Updates from the Trondheim Fjord Basin: Testing new types of organic fertiliser
Photo: Norsk Landbruksrådgiving (NLR)
Ongoing activity at the experimental field of the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service (NLR) at Kvithamar, in Trøndelag, marks a significant milestone for the Trondheim Fjord Basin demo-region.
What happened?
Project partners are currently laying out plots to assess the development of cereal crops under various fertilisation regimes. Barley is serving as the primary test crop due to its requirement for a high nutrient supply over a concentrated period.
The experiment compares conventional mineral fertilisation against innovative organic alternatives produced from local waste streams. Specifically, the team is testing solid and liquid digestate sourced from Svanem Biogass, which is produced using a mix of cattle slurry and sludge from farmed fish.
A key focus of the trial is the comparison between:
- Liquid digestate: Low-fibre content that infiltrates soil quickly.
- Fresh solid digestate: High in organic matter and phosphorus, serving as a potential soil amendment for nutrient-poor areas.
- Dried solid digestate: Processed by partner Waister using a specialised drying technique commonly applied to fish sludge at aquaculture facilities.
Why does it matter?
Trøndelag faces unique challenges where land-based agriculture and marine aquaculture nutrient flows interact. By converting these waste streams into stable, transportable products, GREENHOOD aims to reduce regional nutrient excesses.
"Solid digestate could potentially become a commercial product that can be transported out of Trøndelag to regions with lower livestock densities" explains Anne-Kristin Løes, Senior Researcher at NORSØK.
What’s next?
The results from these experimental plots will help validate the effectiveness of bio-based fertilisers in high-demand crop systems. Partners, including NTNU, Agritech Cluster, and NCE Aquatech Cluster, continue to collaborate on these trials to ensure research-based innovations lead to scalable environmental solutions for the Trondheim Fjord Basin demo-region.