Use of anaerobic digested residues in open field horticulture in the Veneto Region, Italy

The loss of soil organic matter is one of the most important impacts of intensive agriculture. Several authors have suggested that the application of organic amendments to agricultural soils can contribute to mitigate this problem. Anaerobic digested residues (ADRs) are biologically stable materials that could be used in open field horticulture but its performance has to be evaluated. During the spring and fall of 2009, lettuce and cauliflower were grown with anaerobic digested residues from a distillery process. The combination of 75% ADRs and 25% mineral fertilizer seems to be a sustainable alternative ensuring agronomic performance, crop quality, and soil organic matter supply.