Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in P fractions after long-term application of biogas slurry to soils under organic farming

  • Published:
Organic Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present field study, the effects of applying biogas slurry for 25 years on soil microbiological and soil chemical properties were investigated in comparison with the application of raw cattle slurry. An on-farm research approach was used with pairwise comparison of neighboring fields, taking samples at a high spatial resolution from two biodynamic farms down to 10 cm. Texture, soil organic C (SOC), total N and P, microbial biomass C, N, and P as well as P fractions were determined by different extraction procedures. Application of biogas slurry had no significant effects on SOC, total N, or microbial biomass C, N, and P. Clay and pH effects outweighed site-specific differences for most properties. Biogas slurry increased the fractions of plant-available inorganic phosphate (+66 % more Olson-Pi) and of Ca-associated phosphates (+40 % 1 M HCl-Pi) at the expense of hardly soluble Fe and Al phosphates (-25 % 6 M HCl-Pi). This is in line with the observation that biogas slurry contains significantly more H2O-Pi and 1 M HCl-Pi than raw slurry. The long-term application of biogas slurry had no negative impacts on any of the soil properties analyzed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alt F, Oelmann Y, Herold N, Schrumpf M, Wilcke W (2011) Phosphorus partitioning in grassland and forest soils of Germany as related to land-use type, management intensity, and land use-related pH. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 174:195–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JPE, Domsch KH (1980) Quantities of plant nutrients in the microbial biomass of selected soils. Soil Sci 130:211–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1989) Ratios of microbial biomass carbon to total organic carbon in arable soils. Soil Biol Biochem 21:471–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bach M, Frede HG (1998) Agricultural nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balances in Germany—methodology and trends 1970 to 1995. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 161:385–393

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bach EM, Baer SG, Meyer CK, Six J (2010) Soil texture affects soil microbial and structural recovery during grassland restoration. Soil Biol Biochem 42:2182–2191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann S, Wentzel S, Eichler-Löbermann B (2011) Codigested dairy slurry as a phosphorus and nitrogen source for Zea mays L. and Amaranthus cruentus L. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 174:908–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett GM (1994) Phosphorus forms in animal manure. Biores Technol 49:139–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Yosef B (1991) Root excretions and their environmental effects: influence on availability of phosphorus. In: Waisel Y, Eshel A, Kafkafi U (eds) Plant roots: the hidden half. Dekker, New York, pp 529–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake L, Johnston AE, Poulton PR, Goulding KWT (2003) Changes in soil phosphorus fractions following positive and negative phosphorus balance for long periods. Plant Soil 25:245–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blume HP, Stahr K, Leinweber P (2011) Bodenkundliches Praktikum, 3ed. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowles TM, Acosta-Martinez V, Calderón F, Jackson LE (2014) Soil enzyme activities, microbial communities, and carbon and nitrogen availability in organic agroecosystems across an intensively-managed agricultural landscape. Soil Biol Biochem 68:252–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Powlson DS, Jenkinson DS (1982) Measurement of microbial biomass phosphorus in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 14:319–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Landman A, Pruden G, Jenkinson DS (1985) Chloroform fumigation and the release of soil nitrogen: a rapid direct extraction method to measure microbial biomass nitrogen in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 17:837–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Hartmann G, Joergensen RG, Khan KS, Lamersdorf N (2008) Comparison of three methods for measuring heavy metals in soils contaminated by different sources. Arch Agron Soil Sci 54:413–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen R, Blagodatskaya E, Senbayram M, Blagodatsky S, Myachina O, Dittert K, Kuzyakov Y (2012) Decomposition of biogas residues in soil and their effects on microbial growth kinetics and enzyme activities. Biomass Bioenergy 45:221–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crews TE, Brookes PC (2014) Changes in soil phosphorus forms through time in perennial versus annual agroecosystems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 184:168–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cross AF, Schlesinger WH (1995) A literature review and evaluation of the Hedley fractionation: applications to the biogeochemical cycle of soil phosphorus in natural ecosystems. Geoderma 64:197–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst G, Müller A, Göhler H, Emmerling C (2008) C and N turnover of fermented residues from biogas plants in soil in the presence of three different earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris, Aporrectodea longa, Aporrectodea caliginosa). Soil Biol Biochem 40:1413–1420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2014) World reference base for soil resources 2014. World Soil Resources Reports No 103, FAO, Rome

  • Field JA, Caldwell JS, Jeyanayagam S, Reneau RB, Kroontje W, Collins ER (1984) Fertilizer recovery from anaerobic digesters. Trans ASAE 27:1871–1876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FNR (2014) Entwicklung Biogasanlagen https://mediathek.fnr.de/grafiken/daten-und-fakten/bioenergie/biogas/entwicklung-biogasanlagen.html

