A recent study demonstrates a shift in how digestate-derived biofertilisers can be used, moving from conventional soil applications to high-performance inputs in hydroponic systems. The research shows that digestates from agricultural residues can maintain comparable crop yields while significantly improving nutrient use efficiency, with cucumber leaf digestate achieving up to 59% higher nitrogen, 162% higher phosphorus, and 61% higher potassium efficiency compared to other sources . The key innovation lies in focusing on nutrient balance, form, and solution characteristics rather than simply nutrient concentration, highlighting that lower salinity and optimized ammonium to nitrate ratios enhance plant uptake. The study supports a strategic approach based on integrated nutrient management, where organic digestates are combined with targeted inorganic inputs to create stable, efficient nutrient solutions. This opens a pathway for developing standardised, refined biofertiliser products that fit into controlled environment agriculture, enabling local circular nutrient systems and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers.
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