Ammonia emissions and farm runoff

Turning waste into value with biological nutrient management

Ammonia has quietly become one of the most consequential pollutants associated with modern agriculture. It’s invisible, it travels, and it is intimately linked to the way we manage animal slurry, lagoons, manures, and fertilisers. At the same time, nitrogen and phosphorus leaving fields as runoff or leaching through soils are fuelling algal blooms, damaging waterways, and wasting money in the form of lost nutrients. The good news is that these are not two separate problems – they are two faces of the same issue: unstable nutrients. And that means they can be addressed together with the right approach.

Bioglobe’s mission is to help farmers and land managers in Cyprus and beyond turn waste into value using organic, enzyme-led bioremediation. By stabilising nitrogen in slurry and manures, enhancing the natural microbiology that drives nutrient cycling, and reducing emissions at source, biological nutrient management can cut ammonia losses, improve slurry quality, and reduce nutrient runoff – while improving animal environments and saving input costs.

This article sets out the challenge and the opportunity in three parts: the Problem, the Consequences, and the Solution. It connects the science of ammonia and nitrogen loss with practical lagoon and slurry management, and it shows how a biological, organic approach can transform a waste liability into a nutrient asset.

Problem: Ammonia emissions and nitrogen runoff are symptoms of unstable nutrients

Ammonia emissions arise when nitrogen in manures and slurry is not chemically or biologically stable. Most of the nitrogen excreted by livestock is in the form of urea (from urine). When urea contacts water and urease enzymes present in the environment, it breaks down rapidly to ammonium (NH4+). In high-pH conditions or in warm, aerated surfaces, ammonium can convert to ammonia gas (NH3) and volatilise to the atmosphere. The faster this conversion, the greater the emissions. The same instability that drives volatilisation also makes nitrogen vulnerable to leaching and runoff once slurry is applied to land.

Runoff is the overland movement of water that transports dissolved nutrients (notably nitrate and ammonium), organic nitrogen, and suspended solids containing phosphorus to ditches, streams, reservoirs, and coastal waters. Leaching is the downward movement of soluble nutrients beyond the root zone. Both processes strip value from nutrient resources and create expensive downstream problems.

At the heart of both issues is the behaviour of nitrogen in different forms and environments:

• Urea is quickly hydrolysed by urease, releasing ammonium and bicarbonate, which can locally increase pH – a condition that favours ammonia volatilisation.
• Ammonium is positively charged and tends to bind to soil particles, but it can be converted by nitrifying bacteria into nitrate (NO3-), which is highly soluble and easily leached.
• In poorly aerated or saturated soils, nitrate can be denitrified to nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, leading to further nitrogen loss to the atmosphere.
• Organic nitrogen within slurry and manures needs microbial processing to become plant-available; unmanaged, this mineralisation can be mistimed, releasing nitrogen when crops don’t need it.

These chemical and biological transformations are influenced by pH, temperature, oxygen availability, microbial community balance, and the physical characteristics of slurry and soils. Where slurry is stored in open lagoons with crusting, stratification, and high pH, ammonia losses increase. Where slurry is unstable – with thick solids, poor microbial balance, and high urease activity – more nitrogen escapes as odour and ammonia, and more nitrogen moves off site after land application.

Phosphorus, while not part of ammonia emissions, is intimately linked to the runoff story. It binds to soil particles and organic matter; when runoff carries suspended solids, phosphorus goes with them, contributing to eutrophication. Slurry with poor structure and high viscosity is harder to apply evenly and at the right rate. It is more likely to generate surface sealing and overland flow, increasing both nitrogen and phosphorus losses.

In short, unmanaged biology and chemistry in lagoons and slurry create unstable nutrients. Ammonia emissions and nitrogen runoff are the predictable results.

Consequences: Environmental, regulatory, and economic costs

Ammonia is not just an odour problem; it is a key driver of air pollution. When ammonia reacts in the atmosphere with acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), it forms secondary fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and is associated with significant health impacts. While ammonia tends to deposit relatively near its source, the fine particles it helps form can travel longer distances, contributing to regional air quality burdens.