  • Fouda S, von Tucher S, Lichti F, Schmidhalter U (2013) Nitrogen availability of various biogas residues applied to ryegrass. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 176:572–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frear C, Liao W, Ewing T, Chen S (2011) Evaluation of co-digestion at a commercial dairy anaerobic digester. Clean Soil Air Water 39:697–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Güngör K, Karthikeyan KG (2005) Influence of anaerobic digestion on dairy manure phosphorus extractability. Trans ASAE 48:1497–1507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güngör K, Karthikeyan KG (2008) Phosphorus forms and extractability in dairy manure: a case study for Wisconsin on-farm anaerobic digesters. Biores Technol 99:425–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Güngör K, Jürgensen A, Karthikeyan KG (2007) Determination of phosphorus speciation in dairy manure using XRD and XANES spectroscopy. Environ Qual 36:1856–1863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedley MJ, Stewart JWB, Chauhan BS (1982) Changes in inorganic and organic soil phosphorus fractions induced by cultivation practices and by laboratory incubations. Soil Sci Soc Am J 46:970–976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedley MJ, Kirk GJDMB, Santos MB (1994) Phosphorus efficiency and the forms of soil phosphorus utilized by upland rice cultivars. Plant Soil 158:53–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heinze S, Raupp J, Joergensen RG (2010) Effects of fertilizer and spatial heterogeneity in soil pH on microbial biomass indices in a long-term field trial of organic agriculture. Plant Soil 328:203–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinsinger P (2001) Bioavailability of soil inorganic P in the rhizosphere as affected by root-induced chemical changes: a review. Plant Soil 237:173–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Höper H, Kleefisch B (2001) Untersuchung bodenbiologischer Parameter im Rahmen der Boden-Dauerbeobachtung in Niedersachsen—Bodenbiologische Referenzwerte und Zeitreihen. Arbeitshefte Boden 2001/4, NLfB, Hannover

  • Joergensen RG, Kübler H, Meyer B, Wolters V (1995) Microbial biomass phosphorus in soils of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. Biol Fertil Soils 19:215–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen RG, Mäder P, Fließbach A (2010) Long-term effects of organic farming on fungal and bacterial residues in relation to microbial energy metabolism. Biol Fertil Soils 46:303–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen K, Magid J, Luxhøi J, Jensen LS (2010) Phosphorus distribution in untreated and composted solid fractions from slurry separation. J Environ Qual 39:393–401

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kallenbach C, Grandy AS (2011) Controls over soil microbial biomass responses to carbon amendments in agricultural systems: a meta-analysis. Agric Ecosyst Environ 144:241–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan KS, Joergensen RG (2012) Relationship between P fractions and the microbial biomass in soils under different land use management. Geoderma 173–174:274–281

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu A, Hamel C, Spedding T, Zhang TQ, Mongeau R, Lamarre GR, Tremblay G (2008) Soil microbial carbon and phosphorus as influenced by phosphorus fertilization and tillage in a maize-soybean rotation in south-western Quebec. Can J Soil Sci 88:21–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loria ER, Sawyer JE (2005) Extractable soil phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen following application of raw and anaerobically digested swine manure. Agron J 97:879–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mäder P, Fließbach A, Dubois D, Gunst L, Fried P, Niggli U (2002) Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296:1694–1697

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malik MA, Khan KS, Marschner P, Ali S (2013) Organic amendments differ in their effect on microbial biomass and activity and on P pools in alkaline soils. Biol Fertil Soils 49:415–425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer J, Buegger F, Jensen ES, Schloter M, Heß J (2003) Estimating N rhizodeposition of grain legumes using a 15N in situ stem labelling method. Soil Biol Biochem 35:21–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Möller K, Müller T (2012) Effects of anaerobic digestion on digestate nutrient availability and crop growth: a review. Eng Life Sci 12:242–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Möller K, Stinner W (2010) Effects of organic wastes digestion for biogas production on mineral nutrient availability of biogas effluents. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 87:395–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Möller K, Stinner W, Deuker A, Leithold G (2008) Effects of different manuring systems with and without biogas digestion on nitrogen cycle and crop yield in mixed organic dairy farming systems. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 82:209–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller T, Joergensen RG, Meyer B (1992) Estimation of soil microbial biomass C in the presence of living roots by fumigation-extraction. Soil Biol Biochem 24:179–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller T, Höper H (2004) Soil organic matter turnover as a function of the soil clay content: consequences for model applications. Soil Biol Biochem 36:877–888

