Mineral Concentrates Pilot : synthesis of the results of 2011

The agronomic and environmental impacts of the production of mineral concentrate and its use as mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer are examined in a pilot. In this pilot, the mineral concentrate is applied as fertilizer above the application standard for manure, but within the total N application standard (i.e. sum of effective N from manure and mineral fertilizer N) of the Nitrates Directive. The research in 2011 included monitoring of the manure treatment installations, incubation studies to assess immobilization and denitrification of soil-applied mineral concentrate, pot experiments to determine N efficiency of mineral concentrate under controlled conditions, and field experiments to determine N efficiency of mineral concentrate when used for grassland and arable crops. This report summarizes the main results of these studies. The research data will serve for consultation with the European Commission on a possible permanent permission to use mineral concentrate as mineral N fertilizer.