In the rural landscape, ammonia deposition can:

• Acidify sensitive soils and waters over time, especially in areas with low buffering capacity.
• Lead to nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) of semi-natural habitats, shifting competitive balances and reducing biodiversity by favouring nitrophilous species.
• Damage lichens, mosses, and certain woodland ground flora that are sensitive to nitrogen deposition.

For farmers, the immediate cost of ammonia emissions is lost nitrogen. Every kilogram of NH3 that volatilises is nitrogen no longer available for crop growth. That lost nitrogen must be replaced with purchased fertiliser or accepted as reduced yield potential. Slurry that “fizzes off” nitrogen in the lagoon is less valuable at spreading time, and the odour can be a sign of both volatile nitrogen and unstable organic compounds that create nuisance for neighbours and farm workers alike.

Runoff and leaching compound the problem:

• Nitrate leaching reduces nitrogen-use efficiency and can push water bodies towards drinking water nitrate limits, requiring treatment costs or restrictions.
• Phosphorus runoff fuels algal blooms and eutrophication in lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters, lowering oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.
• Soil structure damage from nutrient-rich effluent and surface sealing can reduce infiltration, increasing flood risk and causing more overland flow during storms.
• Regulatory scrutiny tightens as water quality targets are missed, exposing farms to inspections, compliance notices, or penalties. In many regions, tighter spreading windows, closed periods, and mandatory incorporation or low-emission spreading technologies are becoming standard.

Odour, flies, foaming, and crusts are quality-of-life and safety issues. Thick crusts on lagoons complicate agitation and pumping, increase the risk of dangerous gases accumulating when disturbed, and make consistent application rates harder to achieve. Foaming within tanks can cause overflows and hazards. Each of these symptoms reflects unbalanced microbial activity and unstable organic matter.

Critically, the system-level consequence is missed opportunity: slurry and manures are valuable inputs. Managed as a living resource rather than a waste, they can displace a substantial fraction of purchased fertiliser, improve soil health, and support resilient yields. Allowing nitrogen and phosphorus to escape as emissions and runoff is like leaving money on the table.

Solution: Biological nutrient management that stabilises nitrogen and converts waste to value

Biological nutrient management treats the lagoon, the slurry store, and the field as one integrated system. The aim is to stabilise nitrogen in forms that remain plant-available when needed, reduce pH-driven ammonia volatilisation, improve slurry flow and uniformity, and enhance soil-microbe-plant interactions after application. Rather than forcing quick chemical fixes, an organic enzyme and microbial approach works with the underlying biology to keep nutrients in circulation and out of the air and water.

Bioglobe’s organic enzyme remediation approach focuses on three pillars:

1. Stabilise and retain nitrogen in storage
2. Improve slurry quality and handling to reduce emissions and runoff risk
3. Optimise field application to synchronise nutrient release with crop demand

1) Stabilise and retain nitrogen in storage

The lagoon or slurry store is the first and often best place to reduce ammonia emissions. Emissions from storage are driven by the availability of ammonium at the surface, pH at the interface, temperature, and turbulence. Biological treatment targets the root causes:

• Balanced microbial consortia: Introducing beneficial microbes and enzyme blends helps decompose complex organics in slurry into more stable fractions, reducing the volatile compounds that contribute to odour and foaming. A balanced community suppresses urease-heavy, runaway hydrolysis that spikes pH. Instead, urea conversion is moderated, and nitrogen is retained as ammonium in the bulk liquid where it is less likely to volatilise.
• pH moderation via biological processes: Many microbial pathways naturally produce CO2 and organic acids that buffer pH within a range less favourable to ammonia volatilisation. Rather than relying on chemical acidification, which can be corrosive, costly, and transient, biological pH moderation is distributed and sustained by the living system.
• Sludge and crust reduction: A core benefit of enzyme-enabled biology is the breakdown of fibrous solids and fats, reducing crust formation and sludge accumulation. With fewer solids at the surface, there is less surface area for urease-rich microenvironments that spike pH and drive ammonia off-gassing. Reduced crusting also improves oxygen distribution patterns and agitation effectiveness, supporting a more uniform lagoon.
• Odour and emission suppression at source: Many of the foul-smelling compounds associated with slurry – volatile fatty acids, amines, and sulphur compounds – are intermediates of incomplete microbial degradation. Stabilising and completing these pathways reduces odour and correlates with lower volatile nitrogen losses.