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J, Riley JP (1962) A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal Chim Acta 27:31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negassa W, Leinweber P (2009) How does the Hedley sequential phosphorus fractionation reflect impacts of land use and management on soil phosphorus: a review. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 172:305–325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oehl F, Frossard E, Fliessbach A, Dubois D, Oberson A (2004) Basal organic phosphorus mineralization in soils under different farming systems. Soil Biol Biochem 36:667–675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pätzold S, Hejcman M, Barej J (2013) Soil phosphorus fractions after seven decades of fertilizer application in the Rengen Grassland Experiment. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 176:910–920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perrott KW, Maher FW, Thorrold BS (1989) Accumulation of phosphorus fractions in yellow-brown pumice soils with development. NZ J Agric Res 32:53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powlson DS, Brookes PC, Christensen BT (1987) Measurement of soil microbial biomass provides an early indication of changes in total soil organic matter due to straw incorporation. Soil Biol Biochem 19:159–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Probst B, Schüler C, Joergensen RG (2008) Vineyard soils under organic and conventional management—microbial biomass and activity indices and their relation to soil chemical properties. Biol Fertil Soils 44:443–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raupp J (2001) Forschungsthemen und Ergebnisse eines Langzeitdüngungsversuchs in zwei Jahrzehnten; ein Beitrag zur Bewertung von pflanzenbaulichen Langzeitversuchen. Ber Landwirtschaft 79:71–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Redel Y, Rubio R, Rouanet J, Borie F (2007) Phosphorus bioavailability affected by tillage and crop rotation on a Chilean volcanic derived Ultisol. Geoderma 139:388–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salamanca EF, Raubuch M, Joergensen RG (2006) Microbial reaction of secondary tropical forest soils to the addition of leaf litter. Appl Soil Ecol 31:53–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez E, Borja R, Weiland P, Travieso L, Martín A (2000) Effect of temperature and pH on the kinetics of methane production, organic nitrogen and phosphorus removal in the batch anaerobic digestion process of cattle manure. Bioprocess Eng 22:247–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheller E (2006) Biogas im organischen Landbau: ein Problem? Lebendige Erde 2006(4):18–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheller E (2013) Grundzüge einer Pflanzenernährung des Ökologischen Landbaus—Ein Fragment. Lebendige Erde, Darmstadt

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley A, Moyer B (2000) Phosphorus forms in manure and compost and their release during simulated rainfall. J Environ Qual 29:1462–1469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sieling K, Herrmann A, Wienforth B, Taube F, Ohl S, Hartung E, Kage H (2013) Biogas cropping systems: short term response of yield performance and N use efficiency to biogas residue application. Eur J Agron 47:44–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slazak A, Freese D, da Silva ME, Hüttl RF (2010) Soil organic phosphorus fraction in pine-oak forest stands in Northeastern Germany. Geoderma 158:156–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stinner W, Möller K, Leithold G (2008) Effects of biogas digestion of clover/grass-leys, cover crops and crop residues on nitrogen cycle and crop yield in organic stockless farming systems. Eur J Agron 29:125–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terhoeven-Urselmans T, Scheller E, Raubuch M, Ludwig B, Joergensen RG (2009) CO2 evolution and N mineralization after biogas slurry application in the field and its yield effects on spring barley. Appl Soil Ecol 42:297–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiessen H, Moir JO (1993) Characterisation of available P by sequential extraction. In: Carter MR (ed) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis Publishers, London, pp 75–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Toor GS, Cade-Menun BJ, Sims JT (2005) Establishing a linkage between phosphorus forms in dairy diets, feces, and manures. J Environ Qual 34:1380–1391

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner BL, Leytem AB (2004) Phosphorus compounds in sequential extracts of animal manures: chemical speciation and a novel fractionation procedure. Environ Sci Technol 38:6101–6108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Kessel JS, Reeves JB III (2000) On-farm quick tests for estimating nitrogen in dairy manure. J Dairy Sci 83:1837–1844

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Voelkner A, Holthusen D, Horn R (2015) Influence of homogenized residues of anaerobic digestate on the physicochemical properties of differently textured soil. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 178:261–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wentzel S, Schmidt R, Piepho HP, Semmler-Busch U, Joergensen RG (2015) Response of soil fertility indices to long-term application of biogas and raw slurry under organic farming. Appl Soil Ecol 96:99–107

  • Wu J, Joergensen RG, Pommerening B, Chaussod R, Brookes PC (1990) Measurement of soil microbial biomass C by fumigation-extraction—an automated procedure. Soil Biol Biochem 22:1167–1169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Karl Kuch and Gerhard Kuch for access to their sites and the information on their management systems. The technical assistance of Gabriele Dormann and Ann-Kathrin Becker is highly appreciated. This project was supported in part by a grant of the Research Training Group 1397 “Regulation of soil organic matter and nutrient turnover in organic agriculture” from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstr.1a, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    Carmen Haase, Stefanie Wentzel & Rainer Georg Joergensen

  2. Extension Service Schwäbisch Hall, Eckartshäuserstr. 41, 74532, Ilshofen, Germany

    Reiner Schmidt

Authors
  1. Carmen Haase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefanie Wentzel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reiner Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rainer Georg Joergensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rainer Georg Joergensen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Haase, C., Wentzel, S., Schmidt, R. et al. Changes in P fractions after long-term application of biogas slurry to soils under organic farming. Org. Agr. 6, 297–306 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-015-0135-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-015-0135-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation