The goal of this study was to establish a system for co-culturing microalgae and crop plants with biogas digestate. We examined growth performances of E. gracilis and L. sativa co-cultured using a commercial liquid fertilizer designed for soilless culture supplemented with vitamins and ammonium. This solution simulated the filtrate of nitrified biogas digestate derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste but was supplemented with insufficient plant nutrients (Mg, Fe and Mn). The specific growth rate of the co-cultured E. gracilis was 0.761 ± 0.081 d-1 (mean ± SE), which was the same rate that E. gracilis achieved when grown as a sole culture. There were no significant differences between L. sativa cultured with E. gracilis until the stationary growth phase of E. gracilis was reached and those cultured alone relative to biomass, RGRs (relative growth rates), or relative to SPAD values of leaves. These results suggest that E. gracilis and L. sativa could be co-cultured with the biogas digestate after being nitrified and filtered. In addition, considering concentrations of plant macronutrients in the residual solution after the co-culturing E. gracilis and L. sativa, it could be re-used as the nutrient solution for co-culturing E. gracilis and L. sativa.
Keywords: Co-culture; methane fermentation; organic fraction of municipal solid waste; recycling; soilless culture.