Efficient fertilizer strategies: Silphie as a biogas hero in the district!

Efficient fertilizer strategies: Silphie as a biogas hero in the district!

Straubing, Deutschland - The mixed Silphie (Silphium Perfoliatum L.) is now very popular among farmers in Bavaria. This persistent perennial, which belongs to the Korbblütler family, is increasingly grown as an alternative substrate for biogas plants due to its high biomass production. According to Wochenblatt-dlv.de the harvest time is for the silphie between mid-August and mid-September. The clever use of fermentation can help farmers be able to secure an attractive harvest.

But what are the challenges to master? Of course, the focus is on the right fertilization strategy. While the removal of nutrients is theoretically not a problem, there are a few things to consider when fertilizing with fermentation. There is a risk of gaseous nitrogen losses, as the “Silphieguide” project shows, which runs until 2024 and is specifically concerned with improving nitrogen recycling in fermentation female. Various cultivation and fertilizer methods are tested to increase efficiency.

fertilizer strategies in focus

One of the core questions of the project revolves around the optimal fertilizer. The use of towing hose technology shows promising results, but tests in Straubing have shown that the fermentation fertilization does not achieve the desired effects in autumn. The nutrient recycling is weaker here, so that spring fermentation fertilization is recommended. Especially when the soil is slammed, the use of row chopping devices proves to be useful to improve the infiltration of the fermentation residues. With an N supply of only 12 to 22 % below the planned need, the success of the fertilizer measures is heavily dependent on the right technology.

A look at the numbers is worthwhile: compared to the mineral fertilization, which offers a yield of up to 128.5 dt dry matter per hectare, the slot technology only brings 116.5 dt. Less n fertilization led to lower plant heights and earnings in the tests, which is important how important a balanced fertilizer strategy is. In addition, the Silphie has a high need for potassium, magnesium and calcium, which can often not be met with sufficient fermentation.

research and development

The challenges in the area of ​​fertilization and the cultivation of Silphie have also attracted the attention of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), which has launched numerous funding projects. The aim of these projects is to sustainably reduce nitrogen emissions in agriculture and to improve efficiency in fertilization. For farmers, this means that in addition to the fertilizer strategy, extensive training and exchange opportunities are also created in order to promote knowledge transfer, such as ble.de reported.

With these measures, one hopes to take a step towards climate -friendly agriculture and at the same time offer farmers an economically viable solution. In cooperation with research institutes and universities, the entire process is observed closely in order to be able to achieve optimal results for the cultivation of the mixed silphie. Due to the close cooperation of all participants, the chances are also great that further fertilizer strategies will be developed that are not only ecologically but also economically sensible.

Exciting years are imminent in which the Silphie and its fertilizer methods will become more and more focus on. This not only strengthens the regional cultivation practices, but could also bring groundbreaking changes in the way in which agricultural businesses use their resources.