Robotic urine-patch treatment and effluent application - technology to support intensification of New Zealand dairy farming while protecting the environment

Abstract

The need to minimise nitrate leaching and gaseous N losses from dairy farming is increasing; simultaneously dairy farming is undergoing rapid intensification. Robotic targeted application of nitrification and/or urease inhibitors is proposed as a route to addressing the "urine-patch" issue without risking milk contamination. This paper demonstrates a new robotic product under development and scheduled for commercial release for the 2015/2016 dairy season. The paper then discusses two developments of the product that will enable (i) highly-efficient fluidised-N application, and (ii) effluent application. These new products have the potential to greatly reduce nitrate leaching and gaseous N losses from dairy farming. Keywords: robotic urine-patch treatment, nitrogen (N) losses, N inhibitors, effluent management, robotic effluent spreading, robotic fertiliser spreading