Additives didn’t solve slurry nitrogen and phosphorus runoff problem

Teagasc researchers have tested chemicals for addition to slurry and dirty water, but found they cannot be generally recommended as a means to decrease incidental losses from slurry of phosphorus and nitrogen.

They tested ochre, ferric chloride, aluminium chloride, charcoal, alum, lime, poly-aluminium chloride hydroxide, and alum (aluminium sulphate).

If land application of dairy slurry and dirty water is followed by a heavy rainfall event, it can result in incidental losses of phosphorus and nitrogen to runoff.