Field
Organic Farming, Agro-environmental protection
Subfield
Slurry acidification technology
Project type
Tarptautiniai moksliniai tyrimai (TMTEP)
EU Support
check_circle
Yes
No
Effect
Economic
Theme
Srutų rūgštinimo technologijos Baltijos jūros regione
Contact information
Rimas Magyla
Email:
Phone:
+37058625425
Slurry Acidification Technologies in the Baltic Sea Region
About the innovation / research
To reduce nitrogen losses and ammonia emissions in livestock farms, farmers in the Baltic Sea region are being introduced to the latest slurry acidification technologies and encouraged to implement them on their farms. These technologies are beneficial not only for the environment but also for farmers, as acidified slurry retains more organic nitrogen, reducing the need for mineral fertilizers.
An innovative manure and slurry acidification technology developed and tested in Denmark more than a decade ago is currently used by around 18% of the country’s livestock farms. In many other European countries, this practice is still considered innovative. By sharing Danish experience with other Baltic Sea region countries, the aim is to reduce ammonia volatilization, decrease eutrophication (algal blooms) in the Baltic Sea, and contribute to the achievement of environmental protection goals.
Based on Danish experience, slurry can be acidified in several ways:
acidifying slurry circulating beneath livestock housing floors (in-house);
acidifying slurry in storage tanks or lagoons (in-storage);
acidifying slurry immediately before field application (in-field).
Acidified slurry can be used for fertilizing various crops. Research shows that it does not acidify the soil or harm soil microbiological activity. On the contrary, it enriches the soil with nutrients and reduces the need for mineral fertilizers. When fields are fertilized with acidified slurry, the nitrogen content in the soil increases on average by 9.44% compared to fields fertilized with non-acidified slurry. Compared to fields fertilized with mineral fertilizers, the nitrogen content increases by 9.41%.
During the implementation of this technology, detailed soil analyses are carried out, monitoring not only soil pH but also humus content, conductivity, and other quality indicators. Research shows that mineral fertilizers acidify the soil more than acidified slurry. This is explained by the ability of slurry to restore alkalinity relatively quickly, with the pH of acidified slurry recovering within a few weeks. The use of this innovative technology makes it possible to achieve higher and better-quality yields while ensuring more rational and responsible soil management.
Year
2019
Project number
17761
Argumentation
Galvijų srūtuose būna daugiau sausų medžiagų (apie 10%), nei kiaulių srūtuose. Kuo daugiau yra sausų medžiagų, tuo daugiau reikia rūgšties mažinant srutų pH. Ekonomiškiausia, kai srutų rūgštingumo pH yra 6,4. Tokiam pH pasiekti reikia 3 l rūgšties m3 (kiaulių srutoms). Emisija kg ha-1 sumažėja nuo 12,5 (nenaudojant rūgšties) iki 1,7 (naudojant 3 l/m3 rūgšties); srutų pH rūgštingumas atitinkamai sumažėja nuo 7,9 iki 6.0.
Funding source
Interreg Baltijos jūros regiono programa
Research institution
Lietuvos žemės ūkio konsultavimo tarnyba
Structural unit conducting research/innovation
Technologinių paslaugų padalinys
Project manager
Rimas Magyla
Partners
LŽŪKT; „Dotnuvos eksperimentinis ūkis“; LSMU Gyvulininkystės institutas; ir 14 užsienio partnerių: BSAG; JTI; Estonian Crop Research Institute; LRATC; ITP; Blunk GmbH; ZSA; LLUR; Vecsiljani ZS; enAgro ir kt.
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