Interesting Topics
SLURRY INJECTION vs SURFACE BROADCASTING: FINANCIAL SAVINGS
1m3 (220 gal) dairy cow slurry (6% dry matter) contains 3 kg total N
Approximately 50% of the total N is "readily available" with the other 50% becoming available over a period of time (organic N).
Therefore, there is approximately 1.5 kg of organic N and 1.5 kg of "available N" per m3 slurry Up to 80% of the "available N" is lost following surface broadcasting. This loss is reduced by about 80% when slurry is applied by shallow injection.
At £160/t for Ammonium Nitrate (34.5% N), 1kg N is worth 46p
The total N in 1m3 slurry is worth 70p (1.5 kg x 46p)
The "available" N in 1m3 slurry after spreading is worth:
Surface broadcasting: 14p (20% of 70p)
Shallow injection: 59p (84% of 70p)
Therefore, the total value of N in 1m3 (220g) slurry after application by each method is:
Surface broadcasting = £0.84
Shallow injection = £1.29 (53% increase over surface broadcasting)
So, at an application rate of 35m3/ha (3150 gal/ac), savings in N fertiliser will be in the order of £15 per hectare or £6 per acre.
UMBILICAL SLURRY INJECTION
- Ready to use in any season
- Reduces land damage and compaction
- Shallow injection - up to 4 inches deep
- Quick - no travel time - continuous pumping
- Reduces Ammonia atmospheric discharge
- Fits in with your farming operations
- Environmentally friendly
- Minimises odours
- Avoids run off
- Cost effective - Allows you to continue with your work
- You need a service that is fast, cost effective, environmentally friendly and beneficial to your land
HOW DOES IT WORK:
The spring loaded trailed shoe parts the grass. This allows slurry to be placed directly onto the soil. The grass springs back & covers the slurry strips.
SHALLOW DISC SLURRY INJECTOR
The Disc Injector is a combined soil fertilising and furrowing machine with a working depth of 20mm (¾") to 60mm (2½").
A powerful Vogelsang macerator delivers slurry evenly through 40mm pipes. The slurry is inserted into slits created by the self-sharpening steel cutting discs.
The unit folds hydraulically giving a 2.4m transport width. The MAJOR Disc Injector operates best where grass heights are between 60 and 100mm (2 ¼" and 4").
When working, the spring loaded discs create slits 20 to 60mm deep which are completely filled with slurry. The slurry is only visible as narrow strips between the grass. The distance between the slits is 200mm (8").
The Vogelsang ExaCut Macerator is fitted with an integrated foreign body separator to prevent debris from blocking the outlets. It also contains self-sharpening and self-adjusting blades to reduce maintenance time.
- The Alltrack is a fully featured Shallow Slot Injector / Applicator designed to work at slot depths of up to 6cm (2 ½") giving application rates of up to 55m³ per hectare (5000 gallon per acre). The NutriTech Alltrack is a purpose built machine exclusively for the UK market which allows the machine to cope easily and relially with the tough ground conditions and High Fibre Content slurries we have Purpose built machine exclusively for the UK market.
- Oscillating Main Beam Design and Sprung Loaded Injection Elements Mounted in Pairs - Disks follow the ground contours perfectly across the whole machine width.
- Fully Self Steering Injection Elements - Allows continuous injection around irregular shaped bouts and objects.
- Razor Sharp Ø 300mm 3 part Disk Assembly - Gives unrivalled ground penetration allowing perfect injection in even the hardest ground conditions in the UK
FEATURES:
- 300mm self-sharpening solid cutting discs spaced at 200mm (8") intervals
- Automatic mechanical shoe shut off to prevent spillage
- Mechanical suspension on individual discs
- Individual disc steerage
- Depth regulated by hydraulic linkage
HOW DOES IT WORK:
The spring loaded discs create slits which are 20-60mm deep. These are then fully filled with slurry.
BENEFITS OF SLURRY INJECTION
Conserved nutrients |
Animal slurries and farmyard manure are valuable fertilisers as they contain significant amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) |
Reduced fertiliser inputs |
Save on costs of granular fertiliser. Research by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council showed that the over-winter slurry production from 100 cows is worth over £2,000 as fertiliser. Simliar research by Teagasc (Ireland) concluded that slurry in Ireland has a potential value of €9.17 /m3. |
Reduced odour and associated public nuisance |
Odour is reduced by up to 91%. Slurry run-off is prevented. Ammonia emissions are reduced by up to 80% when compared with conventional spreading with a vacuum tanker and splash plate. |
Reduced contamination of grass |
Slurry is applied directly onto the soil (Trailing Shoe) or into the soil (Disc Injection). This prevents damage to the grass. Slurry can be used on pasture before grazing and at later dates before cutting. |
Increased flexibility in rate and timing of slurry application |
Slurry can be applied by shallow injection or trailing shoe, just two weeks before harvesting. |
Increased yield |
The increased yields obtained with trailing-shoe methods are equivalent to applying inorganic fertilizer (N) at, on average, 79 kg/ha compared with 18 kg/ha when slurry is applied with the splash plate. |
Better uniformity of application |
Slurry injection allows precise application. |
Nutrient losses from slurry spreading
In Ireland most slurry is land spread by the splash plate method. This method of application can result in up to 80% of the available Nitrogen (N) applied in the slurry being lost to the atmosphere in the form of ammonia. Not only does this result in a loss of this valuable nutrient but it also causes atmospheric pollution. Following surface spreading, approximately 30% of the total ammonia loss takes place in the first hour and the 80% above within the first 12 hours. A basic concept to minimise such losses is to reduce the surface area of the spread slurry that is exposed to the air.
