Digestate

Digestate is the material remaining after the anaerobic digestion of a biodegradable feedstock. Anaerobic digestion produces two main products: digestate and biogas. Digestate is produced both by acidogenesis and methanogenesis and each has different characteristics.

Acidogenic digestate is fibrous and consists of structural plant matter including lignin and cellulose. Acidogenic digestate has high moisture retention properties. The digestate may also contain minerals and remnants of bacteria.

Methanogenic digestate is a sludge (sometimes called a liquor). This is often high in nutrients such as ammoniums and phosphates.

The primary use of digestate is as a soil conditioner. Acidogenic digestate provides moisture retention and organic content for soils. This organic material can break down further, aerobically in soil. Methanogenic digestate provides nutrients for plant growth. It can also be used to protect soils against erosion.

Acidogenic digestate can also be used as an environmentally friendly filler to give structure to composite plastics.

Growth trials on digestate originating from mixed waste have showed healthy growth results for crops. Digestate can also be used in intensive greenhouse cultivation of plants, e.g. in Digeponics.

Application of digestate has been shown to inhibit plant diseases and induction of resistance. Digestate application has a direct effect on soil-born diseases, and an indirect effect by stimulation of biological activity.

Digestate is technically not compost although it is similar to it in physical and chemical characteristics. Compost is produced by aerobic digestion- decomposition by aerobes. This includes fungi and bacteria which are able to break down the lignin and cellulose to a greater extent.

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Wikipedia