project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
GO IMECO – BAT implementation to control emissions in manure management and treatment
Kontext
El sector de la ganadería y la agricultura tiene una gran
importancia en diferentes territorios del país y es una parte
fundamental de la economía nacional pero también europea.
El principal escollo para un crecimiento sostenible del sector
ganadero son los residuos orgánicos generados y la desvinculación del sector ganadero con el
agrario, ya que la mayoría de las explotaciones no poseen
una superficie suficiente para reutilizar estas deyecciones
ganaderas como fertilizante, lo que conlleva una no
adecuada gestión de las mismas con su consecuente
impacto sobre el suelo, las aguas subterráneas y
superficiales y la atmósfera.
Según el último Inventario Nacional de Gases de Efecto
Invernadero publicado (MITECO, 2020), la gestión de
estiércoles de la producción porcina representó en 2018 el
76% de las emisiones de CH4 en esta actividad, la cual a su
vez representan un 17% de las emisiones de CO2eq.
originadas por la agricultura en España.
El proyecto IMECO pretende demostrar técnicas innovadoras
de mitigación de emisiones de GEI y NH3 con un enfoque
integral del sistema de gestión del purín a escala de granja.
Aborda directamente la reducción de estas emisiones a
través de técnicas eficientes y sostenibles de manejo, la
producción de energía renovable y el uso de fertilizantes
orgánicos sustituyendo el consumo de fertilizantes sintéticos.
Esta estrategia se alinea con el Reglamento (UE) 2018/842
Objectives
The project proposes a comprehensive manure management
and treatment system aiming at increase productivity and
reduce impact in pig farms. Thus, the sector will be more
efficient and respectful with the environment, oriented
towards sustainable and highly productive livestock. The use
of innovative and low-cost technologies increases the
recovery of waste, makes livestock farms profitable,
protecting the environment and ensuring greater productivity.
Activities
The project will develop and experimentally validate a
management and treatment system for the total recovery of
slurry that allows the reduction of emissions generated both in storage and in agricultural application, promoting the efficiency in the recycling of nutrients and mitigating climate change.
1. Emissions evaluation of slurry storage
2. Installation of a biogas collection system from the slurry
storage and a boiler for its use
3. Catch crop implementation in crop rotation, and
evaluation of its use as a co-substrate
4. Evaluation of the reduction of NH3 emissions with disc
injection system, hanging hoses and pivot fertigation
with liquid fraction of digested
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDNP001 España - Programa Nacional de Desarrollo Rural
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Lleida
- Other geographical location
- Huesca, Barcelona
EUR 454 777.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Ressourcen
Audiovisual materials
5 Practice Abstracts
Agronomic Evaluation and Ammonia Emission Reduction through Fertigation with Digestate Liquid Fraction in Extensive Crops
This project assessed the agronomic performance and ammonia emission reduction potential of using fertigation with digestate liquid fraction as fertilizer in extensive crops.
Results showed that crop yields and nitrogen uptake were not significantly affected when comparing fertigation with the reference system, confirming its feasibility as a fertilization technique. However, fertigation reduced ammonia emissions over the full crop cycle: by 28% in wheat and up to 70% in maize.
Additionally, fertigation allowed for better adjustment of applied nitrogen doses, reducing nitrogen surpluses in the system and promoting more efficient nutrient management. This practice not only enhances agricultural sustainability by minimizing nitrogen losses but also mitigates negative environmental impacts, such as air and soil pollution.
Farmers and agricultural managers can adopt fertigation with digestate liquid fraction to optimize resource use, reduce fertilizer costs, and comply with environmental regulations, all while maintaining crop productivity.
Agronomic Evaluation and Ammonia Emission Reduction Using Disc Injection and Acidification Systems for Digestate Application
This project assessed the agronomic performance and ammonia emission reduction potential of two advanced systems for applying digestate as fertilizer in extensive crops: disc injection and trailing hoses combined with acidification.
