Efficient, alternative and environmentally friendly ways of dealing with farm slurry and digestate will be in the spotlight at the 2016 DLG-Feldtage exhibition, which will be held from 14 to 16 June at Maria Burghausen in Hassfurt (Lower Franconia), Germany.
The DLG Special Show: Efficient use of liquid manure and fermentation residue has been organized because of the interest in the topic resulting from a forthcoming amendment to Germany's Fertilizer Application Ordinance (DüV), which is the legislation governing best practice in fertilizer use and reducing nutrient losses into the environment originating from agriculture.
The Fertilizer Application Ordinance is also at the center of Germany's action programme for fulfilling the requirements of the EU Nitrates Directive, and the changes reflect the need for modifications in the use of manures at a European level.
The new amendment means farmers have to adapt to stricter requirements for the application of natural and man-made fertilizers for plant nutrition. The planned changes have helped shape the special focus on liquid manure and digestate that has been organized by DLG, the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture and other industry partners. Taking place on stand GF202 at the DLG-Feldtage, the following topics will be addressed:
- Environmental services: Recognize and use liquid manure and fermentation residue as nutrient carriers.
- Treatment (or processing): Separation of solids from liquid manure and digestate.
- Nutrient analysis: As the basis of efficient application.
- Preventing nutrient losses through the use of nitrogen stabilizers.
- Technical solutions with economic benefits: From the slurry store, through the pump to the distribution system.
The following exhibitors will take part in the DLG Special Show:
- Zunhammer GmbH with its VAN Controll 2.0 (GF204)
www.zunhammer.de/de/produkte/elektronik/van-control - Kotte Landtechnik GmbH & Co. KG with its mobile nutrient station (GF208)
www.garant-kotte.de/produkte/specials/nir-sensor/ueberblick/ - SKW Piesteritz with its nitrogen stabilizer PIADIN (GF206)
www.skwp.de/de/produkte/beratung.html - Erich Stallkamp ESTA GmbH (GF196), Fritz Paulmichl GmbH (GF198), Kverneland Veenhuis (GF200) and Lothar Becker Agrartechnik GmbH (GF194) with slurry separation systems
Furthermore, the DLG Test Center for Technology and Farm Input at Gross-Umstadt will present its VERA project. This examines techniques for slurry application, the covering of slurry stores and slurry separation.
Comparison of different methods for manure spreading
In view of the general climate targets in Germany (Düngeverordnung) and internationally (EU Water Framework Directive, NEC/NERC Directive), some of the requirements for efficient and environmentally friendly fertilization will include technical solutions to reduce losses of nitrogen (ammonia) during the application of organic fertilizers.
Visitors to stand GF202 will have the opportunity to find out more about a testing technique developed by the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture that allows different methods for manure spreading to be compared.
In addition to conventional slurry application using a baffle plate to spread the material across a wide area, it is possible to test the effect on nitrogen loss by using drip hose applicators, trailing shoe systems and different injector types (including discs and StripTill).
The aim of the study is to evaluate the mitigating effects of the different application techniques with regard to the reduction of emissions and the resulting increased fertilizing effect. Further additional benefits, such as reduced crop contamination and less plant damage from direct contact with the slurry, are also due to be examined.
DLG and the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture will also be working with industry partners at the DLG-Feldtage 2016 to stage a machinery demonstration of injection technology for liquid manure.
The companies Duport, Fliegl, Kverneland Group Germany and Vogelsang will all have their latest injection machinery for liquid manure at work on their demonstration plots from 9 am to 12 noon and again from 13:00 to 18:00 on all three days of the event.
