Cost Effective Slurry Storage - Is It Possible?
UK - With continuing environmental pressure, farmers are constantly looking for ways to store slurry cost effectively. However research carried out by BPEX, EBLEX and DairyCo has unearthed potential problems.For those considering soil stabilisation as a way to build earth bank lagoons for slurry storage, research has identified problems.
Soil stabilisation is similar to rotavating and involves the thorough mixing of cement or lime powder with subsoil and then re-compacting it with a heavy roller. The technique is used by the construction industry to prepare building sites and also in the dairy industry to improve the durability of cow tracks, and can be particularly effective on clay-based soils.
Soil stabilisation has the potential to be a cost effective way of building slurry storage, but the research showed that, for the limited range of soil types trialed, using cement as the admix was not satisfactory, and the results failed to meet the standards necessary for storing slurry in compliance with NVZ regulations.
The potential for using lime as the admix is now being considered.
TheCattleSite News Desk