Eurofins, the leading food and feed testing laboratory group, as part of a DEFRA funded LINK project, has developed the first fast and cost effective method to predict the nutrient content of manures, slurries and biosolids so enabling farmers and growers to more accurately assess the amount of the material that needs to, or can, be applied to crops, and so reduce costs.
Using Near Infra Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, the new test analyses dry matter, total nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, phosphate, potash, magnesium and sulphur . The technology is also being used to predict the N release from manures by mineralisation. The method is accurate and rapid, in contrast with the current methods of analysis which can be slow, relatively expensive and for solid and semi-solid materials, can give inconsistent results.
The escalating cost of artificial fertilisers means that it makes economic as well as environmental sense for farmers to apply manure back onto the land, but many farmers tend not to know the nutrient content of organic materials so often inaccurately calculate how much to use for best results. Excessive use of nutrients can mean reduced profitability, increased environmental issues and the potential for crop yield reduction as well as quality reductions.
Andrew Scott, Business Unit Manager from Eurofins said:
"Good nutrient management can save time and money so growers require a rapid and robust method for quantifying nutrients and their availability in manures, in particular taking account of nitrogen (N) release. The new NIRS method developed by Eurofins has been calibrated against traditional methods and gives more accurate results, cost effectively in a shorter time frame, so enabling farmers and consultants to have a more accurate picture of their nutrient applications."
The new manure test is part of a growing range of agricultural tests offered by Eurofins which includes soil analysis for arable, grassland and protected horticulture; hydroponic solution analysis; silage and feedstuffs analysis; compost testing to PAS100 and Fertilisers values of manure, slurries and liquid waste.
