Concentrated biogas slurry and biogas residue can improve the yield and quality of pepper

ABSTRACT

The organic fertilizer (biogas slurry and biogas residues) was produced by the self-developed integrated device of “Pressure swirl / inclined plate sedimentation separation pretreatment (P/I) combined with ultrafiltration / reverse osmosis two stages membrane separation (UF/RO)”. The paper focuses on the effect of concentrated biogas slurry and biogas residue produced by this technology on the yield and quality (vitamin C, soluble sugar, protein and nitrate content) of pepper as organic fertilizer compared with chemical fertilizer. The concentrated biogas slurry and biogas residue separated by this technology contained active substances such as N, P, K, trace elements and humic acids with stable composition and potential for good fertilization efficiency. The experiment of seed soaking for pepper sprouting confirmed the best effect of seed soaking with a concentration of 80% biogas slurry. Compared with chemical fertilizer treatment, the application of concentrated biogas slurry and biogas residue can improve the yield and quality of pepper, which is related to the nutrient elements in concentrated digestate. Meanwhile, the results of pepper cultivation trials show that the base fertilizer treatment of biogas residue is best with 2000kg/667m² and foliar spraying of 75% biogas slurry. The results strongly demonstrate the great potential of the concentrated biogas slurry and biogas residue produced by the self-developed digestate concentration technology for pepper cultivation.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Concentrated biogas slurry
• biogas residue
• organic fertilizer; pepper; fertilizer efficiency

Acknowledgements

The authors thank for DeWo Biological Technology Co., Ltd. (Hohhot, People’s Republic of China) for technical and fund assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology plan project [grant number: 2020GG0066] and 2023 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Key R&D and Achievement Transformation Program Project (grant number: 2023YFDZ0067).