Ploughing down digestate

[TheEarlOfMoray]

we had some digestate spread on some stubble about a month ago and ploughed down last week, question is... how much of the nitrogen will have gone from it? Just trying to figure out how much fert to put on when drilling? Will be spring malting barley. Just a small field as a trial really to see how it goes.

 

[Chae1]

Depends how much rain you've had? Surely that will have a big effect on leaching. If you look at nvz figures the n losses by not incorporating it in 24 hours of spreading are huge.

 

[TheEarlOfMoray]

Depends how much rain you've had? Surely that will have a big effect on leaching. If you look at nvz figures the n losses by not incorporating it in 24 hours of spreading are huge.

Never stopped raining! Bound to still be some there I’d think but how much is the problem. Will be interesting to see but don’t want to overdo the fert in case it ends up flat to the ground. Hopefully someone on here has done it before and has an idea

 

[Bury the Trash]

depends what soil/ground it is sloping and free draining? or over clay and level ..as the other extreme ...

The plough will bring it back up if its still in the top anyway....

atmospheric loss would be lower this time of year tho...

 

[D14]

we had some digestate spread on some stubble about a month ago and ploughed down last week, question is... how much of the nitrogen will have gone from it? Just trying to figure out how much fert to put on when drilling? Will be spring malting barley. Just a small field as a trial really to see how it goes.

Isn’t this why there’s new rules tightening up on this. Surely you should of ploughed straight after and drilled?

Delay the digestate application until you are ready to drill.

 

[sjt01]

Most of the nitrogen losses will be to the atmosphere. If applied with trailing shoe you may lose 45% or more, applied with splash plate 75% lost, even if ploughed in straight behind the tanker or umbilical. Hope you are not in an NVZ, or else are untraceable!

 

[The_Swede]

As above - surely a can of worms just waiting to explode this digestate business. When you consider the restrictions on other high readily available N sources some of the 'practices' employed with this stuff are just asking for trouble on inspection?

How can it be fitted into a NMP when applied months previous? Do you run it through manner and then tacitly admit its been about 10% efficient? Or do you record it as done by the book then potentially sell yourself short on the quantity of bagged N you can apply re NMax... be very careful with your records...

 

[TheEarlOfMoray]

It would have been ploughed down had it been dry enough to plough but can’t help Mother Nature I’m afraid. Like I say it was only a small field and there wouldn’t be any run into drains or ditches etc. So many keyboard warriors on here.

 

[Sandy]

What nutrients are in the digestate?

 

[Chae1]

It would have been ploughed down had it been dry enough to plough but can’t help Mother Nature I’m afraid. Like I say it was only a small field and there wouldn’t be any run into drains or ditches etc. So many keyboard warriors on here.

I always thought digestate is a liquid? Can you not inject it at application? Then not have to worry about incorporating it in a hurry.

 

[d williams]

we had some digestate spread on some stubble about a month ago and ploughed down last week, question is... how much of the nitrogen will have gone from it? Just trying to figure out how much fert to put on when drilling? Will be spring malting barley. Just a small field as a trial really to see how it goes.

I would put half my fert down and see what crop looks like when tramlines appear

 

[Flat 10]

Do a soil N test at crop emergence in digestate field and neighbouring one?

 

[Brisel]

...So many keyboard warriors on here.

Would you apply 1cwt/acre Nitram onto the surface a couple of months ago? The reason for the tone of some of the replies is that digestate contains lots (80%) of readily available N unlike more traditional manures where availability (and therefore leachability) is lower.

Try soil N core sampling from this field when you’ve drilled it, plus do one next door as a reference.

 

[aylshamslurry]

You dont say if it was liquid or solid? It is the same as if you drilling spring barley after sheep on stubble turnips the only way to know for sure is get soil N tested as last year I only put 100kg/ha of N on after sheep and only just passed malting quality.
When we spread liquid digestate on land going in spring barley we only do it just before drilling or top dress it unless they are going to soil test it then its ok. If you have it on a while ago like you did then its a lottery as mentioned due to the weather.

 

[Frodo]

Do you know the analysis of the digestate? I have found it fairly variable. The rate applied is also more arbitory than the contractor admits, if you can plough in in 24hrs your logistics are way better than mine and spreading it all at drilling time is fanciful.


Assuming it got a good dose I would cut N by a third and hope for the best and if barley is high N have another pile to blend a bit with.

How reliable are soil N tests?

Other thing is are you certain your malting barley contract allows you to use digestate.

 

[ollie989898]

Apply the digestate again when the crop is up!!

 

[Turra farmer]

Apply the digestate again when the crop is up!!

Down the tramlines ?

 

[ollie989898]

Down the tramlines ?

However you want.

 

[Turra farmer]

However you want.

You done it ?

 

[Gee]

I take our tanker 'down the tramlines'. I've not put any on barley land as yet. I'll do all our rye grass if the land ever starts to dry out!