The effect of anaerobic digestate as an organic soil fertilizer on the diversity and structure of the indigenous soil microbial and nematode communities.

ABSTRACT: Anaerobic digestate is a popular soil additive which can promote sustainability and transition toward a circular economy. This study addresses how anaerobic digestate modifies soil health when combined with a common chemical fertilizer. Attention was given to soil microbes and, a neglected but of paramount importance soil taxonomic group, soil nematodes. A mesocosm experiment was set up in order to assess the soil's microbial and nematode community. The results demonstrated that the microbial diversity was not affected by the different fertilization regimes, although species richness increased after digestate and mixed fertilization. The composition and abundance of nematode community did not respond to any treatment. Mixed fertilization notably increased potassium (K) and boron (B) levels

SUBMITTER: Nikolaidou C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695995 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature