70% reduction in spring barley fertiliser costs possible with pig slurry
A valuable source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and other trace elements, 1,000 gallons of good quality pig slurry is the equivalent of a 50kg bag of 19-7-20 and, at February’s fertiliser prices, that makes it worth the equivalent of €33/1,000 gallons. File picture: Andy Gibson
Tillage farmers looking to reduce costs this spring should give serious consideration to including pig slurry in the fertiliser programmes for their crops.
A valuable source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and other trace elements, 1,000 gallons of good quality pig slurry is the equivalent of a 50kg bag of 19-7-20 and, at February’s fertiliser prices, that makes it worth the equivalent of €33/1,000 gallons.
Excluding the costs associated with transport and spreading, and given its nutrient content, this means that pig slurry has the potential to reduce fertiliser spreading costs by up to 70% on spring barley crops when applied at 36m3/ha (3,200gal/ac), or 35% when applied at 18m3/ha (1,600gal/ac).
Along with providing financial savings, other benefits to using pig slurry in a tillage rotation include adding valuable organic matter to the soil, allowing for an improvement in soil structure, along with reducing the farm’s vulnerability to fluctuations in the cost of imported fertilisers.
A couple of important points to note however, when using pig slurry,
- Aim to plough-in within 3-6 hours after application to maximise N recovery.
- To make the most effective use of nutrients on your farm, whether planning to incorporate pig slurry or not, completing a nutrient management plan is a must. From a regulatory point of view, it ensures that you are not exceeding your P allowance, while from a crop production perspective it ensures that nutrients are balanced effectively.
A further step to this is to test the quality of slurry being imported onto your farm, ensuring that the crop is provided with the most appropriate nutrition programme.
Although laboratory testing is the gold standard, a slurry hydrometer can be used to measure the dry matter percentage and give a good indicator of nutrient content.
For more information and to find your nearest supplier of pig slurry, contact a member of the Teagasc Pig Development Department.
