Liquid manure - a valuable material
Challenges around the world: Taking a look at China, Canada and the Ukraine
The country with the largest population in Southeast Asia is home to some of the largest dairy and pig production facilities in the world
China
This is the situation
The country with the largest population in Southeast Asia is home to some of the largest dairy and pig production facilities in the world. The large number of agricultural businesses is nevertheless very small and scattered over all provinces in China. Up to now, investing in technology for more environmentally friendly liquid manure spreading has been too risky for these mostly family-run businesses, as there have been no long-term legal requirements. To this day, many farmers simply pump the liquid manure onto their fields, where they mainly grow corn and wheat in a crop rotation. As a result, problems are arising due to liquid manure in the groundwater and decreasing soil fertility.
This technology is used
Some business are using small machines and barrels with a small volume of up to 15 m³. Cultivators with distributors are occasionally used for barrels and umbilical application systems. In other cases without suitable technology the fields are literally flooded with liquid manure.
Initial solutions
The People’s Republic of China is already tackling environmental problems caused by excessive liquid manure spreading. For a number of years now, the state has been tightening its environmental requirements and is already subsidizing the technologies for ground-level spreading and liquid manure incorporation within this context. In order to introduce new technologies to the country, the government is supporting the establishment of what are referred to as showcase farms. New technologies and processes are demonstrated at these model farms with livestock and crop cultivation. This allows businesses from the surrounding region to learn about the new technology and obtain a practical impression.
Outlook
The requirements for organic fertilization in China will continue to increase in the coming years. Relatively small and therefore inexpensive technology as well as individual high-quality components are helping Chinese farmers to set up their liquid manure management in a sustainable manner.
“Our customer from Taiping is using the DosiMat DMX precision distributor on cultivators to incorporate the liquid manure directly into the soil and, in this way, use the nutrients it contains efficiently. The compact and relatively inexpensive technology exactly meets its requirements for a functional and high-performance spreading procedure.”
Hubert Schmidt, Head of Sales in the field of international agricultural technology at Vogelsang
- Company: Tianjin Zhongshan Husbandry Co. Ltd. dairy farm with breeding
- Place: Taiping
- Capacity: 6,000 cattle
- Plant population: corn and wheat on mainly loamy soil
- Vogelsang product: DosiMat DMX precision Distributor
Ukraine
This is the situation
Although Ukrainian farmers often use state-of-the-art technology in crop cultivation, organic fertilization only plays a minor role for them. This is also due to the fact that livestock farms often see liquid manure as an annoying by-product. A common solution is therefore liquid manure lagoons, which serve as an uncomplicated storage location for liquid manure.
Where is the problem?
In the Ukraine today there are many, sometimes very large, liquid manure lagoons with a volume of 20,000 to 80,000 m³. Since the agricultural businesses have barely invested in the necessary mixing and pump technology so far, the basins have not been moved for years. This has left lagoons with a very tough layer of sediment that the businesses can no longer process with conventional centrifugal pumps.
Initial solutions
The high suction capacity of the rotary lobe pumps from Vogelsang allows the businesses to pump out the sediment layers and completely empty the lagoons. Although the time required for this is long, it is an efficient and economical solution compared to a suitable mixer due to the cost advantage.
“With the rotary lobe pump, we can empty the liquid manure lagoons even under difficult conditions. Even large basins with a suction depth of up to eight meters are no problem for the pump.”
Witaly Klimenko, Technical Manager at Globine pig farm
- Company: Globine pig farm
- Capacity: 12,500 pigs
- Place: Poltava
- Vogelsang product: VX series rotary lobe pump, 60,000 m³ pumping capacity per year
Canada
“Canadian farmers also rely on dribble bar systems for effective liquid manure spreading. In combination with our precision distributors, they are able to achieve precise and efficient liquid manure distribution.”
Hubert Schmidt, Head of Sales in the field of international agricultural technology at Vogelsang
This is the situation
In Canada there are both small and very large farms ‒ similar to in Germany. Since the winters are long and the summers short, agricultural businesses have to adapt their liquid manure management to the short spreading time. Corn and rapeseed are the predominant crops. Due to the high proportion of sand in the soil, liquid manure distribution can be a real test for man and machine.
Legal requirements
Canada has issued some environmental regulations for the spreading of liquid manure. The time and type of spreading are regulated, especially in the area of the large lakes.
Initial solutions
A spreading technology that is suitable for Canadian conditions must be effective and precise. Because sometimes the farmers there have to process huge fields. With barrels of up to 70 m³, single distributors and dribble hose technology, the businesses spread the liquid manure efficiently over the large areas. Canadians appreciate the robust European technology, as it achieves reliable results even on sandy soil.
Vogelsang on-site
Vogelsang is already on-site with dribble bar systems such as the SwingUp or precision distributors like the new ExaCut ECQ in several provinces of Canada.
Interview with Hubert Schmidt, Head of Sales in the field of international agricultural technology at Vogelsang
"The international demand for reliable technology for efficient liquid manure management is increasing"
THINK RED!: Mr. Schmidt, in Germany there are numerous requirements for the treatment and distribution of liquid manure. The requirements primarily serve to protect agricultural areas and the environment. How do the regulations affect the work of farmers and contractors? Hubert Schmidt: Legal framework conditions such as the fertilizer ordinance in Germany present the agricultural economy with the challenge of designing its liquid manure management, on the one hand, in accordance with the law and, on the other hand, in an economic and plant-friendly manner. In ever-shorter time windows they have to spread the liquid manure close to the ground and in strips. This can be achieved only with a precise spreading technology. In Germany, farmers appreciate the “value” of liquid manure and the advantages of organic fertilization. However, the strict requirements also push them to their limits. Investments in new technology can be high, but the resources – especially in small businesses – are often low.
Are businesses in other countries facing the same challenge?
Partially. There are certainly countries in which liquid manure distribution is also subject to strict restrictions such as the spreading time and quantity – the Netherlands is an example of this. However, we are observing great differences in the challenges of liquid manure management worldwide. In many countries, for example, there is a lack of the necessary economic infrastructure and thus also the technology to use liquid manure in an environmentally friendly and plant-friendly manner. In some countries, an awareness of the advantages of precise organic fertilization is emerging only slowly.
Do you think that liquid manure management will change outside of Germany in the future?
Yes, we are already observing such developments in some countries – for example in China and Canada. Funding programs are being set up and restrictions issued. However, these measures are often still in thei initial stages. But, there is a tendency towards increasing the awareness of environmentally friendly and efficient liquid manure management worldwide. Above all, countries with a large share of agriculture will need solutions in the future to reduce the environmental pollution caused by the careless handling of liquid manure.
What role is Vogelsang playing in this development?
Vogelsang has been doing pioneering work on-site with experts for many years. This means we are supporting developments in the field of research and science and are constantly in communication with regard to thecurrent state of the art. We see an increasing demand worldwide for reliable technology for efficient liquid manure management – both for individual components and complete systems. Our products are of sufficient flexibility to meet the various challenges in different countries. We provide our customers with solutionoriented products: from rotary lobe pumps and precision distributors to dribble bar systems. We will be expanding this commitment in the future and are following the global developments in liquid manure management with great excitement.