Trials

The gaseous emissions and fertiliser value of SlurryBugs treated slurry and untreated slurry were recorded over a period of 5 weeks. For the trials all slurry was produced from the same herd of dairy cows on a diet of 26kg DMI per day. Treated samples were taken from a slurry tank and untreated samples were collected from a non-treated lagoon after 5 weeks.

Results summary

Nitrogen

After 5 weeks the Slurrybugs treated slurry had the highest concentration of total N with a threefold increase over the untreated samples, with untreated slurry levels at 1.7Kg/m3 fresh slurry and treated slurry nitrogen levels at 5.6Kg/m3.

"In the treated slurry the ammonium nitrogen appeared to be used up by the SlurryBugs and transformed into organic forms of nitrogen, which is shown by the higher proportion of organic nitrogen retained after 5 weeks" explained Dr Maria-Fernanda Aller of Lancaster University who undertook the testing.

Dr Aller suggested that this increased retention of nitrogen could be an explanation for the reduction of ammonia emissions (odour) following the SlurryBugs treatment. She affirmed "the higher levels of organic nitrogen also reduce risk of leaching, an important feature in Nitrogen Vulnerable Zones (NVZ's)."

Phosphorous

Treated slurry samples contained double the phosphorous (P) concentration of the untreated samples. After 5 weeks the total phosphorous content of the untreated slurry was 0.54 kg/m³ in comparison to the treated slurry at 1.23 kg/m³.

Dr Aller comments "As observed with the nitrogen readings, SlurryBugs increases the percentage of organic phosphorous which could be due to phosphorus fixation by the SlurryBugs bacteria." This higher phosphorous content could indicate sweeter grass and better quality silage.

Dr Aller concludes:

"Following treatment, the larger amount of N found in the slurry has a positive effect on organic N when applied to soils as this takes longer to break down in the soil. Overall results showed that SlurryBugs treated slurry had better fertilizer quality and could promote reductions of ammonia and CO2 emissions."

Dr Maria-Fernanda Aller, Lancaster University

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Previous Trials

Trials were also undertaken by Liverpool John Moors University in 2008 and 2009 at Myrescough Agricultural College in Lancashire for levels of nitrogen retention and the effect of SlurryBugs upon grass growth.

Results showed that after treatment with SlurryBugs 70% of the original nitrogen content was retained in the slurry. This was an exceptional achievement when expected nitrogen loss by the experts in the industry was 70%.

Farm manager Mr Roger Leach explains:

"Swards treated with SlurryBugs inoculated slurry showed the highest dry matter percentage grass containing high sugars and more tonnes of forage per acre. All SlurryBugs & Booster treated plots recorded lower levels of nitrogen in the soil after harvesting when compared to the control plots suggesting that nutrient uptake by the plants was more efficient. The difference in the grass production and sward density on the treated plots could still be seen during the summer of 2010 although this year all the land received the same slurry and fertiliser treatment."

Click here for more information on both the Myrescough trials and Lancaster trials or give us a call to discuss the full reports.

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