Grassland slurry spreading systems
Systems of slurry spreading that minimise the surface area of the spread slurry exposed to air and lower ammonia loss are widely used across Europe. These alternatives mainly include:
- Dribble bar spreading;
- Trailing-shoe application;
An alternative to the dribble bar is the trailing-shoe application system in which a metal shoe parts the herbage and slurry is deposited in bands on the soil surface, with the minimum of herbage contamination.
Benefits of alternative slurry spreading systems
In Germany, research has shown that application of slurry by Dribble bar leads to lower ammonia losses, better N use efficiency and higher crop yields than either splash plate or injection spreading. In Holland, slurry applications by dribble bar and trailing-shoe, have resulted in 69%, 86% and 99% less ammonia emissions respectively than splash plate spreading.
Recent research at AFBI-Hillsborough has compared slurry application by splash plate, trailing-shoe and dribble bar methods in May after the first silage harvest. Slurry was applied 9, 17 and 23 days following the first silage harvest. Average application rate was 50 m3/ha. Compared with the conventional splash plate method, the dribble bar and trailing-shoe methods increased grass yield by 19 and 21% respectively averaged over the three spreading periods. The increased yields obtained with the injector and trailing-shoe methods were equivalent to applying inorganic fertiliser N at, on average, 79 kg/ha compared with 18 kg/ha when slurry was applied with the splash plate. In addition, the ability to apply slurry up to 23 days after silage harvest is a major advantage.
Grass contamination from slurry
In recent research at Hillsborough, observations at the time of harvest indicated less contamination of herbage when slurry was spread by the alternative methods rather than by splash plate. Similarly, research in England has shown that slurry can be applied six weeks before a silage harvest by the new method with no contamination of the herbage or adverse effects on silage quality.
Financial benefits of alternative slurry spreading systems
Based on N fertiliser at a cost of £288 per tonne for 27% Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN, 27-0-0), the slurry plot trials indicate the value of the nitrogen gained by applying slurry with a trailing-shoe or dribble bar to be £64 per hectare more than if the same slurry was applied with a splash plate. Taking average cattle slurry (6% dry matter) at an application rate of 50 m3/ha. Using trailing-shoe application systems rather than splash plate spreading, the chemical fertiliser required to supplement the available N from slurry for second cut silage could be reduced by 27 kg per hectare. This represents a saving in fertiliser costs of £28.80/ha. The net savings from using alternative slurry spreading systems will depend on the additional charges (if any) made by contractors for the use of such equipment. Where a farmer is using his own machinery, the extra operating costs will depend on the specification of the machinery purchased.
The trailing shoe system is a compromise between band spreading and shallow injection. The system uses a row of trailing shoes that separate the grass plants at the roots. The process allows the slurry to be deposited directly on the soil surface, reducing the herbage contamination and nutrient losses and allowing for application of slurry on higher grass.
Odour control and nutrient management
Teagasc research into the trailing shoe system shows a 20% improvement in grass yield between using the trailing shoe and the conventional splash plate. John McCarthy says he finds that farmers are becoming more aware of this and with the Nitrates Directive bringing stricter regulations on the application of the nitrates more are trying to get the best use out of their slurry.
"Farmers are aware that they are restricted in what fertilizer they can apply. Slurry contains valuable nutrients and we've be well informed of how these are lost when we broadcast slurry. "We're finding that farmers are trying to utilise their slurry to the best of their ability. Spreading during the winter months is not the answer to spreading slurry. Grass cannot use up the nutrients in the slurry.
"The trailing shoe reduces the contamination of the grass meaning that slurry can be spread later in the spring or summer without contaminating the grass. Basically, the farmer can spread slurry on longer grass and in as little as three to four days the grass can be grazed. They're maximising the use of their slurry and reducing the affect it has on contaminating their grass,'' John McCarthy.
Reducing pollution caused by slurry and nutrients is a major aim of the Nitrates Directive.
John points out that reducing the odour pollution caused by spreading slurry is another advantage offered by the trailing shoe system. "Smell is a major issue. People living beside a field where slurry is being spread won't tolerate the smell which is associated with the job. Over the years, as the countryside has become more heavily populated with houses, odour control has become a bigger issue for the farmer.
"The trailing shoe system manages the odour. It reduces the problems associated with the smell created when spreading slurry with the conventional splash plate system. It gives the farmer more control of their slurry application,'' John says.
This claim is backed up by research carried out in Holland and Germany into the trailing shoe system, which shows that the system can reduce emissions over the conventional splash plate method by up to 70%, particularly on arable ground.
Trailing Shoe
Now offering umbilical slurry system with a splash plate, trailing shoe or all track disc injector. Four sets of road ramps two of which very low. Flow meter & wide wheels available. Nitrogen testing kit also available upon request.
We have plenty of pipe and four pumps so can shift slurry basically anywhere.
Also lagoon and slats stirring with either a whisk stirrer or jetter stirrer. Over the top tower stirring also available. Full tanker service available