Utilization of Digestate as an Organic Manure in Corn Silage Culture: An In-Depth Investigation of Its Profound Influence on Soil’s Physicochemical Properties, Crop Growth Parameters, and Agronomic Performance

The agricultural valorization of organic waste, including digestate from anaerobic digestion, can be a good tool to remedy the problem soil depletion by intensive crops. This study was conducted evaluate effect application on chemical characteristics soil, N, P, and K content, pH, electrical conductivity, as well agronomic performance forage corn (Zea mays L.). Digestate applied incorporated into at different rates (0; 0+ recommended NPK rates; 15, 30, 60 t dry weight (DW) ha−1). increasing doses improved harvest, DW ha−1 significantly decreased pH 0.15, 0.23, 0.39 units, respectively. For average values recorded are 196, 212, 255 uS m−1, respectively, doses. A significant matter enrichment topsoil layer observed only for treatments receiving 30 ha−1. Similarly, our results showed that contents increased with both compared positive control. Morphological plants (height, leaf number, collar diameter) ecophysiology (stomatal conductance chlorophyll) in global manner negative Indeed, obtained this improvement not proportional all analyzed parameters. However, there no difference between amended 15 those control (recommended dose NPK). In comparison previous one, height, diameter 15%, 13%, 20%, 34%, 24% dose. Concerning relative chlorophyll content stomatal conductance, 1.7 2.2 times higher fresh biomass, root length parameters proportionally