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Transformations of organic nitrogen in manure and the development of metabolic quality indices

Reference	BBS/E/G/00003006
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Philip Hobbs
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	546,552
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	31/03/2007
Duration	48 months

Abstract

The key to sustainable agriculture is the quality of organic matter and organic nitrogen (ON) compounds added to land. Significant and varying quantities of organic matter are now applied to land with little knowledge of the decay rate or the fate of the organic nutrient content. We aim to optimise manure nutrient use by crop plants, and to reduce pollution to waterways and harmful emissions to air. This will be achieved by initiating studies on metabolites, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to define the manure metabolome. We also aim to characterise the microbial community profiles associated with the decomposition of manures. We seek to determine the rate of decay and fate of ON in animal manure and other organic residues by characterisation in different size fractions to provide knowledge of N pool composition and decay pathways. We propose to use VOCs as rapid indicators of decomposition and composition of ON in manure stores and manured soils.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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