Digestate and Fugate - Fertilizers with Ecotoxicological Risks

0480146 - BÚ 2018 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Jančula, Daniel - Zezulka, Štěpán - Došek, M. - Beklová, M. - Havelková, B. - Maršálek, Blahoslav
Digestate and Fugate - Fertilizers with Ecotoxicological Risks.
Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis. Roč. 65, č. 4 (2017), s. 1183-1188. ISSN 1211-8516. E-ISSN 2464-8310
R&D Projects: GA MZe(CZ) QJ1320234
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : digestate * fugate * ecotoxicity
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Only limited ecotoxicological information is known about the effects of digestate or fugate on terrestrial fauna and flora. This is the first study comparing the survival and reproduction of collembolans as the representative soil fauna and the root growth and photosynthetic activity of Sinapis alba and Panicum miliaceum plants when exposed to digestate and fugate. Comparison of ecotoxicological results with chemical analysis of both digestate and fugate has led to the conclusions that application of digestate and fugate was beneficial neither for tested plants, nor for zooedaphon. Under practically used dosing both digestate and fugate can represent potential ecotoxicological problems, which can affect zooedaphon diversity and reproduction resulting in degradation of soil structure, reduction of microbial activity or water retention capacity of treated soils. That is why we do recommend at least simplified ecotoxicological testing of digestate as presented in this study. Ecotoxicity testing can support decision of direct application on soil, or mixing the digestate with other materials (like compost, manure, pond sediments, or biochar), what will help to utilize nutrients and consequently can prevent degradation of soil fertility.Comparison of ecotoxicological results with chemical analysis of both digestate and fugate originating from a biogas plant has led to the conclusions that application of digestate and fugate as fertilizers into solution or soil was beneficial neither for tested plants, nor for zooedaphon. Under practically used dosing both digestate and fugate can represent potential ecotoxicological problems, which can affect zooedaphon diversity and reproduction resulting in degradation of soil structure, reduction of microbial activity or water retention capacity of treated soils.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0278013