Coming Late for Dinner: Localized Digestate Depot Fertilization for Extensive Cultivation of Marginal Soil With Sida hermaphrodita

Nabel, M; Schrey, SD; Poorter, H; Koller, R; Nagel, KA; Temperton, VM; Dietrich, CC; Briese, C; Jablonowski, ND

HERO ID

4749090

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

PMID

30131816

HERO ID 4749090
In Press No
Year 2018
Title Coming Late for Dinner: Localized Digestate Depot Fertilization for Extensive Cultivation of Marginal Soil With Sida hermaphrodita
Authors Nabel, M; Schrey, SD; Poorter, H; Koller, R; Nagel, KA; Temperton, VM; Dietrich, CC; Briese, C; Jablonowski, ND
Journal Frontiers in Plant Science
Volume 9
Abstract Improving fertility of marginal soils for the sustainable production of biomass is a strategy for reducing land use conflicts between food and energy crops. Digestates can be used as fertilizer and for soil amelioration. In order to promote plant growth and reduce potential adverse effects on roots because of broadcast digestate fertilization, we propose to apply local digestate depots placed into the rhizosphere. We grew Sida hermaphrodita in large mesocosms outdoors for three growing seasons and in rhizotrons in the greenhouse for 3 months both filled with marginal substrate, including multiple sampling dates. We compared digestate broadcast application with digestate depot fertilization and a mineral fertilizer control. We show that depot fertilization promotes a deep reaching root system of S. hermaphrodita seedlings followed by the formation of a dense root cluster around the depot-fertilized zone, resulting in a fivefold increased biomass yield. Temporal adverse effects on root growth were linked to high initial concentrations of ammonium and nitrite in the rhizosphere in either fertilizer application, followed by a high biomass increase after its microbial conversion to nitrate. We conclude that digestate depot fertilization can contribute to an improved cultivation of perennial energy-crops on marginal soils.
Doi 10.3389/fpls.2018.01095
Pmid 30131816
Wosid WOS:000440153200001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword digestate fertilization; localized fertilizer placement; marginal substrate; perennial plants; rhizotron; root plasticity