Biogas slurry, produced as a by-product of the anaerobic fermentation process in biogas production, is gaining increasing attention in the agricultural world due to its many benefits.
This slurry is rich in nutrients that are beneficial to plants and soil, making it a potential material as a soil conditioner, organic fertilizer, and natural bio-pesticide. In addition to helping improve agricultural quality and productivity, the use of biogas slurry also offers a more environmentally friendly solution, especially in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By utilizing organic waste as a raw material, the biogas production process not only reduces methane released into the atmosphere, but also helps improve the sustainability of the agricultural sector as a whole.
This article will explore the benefits of biogas slurry in agriculture and its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally.
What is Biogas Slurry?
Biogas is a gas formed from the anaerobic fermentation process (without oxygen) of organic materials by microorganisms. The main components of biogas are methane (CH₄) which acts as an energy source, and carbon dioxide (CO₂). In addition, biogas also contains other elements in small amounts such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, and a little ammonia.
Various materials (substrates) can be used to produce biogas through anaerobic fermentation, including animal waste (such as livestock manure, leftover feed), plant waste (such as grass, straw), and household waste (such as feces and kitchen waste).
Biogas slurry is the residue or remainder produced after the biogas production process. After methane and carbon dioxide gas are formed and taken, there is still organic material that is not completely decomposed, which is called biogas slurry.
This slurry is rich in nutrients because it still contains organic compounds that are beneficial for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, biogas slurry also contains active microorganisms that can help improve soil structure and increase its fertility.
Due to its nutrient content and organic nature, this slurry has great potential to be used as a natural fertilizer, soil conditioner, and bio-pesticide. Overall, biogas slurry offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution for the agricultural sector, while also supporting the reduction of waste and greenhouse gas emissions from the decomposition of organic waste.
Biogas Slurry Applications in Agriculture
This biogas slurry is rich in nutrients that are beneficial to plants and soil, making it a potential material as a soil conditioner, organic fertilizer, and natural bio-pesticide in agriculture.
Soil Conditioner
Biogas slurry plays an important role in improving soil quality as a natural conditioner that improves soil structure by adding organic matter. With regular use, slurry helps the soil retain moisture, increases aeration, and prevents erosion. This makes the soil more fertile and healthy, supporting plant growth. Good soil conditions also strengthen plant resistance to extreme weather such as drought or excessive rain.
Organic Fertilizer
One of the main applications of biogas slurry is as an organic fertilizer. Slurry contains essential nutrients needed by plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These three elements are basic elements that support plant growth, including strengthening roots, stems, and leaves. The use of slurry as a natural fertilizer provides more sustainable nutrition for plants compared to chemical fertilizers, which often only provide nutrients in the short term.
Biopesticide
Biogas slurry also has the potential as a bio-pesticide. Certain contents in slurry, especially from the raw materials used, can repel pests naturally without damaging plants. Bio-pesticides from slurry are safer than chemical pesticides because they do not produce harmful residues that can pollute soil and water.
Biogas Slurry as a Solution for Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Not only beneficial for agriculture, biogas slurry also plays an important role in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The production of chemical fertilizers often involves the use of fossil fuels that contribute to carbon emissions. By replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers derived from biogas slurry, we can reduce the use of fossil fuels in the agricultural sector. In addition, the use of organic fertilizers helps increase the carbon content in the soil, which plays a role in absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere (carbon sequestration).
Organic waste used to produce biogas comes from biomass that previously absorbed carbon from the atmosphere during its growth. When slurry is used as fertilizer or soil conditioner, the carbon in it returns to the soil and is not released into the atmosphere. Thus, the carbon cycle runs more sustainably without adding new carbon to the atmosphere.
So, are you getting to know one way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Stay tuned for our next article for more useful knowledge!
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Author: Dherika
References
Kumar, A., Verma, L.M., Sharma, S., & Singh, N. (2023). Overview on Agricultural Potentials of Biogas Slurry (BGS): Applications, Chalenges, and Solutions. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 13: 13729-13769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02215-0.
Novatiano, C. (2019). Manfaat Bioslurry (Ampas Biogas) sebagai Pupuk Organik. Retrieved from https://bbpplembang.bppsdmp.pertanian.go.id/publikasi-detail/1223 (Accessed: October 27th, 2024).