Field test activities for FERTIMANURE biofertilisers take place in France, Belgium, and Spain
13/10/2022
Distribution of intermediate FERTIMANURE project results took place on the occasion of on-going field trials in France, Belgium, and Spain this summer with the aim of assessing the agronomic performance of bio-based fertilisers against chemical fertilisers.
During these demonstration days novel bio-based fertilisers and tailor-made fertilisers were presented along with technologies used at the FERTIMANURE pilots to produce them.
In addition, machinery for the application of bio-based fertilisers was demonstrated and the intermediate project results presented to different stakeholders - with farmers, farm advisors and fertiliser companies as the main target groups.
In France, visits took place at the Experimental Station of Kerguéhennec (Bignan, Brittany) during the 2022 Open Days (9th and 10th June) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the station. The event, organised by the French Chambers of Agriculture, was attended by 500 people. Participants could visit the maize trial where nitrogen recovery efficiency of BBF ammonium sulphate is tested.
In Belgium, Ugent, the University of Ghent (in collaboration with research institute Inagro) organised a field trial visit on 16 June in Wingene (West Flanders). This event brought together 52 participants from various agricultural branches. It focused on the ammonium salts (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate) as maize fertiliser and also included a demonstration on machinery.
In Spain, a demonstrative day of field trials was organised by BETA Technological Centre of the University of Vic on 30 June at the Cal Ros Farm in Muntanyola in Catalonia and involved 16 people. The aim was to present the first results obtained from the field application of the biofertiliser products generated by the pilot biorefinery installed at the farm in applications to winter cereal. The University of Vic presented a novel tailor-made fertiliser consisting of a pre-sowing application of the biodried fraction, a top-dress application of the ammonium sulphate solution and the biostimulant product. This tailor-made fertiliser was tested in cultivation of winter wheat.
Each of these events saw good participation (and contribution!) from farmers, advisors, fertiliser companies and researchers.
Globally, participants found the events truly relevant given the current context of the fertiliser market. Some expressed an interest in being informed about the results obtained in 2022, and globally, about the progress of the FERTIMANURE project as a whole.