In the pursuit of sustainable agriculture, researchers have long sought innovative methods to enhance crop yields and economic benefits while minimizing environmental impact. A recent study published in the *Journal of Agriculture and Food Research* offers promising insights into the use of biogas slurry as a topdressing for maize, potentially revolutionizing agricultural practices and offering significant commercial opportunities for the energy sector.
Led by Xiaoyang Liang from the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the research team conducted a three-year field experiment to investigate the effects of biogas slurry topdressing as a replacement for chemical fertilizers on maize yield, quality, economic benefits, and endogenous microbiome. The findings suggest that biogas slurry topdressing (BSTR) can significantly enhance post-tasseling dry matter accumulation, grain-filling characteristics, and yield components in maize.
“Compared with pure chemical fertilizer topdressing, BSTR further increased post-tasseling dry matter accumulation and grain-filling characteristic parameters,” Liang explained. “The higher the BSTR proportion, the greater the increase in yield components.” Notably, the pure biogas slurry topdressing treatment (100%BS) resulted in a significant yield increase of 26.50% and 14.76% compared to chemical fertilizer treatment in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The economic implications of these findings are substantial. The study revealed that a higher BSTR ratio contributed to higher net income, with the 100%BS treatment increasing net income by an average of 3867.72 RMB/ha over three years compared to chemical fertilizer treatment. This not only highlights the potential for increased profitability for farmers but also underscores the viability of biogas slurry as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Furthermore, the research demonstrated that grain filling and dehydration directly affected yield components, while yield and net income were primarily subject to direct feedback regulation by treatment, years, and dry matter accumulation and redistribution. The study also found that grain endophytic bacteria were more responsive to BSTR than endophytic fungi, with BSTR treatment increasing the ACE and Chao1 indices of grain endophytic bacteria and adjusting the relative abundances of endophytic bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota.
“BSTR facilitated the conservation of water and fertilizer resources and the circular reuse of agricultural waste,” Liang noted. “The 100%BS treatment was optimal for enhancing the comprehensive benefits of maize.”
The implications of this research extend beyond the agricultural sector, offering significant opportunities for the energy sector as well. As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to grow, biogas—a byproduct of anaerobic digestion of organic waste—has emerged as a valuable resource. The findings of this study suggest that biogas slurry, a byproduct of biogas production, can be effectively utilized as a topdressing for maize, thereby enhancing crop yields and economic benefits while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and resource depletion, the integration of biogas slurry into agricultural practices offers a promising solution. By harnessing the power of biogas slurry, farmers can not only improve crop yields and economic returns but also contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy.
The research published in the *Journal of Agriculture and Food Research* (translated as *Journal of Agriculture and Food Research*) provides a compelling case for the adoption of biogas slurry as a topdressing for maize, offering significant commercial impacts for the energy sector and paving the way for a more sustainable future. As Xiaoyang Liang and his team continue to explore the potential of biogas slurry in agriculture, the possibilities for innovation and growth in this field are vast and exciting.