Ammonia Volatilization Reduced by Combined Application of Biogas Slurry and Chemical Fertilizer in Maize–Wheat Rotation System in North China Plain

Md Arifur Rahaman, Xiaoying Zhan, Qingwen Zhang, Shuqin Li, Shengmei Lv, Yuting Long and Hailing Zeng
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Md Arifur Rahaman: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Xiaoying Zhan: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Qingwen Zhang: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Shuqin Li: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100081, China
Shengmei Lv: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100081, China
Yuting Long: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100081, China
Hailing Zeng: College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Digestate and biogas slurry (BS) are the byproduct of biogas engineering that could be used for elevating plant growth. However, the consequent emissions of ammonia from BS are considered a severe threat to the atmosphere. Herein, we conducted two consecutive field experiments with wheat–maize rotations to find out the optimum ratio of BS to combine with chemical fertilizer (CF) to reduce ammonia volatilization (AV) while keeping the stable crop yield. In maize season, 226.5 kg N/ha of CF was applied. In wheat season, 226.5 kg N/ha was applied at different ratios (100%, 80%, and 50%) between BS and CF. Our results found that the maximum yield of 6250 kg/ha was produced by CF, and this yield could be obtained through a combined application of 38% BS mixed with CF. Highest AV produced of 16.08 kg/ha by CF. BS treatments significantly reduced the emission from 18% to 32% in comparison to CF. The combined application of BS-CF produced the highest yield due to essential nutrients coming from both BS-CF. Subsequently, it reduced the AV depending on fertilizer type and fertilizer rate. An optimal ratio of 38% BS was recommended to produce the highest yield and lowest ammonia emissions. The application of BS together with different ratios of CF could be an alternative agricultural strategy to obtain desired crop yield and reduce AV in North China Plain (NCP).

Keywords: digestate; biogas slurry; chemical fertilizer; ammonia volatilization; crop yield; ratio; field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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