Registered in England no. 6005804

Project summary

Use of digestates from anaerobic digestion as a liquid fertiliser in the commercial production of strawberries

The Defra/DECC Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan identified the need to find

appropriate markets for quality digestates. This project is one of four WRAP funded projects

investigating novel options for the use of quality digestates in horticulture and other new markets.

The project is led by Dr Mary Dimambro of Cambridge Eco Ltd in collaboration with Rob Lillywhite

and Dr Catherine Keeling of the University of Warwick.

The focus of this research project is to explore the potential to

reduce the quantity of inorganic fertilisers used in strawberry

production by replacement with digestates from anaerobic digestion.

Six digestates are being used, produced from a range of feedstocks

including food waste, potato waste, maize and slurry. The digestates

have been used as the base for nutrient solutions which have been

designed to match the requirements for strawberry plants.

Glasshouse trials are currently being

undertaken at the research facility at

Warwick Crop Centre. The six digestate

nutrient solutions are being compared to

conventional commercial liquid fertiliser.

The trial, running January – June 2013,

involves determining foliage quality,

growth and fruit production over time.

The resultant report will be available on the WRAP website. This will include the results of the

project and recommendations to the industry regarding the use of digestates as compared to

standard industry fertilisers. In addition, Dr Joachim Steiner at Cambridge Eco will undertake a cost

benefit analysis to highlight the costs and benefits of using digestate as component of liquid nutrient

solutions for drip irrigation as compared to standard practice.

For further details please contact Mary Dimambro on 07731 451899 or mary@cambridgeeco.co.uk www.cambridgeeco.co.uk