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The utilisation rate of natural fertilisers

To realise the full value of natural fertilisers, it is important, among other things, to apply slurry and muck in the right crops at the right time and with the right equipment.

The utilisation rate in percent is a measure of how much of the nitrogen (total-N) is used by the crop in the year of application.

The concentrations shown below are those typically found in practice. There will, however, be large variations because of the differences in feeding practice, water waste, housing design, use of straw, etc.

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Storage capacity natural fertiliser Help
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The capacity is calculated as the number of months of slurry production, which can be stored in tanks or lagoons on the farm. It is essential for the optimal utilization of slurry that it can be stored until the crop needs the nutrients. If the capacity is too low, you have to spread the slurry at unfavourable times.
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Time of application Help
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Most crops have the highest need for nutrients in the spring and early summer, but some crops (eg. grasses and other crops with a long growing season) may also need later in the summer and autumn. If slurry is spread throughout the year, a significant proportion of especially nitrogen will be lost (eg. by nitrate leaching), and the nutrient value of the slurry will be reduced.
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Method of application Help
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Application method affects how much nitrogen is lost through ammonia volatilization and how well the slurry is spread on the field.

• By broad spreading the slurry with splash plate, the slurry is distributed very unevenly in the field, and a large part of the nitrogen is lost.

• When spreading the slurry with a boom and trailing hoses, the slurry is very evenly spread on the field, and ammonia emission is reduced significantly.

• By injecting, the slurry is also very evenly distributed on the area, and ammonia emissions minimized.
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Dosage Help
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Slurry dosage is a significant factor for the proportion of nutrients that can be utilized by the crop. If very large quantities of slurry is spread, it is likely that there is supplied too much phosphorus and potassium, particularly. But also too much nitrogen. If you spread a greater amount of slurry on the field than the crop needs, the utilization of nutrients will therefore decrease.
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Distribution of natural fertiliser in the field Help
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The best utilization of the nutrients is usually achieved by spreading the slurry on all the fields on the farm. If you only spread the slurry on the fields close to the farm, you will get a bad utilization of the nutrients in the slurry.
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The temperature at the time of use Help
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The loss of nitrogen through ammonia emission is increased at high temperatures. In cool weather, the emission is relatively low, but in very hot weather, the emission is very high. This is especially true if the slurry is broad spread. If the slurry is injected into the ground, the ammonia emission, however, is less weather-dependent, since the slurry does not get in contact with the air in the same way.
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Result

The farm use in relation to the potential of the natural fertiliser is

Estimated lost value per year

Estimated value per year

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