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Developing improved sampling guidelines for liquid and solid manures - NT2009
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Description
The overall objective of the project is to develop improved sampling guidelines so that farmers and their advisers can take representative liquid and solid manure samples for analysis. Samples of stored slurry, farmyard manure (from cattle and pigs) and poultry manure will be taken from a range of store types. The sampling protocol will assess the stratification of nutrient concentrations within slurry stores and will assess the variation in nutrient concentrations within solid manure heaps. The samples will be analysed for dry matter, pH, ammonium and nitrate N, uric acid-N for poultry manure, total N, P, K, S and Mg. In addition, variations in slurry and solid manure nutrient concentrations during store emptying will be assessed. Results from the store emptying studies will identify whether differences exist between slurry samples taken before and after store mixing, and during the process of store emptying.
The sampling guidelines developed in this project will be used to enhance the manure sampling guidelines in the MAFF Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops book - RB 209 (Appendix 6) and the Managing Livestock Manures booklet - number 3 (Spreading Systems for Slurries and Solid Manures).
The work supports MAFF’s policy objectives of improving the utilisation of nutrients from organic manures as part of sustainable farming systems, and reducing N (ammonia, nitrate and nitrous oxide) and P losses to the wider environment. |
Objective
Overall objective
- To develop improved sampling guidelines so that representative liquid and solid manure samples can be taken for laboratory or on-farm analysis.
Detailed objectives:
1. To quantify in-store variations in slurry nutrient concentrations due to particle settlement or crusting.
2. To assess variations in slurry nutrient concentrations before and following agitation, and during store emptying.
3. To quantify variations in solid manure (FYM and poultry) nutrient concentrations within storage heaps.
4. To assess variations in solid manure nutrient concentrations during land spreading
5. To assess manure laboratory analysis precision. |
Project Documents
• Final Report : Developing improved sampling guidelines for liquid and solid manures
(6227k)
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Time-Scale and Cost
From:
2001
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To:
2004
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Cost: £158,317 |
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Contractor / Funded Organisations
ADAS UK Ltd. |
Keywords
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Fields of Study and Contacts
Environmental Stewardship - |