Anaerobic digestion comprises a sequence of naturally occurring bacterial processes that breakdown complex, organic compounds in the absence of oxygen.
Digestion reduces chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD), so reducing the potential for water
pollution, and level of odour and pathogens associated with organic feedstocks. It also decreases dry matter content and increases the proportion of nitrogen in inorganic forms available for plant uptake and so increases fertiliser value.
Paper presented to the International Fertiliser Society at a Conference in Cambridge, UK on 10th December 2008
John Morgan & Brian F Pain - Creedy Associates, Crediton, Devon.
Proceedings 632 https://fertiliser-society.org/store/anaerobic-digestion-of-farm-manures-and-other-products-for-energy-recovery-and-nutrient-recycling/