What nutrient is in slurry?

Slurry is a valuable source of organic N, P and K and, if used wisely, can help reduce chemical fertiliser bills on farms.

What is slurry made up of?

Slurry is created from cow manure and water and provides a fantastic, natural fertiliser that farmers can use to encourage the growth of grass and other crops. It is usually stored in a slurry tank or lagoon before it is applied to farmland as fertiliser.

What nutrients are in cow slurry?

Cattle manure is a valuable source of key nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) sulphur (S) magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) as well as certain micronutrients.

What is slurry good for?

Most of slurry’s value lies in its P and K content and, therefore, is best used on fields with low P and K indices. It’s also particularly valuable for silage fields, where it can make a substantial contribution to the K requirements of a silage crop.

What gas is in slurry?

1.Toxic gases

Toxic gases are released during the bacterial decomposition of slurry in tanks. Inhaling these gases which include hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide can be lethal. Some, like methane, are flammable. One in particular, hydrogen sulphide, is poisonous.

Does slurry contain methane?

Slurry is liquid manure that is first collected in pits under animal confinements for about a month and then exported for treatment or biogas production. While in pits, the organic material in slurry begins to degrade and may produce methane emissions.

Is slurry bad for soil?

For over forty years, scientists have been routinely adding cattle or pig slurry to these plots and monitoring the effects on soil and grass health. Most recently, this has disclosed that slurry, far from killing earthworms, increase their presence up to five times that of the non-treated plots.

Is slurry good for soil?

Slurry is fully of valuable nutrients but can damage our environment if not managed correctly. For example, Phosphorus within the slurry can be washed into waterbodies causing eutrophication or nitrogen can be lost through gaseous emissions.

How many gallons of slurry is an acre?

3,000 gallons
Normally, application rates of up to 3,000 gallons per acre (33m3/ha) are recommended, depending on the soil test and whether the fields are used for grazing or silage. A total of 3,000 gallons of cattle slurry per acre should provide enough P and K for first-cut silage.

Can farmers spread slurry at night?

“Avoid spreading slurry in the evenings, at weekends or on public holidays,” farmers are advised, “and ensure the wind is blowing away from dwelling houses”.

Can you spread slurry in rain?

You must not spread slurry when land is waterlogged, flooded or where heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours. To prevent waters from becoming polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus, slurry should be spread as evenly and accurately as possible. .

Does slurry affect earthworms?

Slurry only kills a very small percentage of earthworms. If not used excessively it is benefical to populations. Worm casts in grassland.

When can farmers spread slurry 2021?

14 October – Last date for spreading slurry, as the closed period starts on October 15. 15 October – Last date for ploughing grassland until December 1.

What date is slurry ban?

In all three zones, the prohibited application period for slurry and chemical fertiliser came into effect on September 15, 2021, and November 1, 2021 for farmyard manure.

Why is there a slurry ban in Ireland?

In 2022, to reduce the impact of nutrient losses in the riskiest period, the spreading of soiled water will be prohibited between November 15 and January 15. Currently, soiled water can be spread all year if soil and weather conditions allow, at up to 50,000 litres per hectare in any 42 hour period.

Is Spreading slurry illegal?

Spreading of slurry from the road into fields is illegal.

Is there a slurry ban in England?

Farmers in England have been granted a temporary reprieve from rules preventing the autumn spreading of slurry and manure on some land, after the Environment Agency (EA) agreed to relax enforcement until the end of February 2022.

Can slurry be spreading near houses?

“In accordance with the requirements of these regulations, all fertilisers should be stored and managed in a responsible manner to ensure the protection of water quality. The regulations do not specify distances in relation to spreading fertiliser in proximity to dwellings.

Is slurry a pollutant?

Rural group water supplies are in danger of becoming polluted because farmers have been spreading slurry on wet land due to the bad weather.

When can slurry be spread in UK?

Under Rule 1 of the Farming Rules for Water, farmers will be permitted to spread slurry or manure in autumn if there is no pollution risk, as the EA confirms it has relaxed enforcement rules until the end of February 2022.

Can you spread slurry with a splash plate?

For a long number of years, many farms will have spread their slurry using a tanker and splash-plate. This was often seen as a chore to relieve the pressure on storage in late winter or early spring.

Why is slurry bad for Rivers?

Typical environmental impacts associated with the improper storage of slurry includes water pollution (surface and groundwater), air pollution (odours), eutrophication in rivers from ammonia and nitrate levels and increased levels of pathogens.