Nedmag is developing an innovative solution to reduce nitrogen emissions from cow stables, using pure salts from the production site in Veendam. This project fits seamlessly with one of the most important sustainability themes in agriculture: reducing nitrogen emissions. Magnesium and calcium play a crucial role in this by effectively fixing nitrogen in the manure pit.
Manure enrichment
Adding additives to cow slurry is not a new concept. Various substances have been added to manure for years, both for enrichment and to reduce emissions. Chemical substances or bacteria are often used for this, the effect of which in the further fertilizer cycle can raise questions. That is why Nedmag has started a trial using natural magnesium and calcium to bind nitrogen in the manure through so-called struvite formation.
Struvite
Struvite is the common name for the compound Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate. Ammonium and Phosphate are naturally present in the manure and the addition of magnesium binds them in a crystal form as struvite. This prevents the emission of ammonia to the environment, which is the main source of nitrogen emissions from cow stables. Nedmag contributes to the nitrogen problem in the Netherlands by offering a natural and environmentally friendly innovation that can immediately reduce nitrogen emissions.
With magnesium we bind nitrogen to phosphate to form struvite, which can reduce ammonia emissions by as much as 50%.
Dairy Campus testing
It has been shown both on a laboratory scale and in the cowshed that a substantial reduction can be achieved. Research is being conducted at the Dairy Campus in Leeuwarden, in collaboration with Wageningen University (WUR), with the aim of ensuring that the approximately 50% reduction in previous tests can be demonstrated on a practical scale over a longer period of time. In three periods of eight weeks, spread over the different seasons, nitrogen emissions are measured in two identical stables according to the WUR measurement protocol. In this way, factors such as temperature and time are corrected and recognized.
Spraying on stable floors
Spraying the stable floors is done by means of sprinklers mounted in beams along the edges of the stable and on the cubicles. The beams are strong enough for the cows to stand on and thus prevent damage to the pipes and sprinklers. By means of a completely automated dosing system, the correct amount of liquid containing magnesium and calcium is dosed at a fixed interval. The system is linked to the Cloud and works as an assurance system because it stores the spraying data securely.
Magnesium makes the difference: GD Animal Health also shows promising results for improved claw health.
Partners
Nedmag collaborates with various partners within the project, such as the Provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland, Wageningen University, mechanization company Wijha and software partner Maraxis.