Agricultural use of biogas digestate as a replacement fertilizers

Functioning of an agricultural biogas plant is connected with generating large amounts of post-digestion matter. After considering the physicochemical properties, the basic direction of digestate utilization should be its use as a fertilizer. A possibility of agricultural utilization of digestate as a fertilizer was investigated. Digestate obtained from an agricultural biogas plant was tested for the content of macroelements and heavy metals. The content of macroelements in the soil was also examined before and after digestate application. Digestate was used in alfalfa cultivation. The analysis showed an increase in macroelements content in alfalfa leaves. It was found that digestate can be used as a fertilizer. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.