Latest News: Digest-It for Effluent
How is BioAg Digest-It for Effluent being used as part of a three-pronged approach to improving pastures and dry matter production in Ireland? Read more...
BioAg Digesters/Digest-it for Effluent
The BioAg Digesters range is currently available throughout Australia, NZ and the UK
Ideal for dairies, piggeries or any other effluent management system- Effluent management has become a major concern on Australian farms where animals are confined for any purpose
Recognising this, BioAg began to work on ameliorating the problem several years ago, first in the dairy sector where farmers have a legal obligation to contain, manage and dispose of livestock effluent within property boundaries in a manner which prevents the pollution of surface and groundwater
Since then, we have adapted it for use in other intensive animal management industries and are continuing its development in piggeries
Digest-it for Effluent is currently available throughout the UK, NZ and Australia.DAIRIES
BioAg identified a problem in the dairy sector with on-farm effluent ponds
Typically, before treatment, these ponds have thick surface crusts, unpleasant odours, and high solids contents
Often, annual mechanical de-sludging is required to avoid them becoming unusable for trapping the wastes from dairy pads
Normally, after a few months of Digest-it for Effluent application, the crust becomes less solid and more liquid becomes available for application to pastures as a rich source of plant-available nutrients, reducing the need for fertiliser
The digestion aided by Digest-it for Effluent is aerobic and the resultant smell is far less offensive
Kingshay, the UK’s leading dairy research organisation performed trials on BioAg’s Digest-it for Dairies
Read more about this trial here
Digest-it for Effluent drum label
Digest-it for Effluent product detailPIGGERIES
The use of Digest-it for Effluent improves the breakdown of the slurry going to paddock, and the composting of solid matter (including straw), facilitates the flushing out of the slurry under slat floors, improves amenity through odour reduction, and improves animal wellbeing through the reduction of scalding from wet straw bedding
While the crust on an effluent pond may seem to stop the odour, it can negatively affect the ability of the pond to function
Trials show that pouring Digest-It into the underflow pits cleans them and the pipes as well
They flow better and don’t build up with solids
Piggery staff have commented there is not the ammonia smell in the sheds, or when pulling the plugs to release the effluent, and there is minimal odour coming from the ponds themselves
A farm using Digest-it in pull plug pits has noticed a change in the effluent held in the pits and, most noticeably, a reduction in the flying insects in the drains. Without the crust on the surface, the available environment for insects to breed is reduced
A great boon to piggery staff is that Digest-it is “operator safe”
Operators suffer no ill effects if they happen to splash it on themselves
No adverse health effects have been shown by pigs where Digest-it has been used
Pigs can safely play in or eat bedding sprayed with Digest-It
Using Digest-It in the shelters will enhance the composting process of the soiled bedding
Using a Digest-it program in a shelter is straight forward and adaptable to the duration of the pigs’ stay
By using Digest-it in a shelter and continuing after clean out with a good composting program, producers are able to create a valuable fertiliser in a relatively short time
BioAg Digesters/Digest-it for Stubble and other organic wastes
Ideal for use as a compost starter
Eliminates need for stubble burning
Reduces carry-over of soil-borne pathogens
Reduces reliance on herbicides to control fallow weeds
Improves soil tilth and workability
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BioAg Digest-it for Stubble has been formulated to rapidly digest and convert stubbles, crop residues, and other organic wastes (ideal as a compost starter) into humus and plant food, as well as increase soil microbial activity
Benefits include reduced need for stubble burning and carry-over of soil-borne pathogens; improved moisture and fertiliser utilisation; and improved soil fertility, tilth and workability
Converts stubbles, residues, and other organic wastes into humus
Ideal for use as a compost starter
Eliminates need for stubble burning
Reduces carry-over of soil-borne pathogens
Reduces reliance on herbicides to control fallow weeds
Improves soil tilth and workability
As in the process of composting, microorganisms involved in the digestion of stubble require moisture to do their job
As a general rule a 20 mm rainfall event provides enough moisture to warrant a stubble digestion program
Typically, the average summer rainfall over the last 15 years in NSW and Victoria has provided sufficient moisture for the digestion process to take place
The key is timing applications with coming rains and gaining sufficient stubble contact with the soil
Some of the benefits associated with a well managed and timed stubble digestion program are listed below
During preparation and planting, there is better trash clearance and less “balling up”
The stubble is more completely broken down, providing a source of nitrogen to better balance the carbon:nitrogen ratio
This improves the breakdown process and reduces nitrogen immobilization (draw down) during the critical early growth stage of the crop
Sequestration of atmospheric nitrogen occurs during the decomposition process which means that there is less competition for nitrogen overall, resulting in less dependence on manufactured nitrogen fertilisers
Furthermore the improved biological activity has the ability to hold onto more nitrogen which is released in a more balanced manner during mineralisation and symbiotic plant biological processes
Well digested stubble decreases the hosts for fungal diseases and improves the soil biology habitat, offering better natural plant protection
Good tilth is a term referring to soil that has the proper structure and nutrients to grow healthy crops
Soil in good tilth is loamy, nutrient-rich soil that can also be said to be friable because optimal soil has a mixture of sand, clay and organic matter that prevents severe compaction
Stubble digestion aids tilth by creating more humus, resulting in a superior soil structure - Digest-it for Stubble product detail
