Impacts of the application of different types of vinasse on soil greenhouse gas emissions and microbial community

Abstract

The effects of vinasse application on soil GHG emission depend on the application method and chemical composition of the residue. Vinasse is a residue from sugarcane ethanol production and its quality is based on raw material quality and the route of ethanol production (first- and second-generation). Most part of the vinasse produced in Brazil is fertigated in soil as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers in the cultivation of sugarcane. More recently, motivated by the potential use of vinasse for bioenergy production and by the environmental implications of vinasse fertigation in soils, the sugar-energy sector has showing concerns about the sustainability of current vinasse disposal systems. New processes are being specifically designed to improve the use and also to reduce the environmental implications related to vinasse management. Some improvements of vinasse management, such as thermal concentration (and/or production of a liquid organomineral fertilizer), anaerobic biodigestion (or codigestion aggregating other carbon source) have been proposed as strategies to mitigate the main environmental problems. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of the application of diverse types of vinasse produced in integrated biorefinery on soil GHG emissions, microbial community diversity and structuration and biomass production in sugarcane areas. In order to reach this target, it will be carried out field and laboratory trials by using vinasse obtained from different treatments. (AU)