Slurry analysis

[Dod_1985]

What's folks thoughts on analysing dung slurry?
Is it worth while doing and what's the costs?

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Do you ever soil sample for P and K etc? If not I would start there.

 

[Boysground]

I have it done IIRC its about £40 a sample. I do it for 2 reasons firstly I know that my slurry has a lower N figure than the standard figures. This means I can apply a greater volume without going over NVZ limits. I keep the analysis results which the EA have seen and they are happy with this. Without the analysis I would have to put the standard figures down. I also put the applied amount in the ADAS MANNER program and take the available N off the amount of nitrogen I apply, this is most useful on wheat.

P and K results not as much of an issue as I haven't needed to buy any for years.

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[Dod_1985]

We already soil test which is certainly worthwhile doing. We got quiet a shock when we got the ph levels of some of our fields. Put a lot of sand on and had big improvement in silage quality.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

We already soil test which is certainly worthwhile doing. We got quiet a shock when we got the ph levels of some of our fields. Put a lot of sand on and had big improvement in silage quality.

I assume you have applied ground limestone to correct pH levels. Is the farm in an NVZ? are any of the fields particularly low or high in P or K ?

 

[Dod_1985]

Ph levels are fine we actually used beach sand due to the fact it's free. Takes longer to work but seems to have done the job.
We're not in a Nvz zone. Have a few that's a bit low maybe. How often do sample your soil?
Was hoping sampling our slurry I would get a better idea if we are putting enough on or are putting on too much fertiliser and maybe save a pound or 2.

 

[Wastexprt]

Was hoping sampling our slurry I would get a better idea if we are putting enough on or are putting on too much fertiliser and maybe save a pound or 2.

I would say that it is a worthwhile thing to do, so you know what you are putting on.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Ph levels are fine we actually used beach sand due to the fact it's free. Takes longer to work but seems to have done the job.
We're not in a Nvz zone. Have a few that's a bit low maybe. How often do sample your soil?
Was hoping sampling our slurry I would get a better idea if we are putting enough on or are putting on too much fertiliser and maybe save a pound or 2.

I would be sampling around 20% of the farm each year and aim to get round every field every 4 or 5 years, this will give you an idea if P & K levels are being maintained, often on stock farms the fields that are convenient for spreading manures can have very high indices but outlying fields could benefit more from the manures. It is probably a good idea to sample the manures is it solid or slurry, remember the method of spreading, crop, month when spread etc will affect how efficiently the N within the manures is used.

 

[Dod_1985]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think we need to be doing more regular sampling. We're probably quiet guilty of sampling when a field has a visible problem. Mainly slurry spread in April then again in June after 1st cut and again sept at 2500 gallon a acre ruffle. Any reseed usually gets plenty of dung and slurry is spread with tanker and splash plate