Context
Characterization of recyclable organic matter and more especially of farm manure composition takes all his significance in the perspective of the legal obligation restricting or modulating their spreading according to their composition. The knowledge of such composition allows the farmer to contest and to adjust both its ‘soil link ratio’ and the quantities he have to exchange in order to equilibrate this parameter.Such characterization have not only to be precise but also repeatable. To reach such a target, the methods used in the laboratories implicated in the analysis of those substrates have to be harmonized. This will enable to implement a data base, homogeneous and wide enough, to allow the establishment of NIR's reliable predictive models on fresh or dry material.
On an other hand, the nitrogen fertilizing value of these manures is partially determined by the gradual mineralization of their organic nitrogen fraction that is the main nitrogen fraction in these materials. This mineralization follows a complex dynamic, characteristic of each effluent, resulting from the differential biodegradability of the different organic matter components. The definition of composition parameters, helpful to predict the biodegradability of such organic fertilizers, is an essential tool to “in fine” predicts their agricultural value and to classify them according to their speed of action.
Objectives
In collaboration with Nitrawal scientific partners (ECOP-UCL and Grenera), the laboratories involved in the analysis of this problematic and the laboratories confronted with the routine analysis of those manures, have to state on the analytical methods used to quantify the most important components of such substrates. Comparison of these analytical methods takes place by performing ring test. The most relevant method will be chosen following the interpretation and synthesis of the results.The selected analytical procedures will then be transferred to the different laboratories of the REQUASUD network interested by this type of analysis. This will allow the implementation of a high value data base for NIRS calibrations.
An other objective will be to identify parameters able to explain the differential biodegradability of organic matter components and to standardize the analytical procedures to measure those parameters. This study will be based on the cracking of the major manures components and their degradability kinetics characterization.
Results obtained
Selection and harmonization in all the laboratories implicated in the problematic, of the most relevant analytical procedures for recyclable organic matter characterization. Creation of an homogeneous data base of manure composition to develop reliable NIRS calibrations.Definition of parameters allowing to characterize the biodegradability of the different effluents.
Contribution
The Farming Systems Section have to develop NIRS calibration in collaboration with the Quality of agricultural Products Department.Partners
ECOP-UCL, Grenera, ULB, FUSAGx, AGRAOST, REQUASUD.CRAW off coordinator
AGNEESSENS Richard (Attaché)Département Section Systèmes agricoles - Libramont
Rue de Serpont, 100
B-6800 Libramont
Téléphone direct :061/231014
Téléphone département :+ 32 (0) 61 / 23.10.10
Fax département :+ 32 (0) 61 / 23.10.28
E-mail :agneessens@cra.wallonie.be
LAMBERT Richard
UCL - Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Prairies
Michamps, 1
B-6600 Bastogne
Téléphone : + 32 (0) 61 / 21.08.20
Fax : + 32 (0) 61 / 21.08.40
E-mail :lambert@ecop.ucl.ac.be
Funding
- CRA-W - Walloon Agricultural Research Centre