Due to the development of the livestock sector in recent years, a considerable volume of slurry and manure is currently generated in Spain. Thanks to its significant nitrogen content, mostly ammoniacal, slurry represents an important resource available to the farmer when fertilizing.
However, the application of manure on agricultural soils in 2020 has generated 28% of national emissions (mainly ammonia) derived from agricultural activities.
It is logical then, that fertilization and the good agronomic state of the soils are taken into consideration in the strategies related to the European Green Pact, as well as in the guidelines set by national governments. Spain has just published Royal Decree 1051/2022, whose objective is to regulate the sustainable use of crop fertilization, and specifically, the use of manure to dramatically reduce its environmental impact and maximize its fertilizing potential. The decree authorizes the use of nitrification inhibitor products, such as Vizura® by BASF.
with Vizura® The farmer has at his disposal a tool that allows him to improve the nitrogen efficiency of the slurry, obtaining average harvest increases of 7% of dry matter produced from the crop (average calculated from more than 400 trials) compared to conventional slurry, while reducing considerably the emissions linked to its application.
The use of Vizura® in slurry as a fertilizer means considerable savings in inputs for the farmer and much more flexibility when organizing field work. Vizura® it retains in the soil the nitrogen provided with the slurry in the bottom fertilizer for more weeks, allowing the crop to take advantage of it as it develops.
Nitrification, key process of nitrogen in the soil
Up to 50% of the nitrogen contributed in the fertilizer (mineral or organic) can be lost without the plants taking advantage of it. The nitrogen in the slurry is transformed into nitrate which, due to the action of irrigation water or rain, ends up dissolved with the risk of reaching groundwater by leaching. In addition, when it reaches a certain depth, it can no longer be used by the roots of the crop.
But the problems of nitrogen do not end here: this nitrate can be transformed into nitrous oxide (N2O) and detach into the atmosphere due to its volatility.
This loss of nitrogen by washing or emission into the atmosphere causes economic losses, since it reduces the efficiency of the nitrogen supplied, the productive potential and the profitability of the crop. There are also environmental and social damages due to the fact that the washing and accumulation of nitrates in groundwater can limit or prevent the use of water from groundwater resources and the emission of greenhouse gases has a long-term impact on the climate change.
Thanks to Vizura® the reduction of these losses is significant and varies greatly depending on the soil, and may even exceed 65%.
On the other hand, from a slurry mixed with Vizura® nitrogenous gas emissions are also reduced by up to 45%.
A new era for organic fertilization begins, where manure can be used as fertilizer in a more efficient and profitable way for the farmer and more respectful of the environment.
