Farmers who want to increase soil organic matter and health – while also reducing their CO2 footprint – should consider fermenting their manure rather than composting it. Trials have shown that fermenting waste in a similar way to ensiling grass significantly reduces carbon and organic matter losses, making more nutrients available to the growing crop.
Initial independent trials commissioned by Agriton – and carried out by Feed Innovation Services, Wagenigen, Netherlands – showed that composting grass cuttings in windrows led to 60% losses in weight – from 13,400kg to 5,070kg over six weeks. In contrast, fermented cuttings – known as
