VEENHUIS MACHINES BV NUTRIFLOW 3.0

DLG-APPROVED "Ingredients in cattle manure, in pig manure and in liquid digestate"

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Test report 6981

[Translate to English:] Abbildung Veenhuis NUTRIFLOW 3.0

The approval

A test mark “DLG-APPROVED for single, value-determining criteria” is awarded for agricultural products which have successfully fulfilled a reduced usability testing conducted by the DLG according to independent and recognised evaluation criteria. The test is served to highlight particular innovations and key criteria of the test object. The test may contain criteria from the DLG test frame for total tests, or focus on other value-determining characteristics and properties of the subject of the test. The minimum requirements, the test conditions and procedures, as well as the bases of evaluation of the test results are set in agreement with a DLG Experts group. They correspond to the recognised rules of technology as well as the science and agricultural know­ledge and requirements. A successful test ends with the publication of a test report and the awarding of the test mark, which is valid for five years from the date of the award.

The DLG test for “Precision of NIR sensors for the determination of ingredients in passing liquid manure of animal origin and liquid digestate“ was carried out on the “NUTRIFLOW 3.0” of VEENHUIS MACHINES BV.

The measurements for determining the contents of ingredients were carried out in liquid cattle manure, liquid pig manure, and liquid digestate. In each manure type five different practice slurries were examined through the tested NIR sensor NUTRIFLOW 3.0 for their levels of dry matter content (DM in weight %), total nitrogen (NTotal in kg/m3), ammonium nitrogen (NH4N in kg/m3) and potassium oxide (K2O in kg/m3). During the measurements each slurry sample was collected. The taken samples were analysed by a total of ten different accre­dited specialised laboratories, preferably with wet-chemical methods and threefold repetition. For each ingredient, the averages from the results of the laboratory analyses were calculated. For the evaluation, the differences between the value measured by the NIR Sensor and the mean value of the laboratories were determined as the relative measurement deviation. The precision of the sensor was examined at different flow rates too.

Other criteria were not tested.

Assessment – brief summary

On the basis of the results the mobile NIR sensor “NUTRIFLOW 3.0” of VEENHUIS MACHINES BV is awarded the DLG test mark “DLG APPROVED in single criteria” in the measurement of ingredients in liquid cattle manure, liquid pig manure, and liquid digestate for the parameters listed in the following table 1.

Table 1: Approved parameters

Manure typeIngredient
Cattle manureDry Matter (DM)
 Total nitrogen (NTotal)
 Ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N)
 Potassium oxide (K2O)
Pig ManureDry Matter (DM)
 Total nitrogen (NTotal)
 Potassium oxide (K2O)
Liquid digestateDry Matter (DM)
 Total nitrogen (NTotal)
 Ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N)
 Potassium oxide (K2O)

The product

During the NIR analysis, the manure flowing within the arrangement is irradiated by a sapphire window (5) with infra-red light (yellow beam) from an integrated light source (1). Parts of the light are absorbed by the sample and the rest of the light is reflected. The reflected portion is detected by an evaluation unit (2) and dispersed into its wavelength spectrum. The detected spectrum is then converted into electrical signals. The resulting data is processed in a microcomputer (4). The measured values are generated at short intervals by the data calculation in the stored calibration model, and can be displayed.

To compensate for the temperature-dependent shifts in the spectrum, the system runs regular white and dark referencing.

The measurement is performed continuously on the farm fertiliser flowing past the sensor. Measuring values are output every second when in measuring mode. Depending upon the requirements, mean values for user-specific time intervals, or live values, are displayed in real time.

The manufacturer specifies the measurement ranges shown in Table 2 for the used calibration model.

Figure 2: Functional principle and system design of the NIR Sensor
Figure 2: Functional principle and system design of the NIR Sensor

Table 2: Measuring range NUTRIFLOW 3.0

ValueRange
DM in %0,2 – 12,00
NTotal in kg/m³0,17 – 9,91
NH4-N in kg/m³0,10 – 4,47
K2O in kg/m³0,2 – 6,81

The method

The aim of the DLG Test „Precision of NIR sensors for the determination of ingredients in passing liquid manure of animal origin and liquid digestate“ is to examine  the accuracies of mobile sensors in conjunction with appropriate calibration models in comparison to laboratory analysis with officially recognised methods.

