Nitrogen boost from inoculant

INDEPENDENT TRIALS have shown that using a slurry inoculant could improve nitrogen value by more than 17%, thus cutting subsequent bagged fertiliser bills. Kingshay, an independent dairy specialist, reckons that its trial showed that this enhanced nitrogen value of lagoon stored slurry equates to extra income of £2700 on a 200-cow herd over an eight-month winter period. The 12 week trial involved introducing the inoculant at the recommended rate to fresh cow slurry at Bridge Farm, Somerset. The slurry was analysed at four weekly intervals for total nitrogen and ammonium
nitrogen content and compared with a control which was treatment free. “Total nitrogen content of the SlurryBugs and SlurryBooster treated slurry increased by a significant 25% in the final test and averaged 17.5% higher than the control treatment over the trial period,” said Kingshay’s Dr Peter Shipton.

“Furthermore, the treated slurry’s ammonium nitrogen content peaked at 22% higher than the control after four weeks and achieved an average 17% over the control over the 12 weeks.

Added together these increases in total nitrogen raised the level of plant available nitrogen by 0.53kg/ tonne freshweight slurry and enhanced its value by 51p/tonne.” Representing the company which sells the products, Envirosystem’s Liz Russell commented: “These findings confirm the potential opportunities available to all farmers to boost slurry nutrient value and reduce their fertiliser spend next spring by introducing one simple minimal cost treatment which comprises two active ingredients. 

 “SlurryBooster is a complex micronutrient formulation that actually increases the bacterial activity in the slurry while SlurryBugs contains naturally occurring bacteria which metabolise ammonia, reducing odour and preserving N content. “These bacteria also produce enzymes that breakdown the organic material in slurry. When introduced together to slurry in the lagoon, they supply an inoculation that not only improves the nitrogen concentration and but also reduces the need to mix by ensuring efficient conversion of solid material in to liquid nutrient.”

She added: “The fact the nitrogen content in the treated slurry is increased by 25% after 12 weeks indicates that N content in stored slurry can be preserved effectively whilst being stored through the winter in readiness for efficient spreading in more than one application, if possible, in early spring. Testing the slurry is advised prior to spreading to more accurately calculate the reductions in bought in fertiliser.”

Cumbrian farmer, Thomas Todd, who farms a 90-cow Montbeliarde herd along with beef and sheep enterprises at Wyndham, Brocklebank, Wigton, found that introducing these to the farm’s new slurry
store is paying dividends.

Envirosystems has launched a new battery and mains-operated dispenser for its slurry inoculant, SlurryBugs and SlurryBooster. Suitable for storage facilities for normal slurry or separated slurry for herds of 250 cows and above, the dispenser carries two, 20-litre drums containing sufficient inoculant to continually treat fresh slurry prior to entering storage for three months.Inoculant is automatically d i s p e n s e d  a the recommended level into the lagoon at regular intervals, both day and night. “The system has been developed and used in farm conditions for the last three years and proven to reduce labour requirements, improve application efficiency and maximise the retention of nitrogen in the lagoon by making regular doses of bacteria and micro nutrient,”said Ms Russell.

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