Agronomic results showed that crop yields and nitrogen uptake were not significantly different when using the acidification system or disc injection compared to the reference method, confirming their suitability as alternatives for digestate application. Regarding ammonia emissions, reductions exceeded 70% with the acidification system, while the disc injection system achieved reductions between 33% and 40%.
In the case of maize top-dressing applications, ammonia emission reductions were more moderate, around 28% for both systems. These findings highlight the potential of these practices to mitigate emissions, promoting more sustainable digestate management.
Farmers can implement these systems to comply with environmental regulations and improve the sustainability of their operations. Additionally, these techniques optimize the nutrient use of digestate, reducing ammonia losses, protecting air quality, and maintaining agricultural productivity.
Characterization of Catch Crops for Biogas Production and Use as Co-Substrate in Anaerobic Digestion of Slurry
This project explored the potential of ryegrass as a catch crop, assessing its anaerobic biodegradability and use as a co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion of slurry. Results showed that methane production from slurry under ambient temperature (psychrophilic regime) increased significantly with hydraulic retention time (HRT), rising from 10.6 Nm³/t slurry (HRT = 20 days) to 19.7 Nm³/t slurry (HRT = 60 days). When slurry was mixed with ryegrass (10% by weight), methane production increased by 38%, reaching 27.2 Nm³/t slurry at an HRT of 60 days. The anaerobic biodegradability of ryegrass was approximately 50%, and the methane content in the biogas reached 46%.
These findings demonstrate the dual role of catch crops: retaining nutrients and enhancing anaerobic digestion efficiency. Incorporating ryegrass as a co-substrate in slurry management improves biogas production under psychrophilic conditions, optimizing organic resource use and contributing to renewable energy generation.
Farmers and biogas plant operators can apply these insights to maximize energy yields, reduce waste management costs, and enhance system sustainability. This practice supports the circular economy by recycling agricultural residues into valuable energy resources while minimizing environmental impacts, offering both economic and ecological advantages.
Implementation of Catch Crops as a Strategy to Retain Nutrients
This demonstrative project evaluated the effectiveness of incorporating a catch crop, specifically ryegrass, into crop rotations to retain residual nutrients during periods when the soil remains bare. The results showed that ryegrass extracted approximately 90 kgN/ha, 10 kgP/ha, 44 gCu/ha, and 142 gZn/ha. These findings confirm that ryegrass is an effective practice to reduce nutrient leaching, enhance nutrient recycling, and decrease the risk of groundwater contamination.
The adoption of catch crops like ryegrass is particularly recommended after the main harvest, especially in intensive production systems or areas vulnerable to nitrate pollution. Beyond protecting water quality, this practice promotes a more sustainable farming system by improving nutrient efficiency, minimizing losses, and supporting environmental conservation.
For end users, such as farmers and agricultural resource managers, integrating cover crops into rotations provides a practical tool for optimizing nutrient use while reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. The associated benefits include lower costs, improved soil health, and compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, the long-term adoption of this practice can contribute to enhancing the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems, ultimately leading to higher resilience and profitability for producers.
Evaluation of Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Slurry Storage Lagoons and Development of a Low-Cost Anaerobic Digester
This project aimed to reduce ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from slurry storage lagoons and develop a low-cost anaerobic digester to harness biogas and mitigate emissions.
Floating octagonal pieces were implemented as a cover for the slurry lagoons to control emissions. The results indicated a reduction in ammonia and GHG emissions ranging from 5% to 55%, depending on parameters such as ambient temperature, slurry characteristics, lagoon filling levels, and more. This approach proved to be a cost-effective and adaptable solution to improve environmental management in livestock operations.
In addition, a low-cost anaerobic digester was developed to capture and utilize the biogas produced. This system enables the valorization of slurry as a renewable energy source while reducing its environmental impact, contributing to the sustainability of farms.
These innovations provide practical opportunities for farmers and livestock producers to optimize slurry management, reduce pollutant emissions, and improve the energy efficiency of their operations in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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INSTITUT DE RECERCA I TECNOLOGIA AGROALIMENTARIES (IRTA)
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Cataró S.L.
Project partner
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Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA)
Project partner
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Peyret S.C.
Project partner