A peer‑reviewed scientific paper from researchers at Queen’s University Belfast provides clear evidence that treating slurry with GasAbate can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve grass growth performance by up to 21%.
The study, published this week in the Springer Nature publication Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, examined the effects of GasAbate on agronomic performance when the treated slurry is applied to land compared to untreated and mineral fertiliser controls.
The research highlights a well‑established challenge in agriculture: during storage, livestock slurry releases methane, ammonia and other gases, leading to the loss of valuable carbon and nitrogen. These losses not only contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but also reduce the fertiliser value of the slurry.
In this study, GasAbate was applied to stored slurry, significantly reducing these gaseous losses. By stabilising the material during storage, more nutrients were retained in the slurry prior to land application.
Increases in grass growth
To assess the real-world impact of this retained nutrient value, the researchers conducted controlled trials on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Across multiple harvests and soil types, slurry treated with GasAbate consistently outperformed untreated slurry.
Key findings include:
Approximately 20–21% higher dry matter yield from treated slurry compared to untreated slurry
Yield improvements were observed consistently across different soil types and throughout the growing season
In addition to yield, the study found that grass grown with treated slurry showed slightly higher chlorophyll content, indicating improved plant nutrient status and potential forage quality benefits.
Farm performance
The findings demonstrate a clear connection between emissions reduction during storage and agronomic outcomes after application. Methane and ammonia emissions represent a loss of carbon and nitrogen that would otherwise contribute to crop growth. By reducing these losses, GasAbate effectively enhances the fertiliser value of slurry.
This result is particularly significant because it shows that environmental interventions at the storage stage can translate directly into measurable productivity gains in the field, without additional inputs.
Speaking about the new research publication, GlasPort Bio CEO Justin McCarthy said: “We are delighted to further build out our independent research portfolio showing the multiple environmental and economic benefits of treating slurry with GasAbate.
“The Queen’s University Belfast work showing a 21% increase in grass growth demonstrates the ability of our technology to directly reduce methane emissions from stored slurry, while also delivering the upstream environmental benefits associated with a reduced reliance on chemical fertiliser mainly improved water quality, soil health and improved biodiversity,” he said.
Fertiliser price
“At a time of such extreme price volatility and potentially future supply issues around chemical fertilisers both the economic benefit and food security dividend of being able to protect the nutrient content slurry has never been more important,” the CEO added.
Strong academic foundation
The study was conducted by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security and the publication of the work in a peer‑reviewed international journal reflects a rigorous evaluation of both the experimental methodology and the findings, reinforcing the reliability of the results.