Innovative solutions to use pig effluent as organic fertilizer
In Belgorod region, there are many livestock enterprises, complexes, where million tons of livestock waste, including pig effluent, is accumulated. This article highlights the innovative solution to the problem. Pig effluent is a valuable organic fertilizer containing 0.25-0.35% nitrogen, 0.12-0.14% phosphorus, 0.14-0.24% potassium. The paper presents the results on soil and agrochemical survey where the soil is treated with pig effluent, specifies the conditions to preserve soil fertility, boost crop yield and to protect the environment. In terms of efficient agriculture, apply of pig effluent could contribute to better soil fertility. In enterprises under research, the fertilizer is used within the soil annually in the amount of 100-150 m3/ha. Black-earth soil treated with pig effluent has a weakly alkaline reaction of the soil medium with pH 6.4-7.9, low hydrolytic acidity of the soil - 0.73-1.29 mg-eq/100g. Humus content rises to 6.05-6.54% compared to nearby arable land. Black-earth soil transforms from low- to medium-humic soil. Total absorbed bases are relatively high and vary between 30.1 and 34.8 and more mg-eq/100g. The most valuable characteristic of pig effluent is high calcium content (20.6-27.1 mg-eq/100g), which is a major factor of valuable lumpy-grained soil structuring. It also reduces soil acidity. Crop yield, including corn as grain is 13.4-16.4 t/ha, corn as silage - up to 124 t/ha. It is developed elements of agrotechnological regulation to apply pig effluent as organic fertilizer.