adrie H M; Buisman, C.
(2023) Environmental Technology and Innovation, volume 30, pp. 1 - 15
(Article)
Abstract
Process technologies, such as composting, anaerobic digestion, or lactic acid fermentation, greatly influence the resulting organic amendments (OAs) characteristics even when the same raw material is used. However, it is still unclear how these process technologies indirectly modify the effect of OAs on soil microbial activity and soil aggregation. To
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determine the effect of OA produced using pre-treatment technologies on the soil microbial activity and soil aggregation, we ran a soil column experiment in which we applied compost, digestate and lactic acid fermentation product made of the same model bio-waste. The results indicated that OAs produced under anaerobic conditions (fermented product and digestate) increased microbial activity, biomass, and soil micro- and macro-aggregation compared to compost and control treatments. Soil microbial activity strongly correlated to C, Ca, Mg, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), fungal biomass, and macroaggregate formation (rs>0.7, p<0.05). Simultaneously, soil macroaggregate formation strongly correlated to water-extractable C, EPS, cation exchange capacity, K, Mg, Na, and bacterial biomass (rs>0.7, p<0.05). This study demonstrated that the effect of an organic substrate on soil properties can be modified towards desired effects using different pre-treatment technologies, suggesting the possibility of “engineer” OAs.
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Keywords: Aggregate formation, Compost, Lactic acid fermentation, Microbial activity, Soil organic matter, Solid fraction of digestate, General Environmental Science, Soil Science, Plant Science
ISSN: 2352-1864
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Note: Funding Information: The authors thank the Wetsus’ technical and analytical teams for contributing to the experimental work. Maria Hundscheid and Ciska Raaijmakers from Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) for the extract and analysis of ergosterol. This work has been done within the cooperation framework of Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology and Wageningen University and Research. Wetsus is co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the European Union Regional Development Fund, the City of Leeuwarden, the Province of Fryslân, and the Northern Netherlands Provinces. Wetsus also coordinates WaterSEED project that received funding from European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 665874. Recognitions to the members of the research soil theme (Agriton, Mulder Agro, Vereniging Afvalbedrijven, Koninklijke Oosterhof Holman, Waterketen Onderzoek Noord (WON), and Waterschap Zuiderzeeland) for the fruitful discussions and financial support. Funding Information: The authors thank the Wetsus’ technical and analytical teams for contributing to the experimental work. Maria Hundscheid and Ciska Raaijmakers from Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) for the extract and analysis of ergosterol. This work has been done within the cooperation framework of Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology and Wageningen University and Research. Wetsus is co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the European Union Regional Development Fund, the City of Leeuwarden, the Province of Fryslân, and the Northern Netherlands Provinces. Wetsus also coordinates WaterSEED project that received funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 665874 . Recognitions to the members of the research soil theme (Agriton, Mulder Agro, Vereniging Afvalbedrijven, Koninklijke Oosterhof Holman, Waterketen Onderzoek Noord (WON), and Waterschap Zuiderzeeland) for the fruitful discussions and financial support. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
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