Nitrogen leaching maize field
Much nitrogen is being lost from liquid manure because it is being flushed away. The nitrate-nitrogen is moved to a depth of 45 cm after 100 mm of precipitation in sandy soil. The nitrate-nitrogen is moved to a depth of 22 cm with the same amount of precipitation in clay soil.
The above applies to nitrate. The mineral nitrogen in liquid manure consists of ammonium. It is converted into nitrate within a few weeks by the Nitromonas and Nitrobacter soil bacteria. Maize only absorbs a very slight quantity of nitrogen up to the end of June. This means that the nitrate that is not absorbed is sensitive to being flushed away. This, however, can be avoided by adding Piadin (a nitrification inhibitor) to the manure. Piadin inhibits the development of the Nitromonas bacterium. This will ensure that the conversion into nitrate is delayed considerably and that more nitrogen will remain available for the crop. In long-term demonstrations this produces additional yield in the maize of 12% dry matter and no less than 15% starch on average.
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