Netherlands tests biological fertilizers to reduce nitrate pollution

Research conducted by Wageningen Environmental Research in the Netherlands has demonstrated that biological fertilizers made from nutrients recovered from animal manure can achieve agronomic efficacy comparable to certain mineral fertilizers.

This study is part of the Biobased Fertilisers Achterhoek project in the Achterhoek region, supported by Dutch programs related to the European Union's Nitrates Directive. The scientific monitoring program, conducted between 2018 and 2021, utilized field trials and demonstration plots to evaluate nitrogen leaching risks.

The research aims to reduce dependence on synthetic inputs and promote circular agricultural systems. By addressing nitrate leaching—the movement of nitrates through soil into groundwater—the initiative seeks to mitigate the contamination of water resources caused by nitrogen levels that exceed crop absorption capacities.