Global challenges in water scarcity, energy sustainability, and food security demand integrated solutions within the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Here, we present a closed-loop management model that recycles biomass ash and biogas slurry—byproducts of energy production—to co-enhance CO2 sequestration, crop yield, and soil health in tomato cultivation. Under varied ash-treatment regimes (carbonized biomass ash, CO2-rich biogas slurry activation, and their mixture), tomatoes roots doubled HCO3− uptake and boosted whole carbon assimilation of plants by up to 114.6%. Simultaneously, carbon input from root exudates restructured soil microbial networks, upregulating glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and contributing to stable organic carbon formation. Agronomically, combined applications increased economic yield, improved harvest index, and elevated sugar, vitamin C, and mineral contents, while balancing carbon–nitrogen ratios. Soil pH was neutralized on acidic land, salinity remained within safe limits, and fine-particle aggregation improved water-holding capacity. The study recommends the CO2-rich biomass ash-biogas slurry mixture treatment for acidic soils to achieve both acid neutralization and carbon sequestration, and the carbonized biomass ash+CO2-rich biogas slurry treatment for controlled-environment agriculture to enable precise nitrogen management. Field-scale projections suggest ∼3.5 t CO2-equivalent sequestration and over 22,581 Chinese yuan/ha in water-energy-crop value gains. This work illustrates a scalable Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach that repurposes bioenergy residues into ecological assets, reinforcing circular agriculture and low-carbon farming systems.
Integrated carbon sequestration and agricultural efficiency enhancement: Reconstruction of tomato ecosystem carbon cycle via carbonized biomass ash-biogas slurry system
Pezzuolo A.;
2025
Abstract
Global challenges in water scarcity, energy sustainability, and food security demand integrated solutions within the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Here, we present a closed-loop management model that recycles biomass ash and biogas slurry—byproducts of energy production—to co-enhance CO2 sequestration, crop yield, and soil health in tomato cultivation. Under varied ash-treatment regimes (carbonized biomass ash, CO2-rich biogas slurry activation, and their mixture), tomatoes roots doubled HCO3− uptake and boosted whole carbon assimilation of plants by up to 114.6%. Simultaneously, carbon input from root exudates restructured soil microbial networks, upregulating glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and contributing to stable organic carbon formation. Agronomically, combined applications increased economic yield, improved harvest index, and elevated sugar, vitamin C, and mineral contents, while balancing carbon–nitrogen ratios. Soil pH was neutralized on acidic land, salinity remained within safe limits, and fine-particle aggregation improved water-holding capacity. The study recommends the CO2-rich biomass ash-biogas slurry mixture treatment for acidic soils to achieve both acid neutralization and carbon sequestration, and the carbonized biomass ash+CO2-rich biogas slurry treatment for controlled-environment agriculture to enable precise nitrogen management. Field-scale projections suggest ∼3.5 t CO2-equivalent sequestration and over 22,581 Chinese yuan/ha in water-energy-crop value gains. This work illustrates a scalable Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach that repurposes bioenergy residues into ecological assets, reinforcing circular agriculture and low-carbon farming systems.
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