A major advantage of NIR measuring technology compared to the conventional methods for the determination of ingredients in liquid manures through sampling and laboratory analysis, consist in the immediate availability of measurement results, and in the permanent measurement of the ingredients along the complete manure volume.

Figure 3: Schematic structure of the DLG measuring system
Figure 3: Schematic structure of the DLG measuring system

The test results in detail

The trials were conducted jointly with the Chamber of Agriculture of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany (Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen) in the administrative district of Kleve. Flow rates from 6 m3/min to 9 m3/min were set during the measurements. The different flow rates showed no influence on the measured values of the sensor. In table 3 the individual results are given.

Based on the obtained results, the mobile NlR Sensor “NUTRIFLOW 3.0” of VEENHUIS MACHINES BV is awarded the test mark “DLG-APPROVED in individual criteria” for the measurement of

  • Ingredients in cattle manure: DM, NTotal, NH4-N, K2O
  • Ingredients in pig manure: DM, NTotal, K2O
  • Ingredients in liquid digestate: DM, NTotal, NH4-N, K2O
     

Table 3: Individual results

Type designationNUTRIFLOW 3.0Evaluation*
Installation position (tilt)90° 
Installation positionhorizontal 6“ pipe 
Liquid cattle manure  
 DM in % by weight+
 NTotal in kg/m3
 NH4­N in kg/m3+
 K2O in kg/m3
Liquid pig manure  
 DM in % by weight+ +
 NTotal in kg/m3
 NH4­N in kg/m3
 K2O in kg/m3
Liquid digestate  
 DM in % by weight+
 NTotal in kg/m3
 NH4­N in kg/m3
 K2O in kg/m3

* DLG-assesment scheme:
+ + = passed, very good (4/5 value pairs within a manure type ≤ 10 % and no > 20 % rel. deviation)
+ = passed, good (4/5 value pairs within a manure type ≤ 15 % and no > 25 % rel. deviation)
◯ = passed (3/5 value pairs within a manure type ≤ 25 % and no > 35 % rel. deviation)

Summary

“NUTRIFLOW 3.0” of VEENHUIS MACHINES BV fulfilled the requirements for DLG approval in the accuracy of measurement of dry matter (DM), total nitrogen (NTotal), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 N), and potassium oxide (K2O) in liquid cattle manure and in liquid digestate, as well as dry matter (DM), total nitrogen (NTotal), and potassium oxide (K2O) in liquid pig manure.

A major advantage of NIR measu­ring technology compared to the conventional methods for the determination of ingredients in liquid manures through sampling and laboratory analysis, consist in the immediate availability of measurement results, and in the permanent measurement of the ingre­dients along the complete manure volume.

Applicant and manufacturer

Applicant

VEENHUIS MACHINES BV
Almelosestraat 54,
8102 HE Raalte, Netherlands

Test execution

DLG e.V.
Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs,
Max-Eyth-Weg 1, 64823 Groß-Umstadt, Germany

Chamber of Agriculture of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany (LWK Nordrhein-Westfalen)
Teaching and research Institute Riswick,
Elsenpass 5, 47533 Kleve, Germany

DLG test scope
DLG-APPROVED for single, value-determining criteria
“Precision of NIR sensors for the determination of ingredients in passing liquid manure of animal origin and liquid digestate” (current as of 07/2017)

Department
Technology for outdoor work equipment

Members of the competent DLG Test Commission “Fertilising Technology”

Dr. Horst Cielejewski, Chamber of Agriculture of
North Rhine-Westphalia
Dr. Harm Drücker, Chamber of Agriculture of
Lower Saxony
Prof. Nils Fölster, University of Osnabrück
Prof. Hans W. Griepentrog, University of Hohenheim
Dr. Fabian Lichti, State Institute of Agriculture Bavaria
Frank Reith (farmer), Groß-Umstadt
Prof. Bernd Scheufler, University of Osnabrück
Sven Schneider (farmer and contractor), Brensbach
Peter Seeger (farmer), Otzberg

Head of Department
Dr. Ulrich Rubenschuh *

Test engineer(s)
Dipl.-Ing agr. Georg Horst Schuchmann  

* Author

Contact us

DLG TestService GmbH - Groß-Umstadt location • Max-Eyth-Weg 1 • 64823 Groß-Umstadt • Tel: +49 69 24 788-600 • tech@DLG.org