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07/03/2006
Farmers urged to check nutrient value of slurry
Too many farmers are failing to take into account the nutrient value of their slurry and are throwing away money on excess-bagged fertiliser, which could end up polluting the environment.
According to ADAS experts involved in the Defra-funded Environment Sensitive Farming project, an application of slurry is equivalent to anything between 28 and 50 units of available nitrogen. Farmers need to have their slurry tested so that they can reduce their bagged fertiliser rate with confidence.
A simple slurry test takes only minutes to conduct as farmers in the north Shropshire/Staffordshire/Cheshire area discovered when they participated in a free slurry testing service set up by the Environment Sensitive Farming project running in the area.
The testing was held at Market Drayton Market and farmers dropped off their slurry samples for Dairy Group consultant Gillian Young to test while they went about their business at the mart.
The nitrate level of the slurry sample was then fed into the MANNER computer programme along with details of soil type and slurry application rate to work out how much nitrogen would be available to the crop.
"Depending on the dry matter content, slurry could have anything between 9 and 15 units of available nitrogen per 1000 gallons of slurry, which at a nominal rate of 3000galls/acre, would give either 28 or 50 units of nitrogen per acre," Gillian said.
"In money terms, with nitrogen at £170 per tonne, that extra 22 units of available nitrogen in the more concentrated sample would be worth £5.40 an acre.
"It's having the confidence of knowing what you are putting on that's so important," she added.
Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are expected to know the amount of nitrogen they are putting on via manure. Excess fertiliser applications can be potentially damaging to the environment - with both nitrates and phosphates causing problems in watercourses.
Some 60 farming businesses have already attended the three Environment Sensitive Farming manure meetings held in conjunction with milk processor Muller Dairies and these farmers all received sample pots to bring their slurry to the market for testing.
Environment Sensitive Farming is about providing practical advice to farmers and land managers on everything from pesticide contamination of watercourses to manure and nutrient management, plastics disposal and care for the soil. It includes a range of regionally focussed events including conferences, workshops and discussion groups. To find out more about the project in your area visit http://www.environmentsensitivefarming.co.uk or call the Events Line on 0845 602 3864.
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According to ADAS experts involved in the Defra-funded Environment Sensitive Farming project, an application of slurry is equivalent to anything between 28 and 50 units of available nitrogen. Farmers need to have their slurry tested so that they can reduce their bagged fertiliser rate with confidence.
A simple slurry test takes only minutes to conduct as farmers in the north Shropshire/Staffordshire/Cheshire area discovered when they participated in a free slurry testing service set up by the Environment Sensitive Farming project running in the area.
The testing was held at Market Drayton Market and farmers dropped off their slurry samples for Dairy Group consultant Gillian Young to test while they went about their business at the mart.
The nitrate level of the slurry sample was then fed into the MANNER computer programme along with details of soil type and slurry application rate to work out how much nitrogen would be available to the crop.
"Depending on the dry matter content, slurry could have anything between 9 and 15 units of available nitrogen per 1000 gallons of slurry, which at a nominal rate of 3000galls/acre, would give either 28 or 50 units of nitrogen per acre," Gillian said.
"In money terms, with nitrogen at £170 per tonne, that extra 22 units of available nitrogen in the more concentrated sample would be worth £5.40 an acre.
"It's having the confidence of knowing what you are putting on that's so important," she added.
Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are expected to know the amount of nitrogen they are putting on via manure. Excess fertiliser applications can be potentially damaging to the environment - with both nitrates and phosphates causing problems in watercourses.
Some 60 farming businesses have already attended the three Environment Sensitive Farming manure meetings held in conjunction with milk processor Muller Dairies and these farmers all received sample pots to bring their slurry to the market for testing.
Environment Sensitive Farming is about providing practical advice to farmers and land managers on everything from pesticide contamination of watercourses to manure and nutrient management, plastics disposal and care for the soil. It includes a range of regionally focussed events including conferences, workshops and discussion groups. To find out more about the project in your area visit http://www.environmentsensitivefarming.co.uk or call the Events Line on 0845 602 3864.
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