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Agronomy
Volume 16
Issue 2
10.3390/agronomy16020230
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Systematic Review

Cumulative Effects of Different Application Time Scales of Biogas Slurry on Agricultural Soils Based on Meta-Analysis

by
Dongxue Yin
1,*,
Baozhong Wang
1,
Jiajun Qin
1,
Wei Liu
2,
Xiaoli Niu
1,
Long Qin
1,
Guangyuan Zhong
1,
Boyang Lu
1,
Dongdong Chen
1,
Jie Zhu
1 and
Fengshun Zhang
1
1
College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China
2
College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020230 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 December 2025 / Revised: 14 January 2026 / Accepted: 15 January 2026 / Published: 18 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Farming Sustainability)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Returning biogas slurry to fields is an important approach for the resource utilization of organic waste. It enhances soil fertility and crop growth, but its long-term effects on soil ecosystems need evaluation. A meta-analysis approach was employed to comprehensively assess the influence of biogas slurry application from multiple perspectives (soil enzyme activities, heavy-metal accumulation, microbial communities, and fundamental nutrients) across different time scales: short-term (<1 year), medium-term (1–3 years), and long-term (>3 years). The results demonstrate that the ecological effects of biogas slurry application exhibited a pronounced time-dependency. Specifically, short-term application (less than 1 year) significantly increased soil urease (23.0%) and sucrase activity (22.1%), along with organic matter and available nutrients. However, it also resulted in the rapid accumulation of heavy metals, including Hg and As. Under medium-term application, sucrase activity further surged (108.1%). Meanwhile, phosphatase activity and total potassium content decreased, and heavy-metal accumulation showed declining trends. Following long-term application, microbial richness substantially improved, but certain heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Cd) continued to accumulate. In summary, this study reveals distinct temporal-scale mechanisms by which field biogas slurry application regulates soil functions.
Keywords: biogas slurry; time scales; enzyme activities; microbial communities; soil health biogas slurry; time scales; enzyme activities; microbial communities; soil health

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yin, D.; Wang, B.; Qin, J.; Liu, W.; Niu, X.; Qin, L.; Zhong, G.; Lu, B.; Chen, D.; Zhu, J.; et al. Cumulative Effects of Different Application Time Scales of Biogas Slurry on Agricultural Soils Based on Meta-Analysis. Agronomy 2026, 16, 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020230

AMA Style

Yin D, Wang B, Qin J, Liu W, Niu X, Qin L, Zhong G, Lu B, Chen D, Zhu J, et al. Cumulative Effects of Different Application Time Scales of Biogas Slurry on Agricultural Soils Based on Meta-Analysis. Agronomy. 2026; 16(2):230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020230

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yin, Dongxue, Baozhong Wang, Jiajun Qin, Wei Liu, Xiaoli Niu, Long Qin, Guangyuan Zhong, Boyang Lu, Dongdong Chen, Jie Zhu, and et al. 2026. "Cumulative Effects of Different Application Time Scales of Biogas Slurry on Agricultural Soils Based on Meta-Analysis" Agronomy 16, no. 2: 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020230

APA Style

Yin, D., Wang, B., Qin, J., Liu, W., Niu, X., Qin, L., Zhong, G., Lu, B., Chen, D., Zhu, J., & Zhang, F. (2026). Cumulative Effects of Different Application Time Scales of Biogas Slurry on Agricultural Soils Based on Meta-Analysis. Agronomy, 16(2), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020230

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