The practical outcomes farmers should expect include:

• Measurably lower ammonia odour during agitation and in the vicinity of the lagoon.
• More uniform slurry with fewer blockages, easier pumping, and more predictable application rates.
• Reduced need for frequent mechanical crust breaking and lower risk of foam-related incidents.
• Improved nitrogen retention as evidenced by higher ammonium-N content at spreading time.

2) Improve slurry quality and handling to reduce emissions and runoff risk

Slurry that behaves consistently is much easier to apply at the right rate, in the right place, at the right time. Biological treatment enhances physical characteristics:

• Viscosity reduction and homogenisation: Enzyme-led breakdown of fibres and fats reduces viscosity, leading to a homogenous slurry that mixes quickly and applies evenly. Even distribution means fewer hotspots that can scorch plants or create surface sealing, and better infiltration that reduces overland flow potential.
• Reduced solids carryover: Lower suspended solids reduce the risk of surface runoff transporting phosphorus-bound particles. This is crucial for preventing P losses and for maintaining soil surface structure after spreading.
• Compatibility with low-emission spreading: Techniques such as trailing shoe, trailing hose, or injection are most effective with free-flowing, uniform slurry. Biological treatment makes the adoption of low-emission equipment smoother, further reducing ammonia volatilisation during application.
• Predictable nutrient analysis: Stabilised slurry has more consistent nutrient content from load to load. This improves the accuracy of nutrient management plans and decision-making about mineral fertiliser top-ups.

From a farm operations perspective, these improvements reduce time, fuel, and maintenance costs associated with agitation and pumping, while enhancing compliance with best practice codes and regulations.

3) Optimise field application to synchronise nutrient release with crop demand

Keeping nitrogen in the lagoon is only half the story. The real value is realised when nitrogen is present in the soil when crops can use it. Biological nutrient management supports synchrony:

• Enhanced soil microbial function: Once applied, biologically balanced slurry integrates more readily with soil microbial communities. Beneficial organisms continue to mineralise organic fractions steadily, supporting a release profile that aligns with crop uptake curves rather than a single pulse that risks leaching.
• Reduced immediate volatilisation: Lower pH at the time of spreading, coupled with reduced free ammonia at the slurry surface, means less loss in the first 24–48 hours post-application. This is when the majority of volatilisation usually occurs. Combined with low-emission placement, the effect is additive.
• Improved infiltration and soil structure: Evenly-applied, less viscous slurry infiltrates better, limiting surface runoff during subsequent rainfall. Over time, enhanced biological inputs can contribute to soil aggregation and improved water infiltration, further mitigating runoff risk.
• Better nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): When more of the applied nitrogen is retained in the system and delivered to crops in step with demand, the farm can reduce purchased nitrogen fertiliser. This is the core of turning waste into value.

How Bioglobe’s organic enzyme remediation works in practice

While every farm is unique in animal density, diet, storage capacity, and existing infrastructure, the principles are consistent. Bioglobe’s approach is data-led and tailored:

• Pollutant and profile analysis: A baseline assessment of lagoon contents, including pH, ammonium-N, dry matter, and odour indicators, alongside storage conditions and mixing regimes, identifies the dominant loss pathways and bottlenecks.
• Bespoke biology: Based on the profile, a targeted blend of enzymes and beneficial microbes is formulated. The goal is to accelerate the breakdown of problematic solids, moderate urease-driven pH spikes, and encourage microbial pathways that retain nitrogen in non-volatile forms.
• Dosing and distribution: Treatments are applied to the lagoon or store at strategic points for optimal mixing. In some cases, initial shock doses are followed by maintenance doses that keep biology balanced throughout the storage period. Where continuous inflows occur, dosing can be paced to match inputs.
• Monitoring and optimisation: Simple, farm-friendly measurements – odour, pH, agitation time, pumpability, and periodic nutrient analyses – guide adjustments. The aim is stable, repeatable performance.
• Integration with good practice: Biology doesn’t replace practical measures; it enhances them. Covering stores where feasible, using low-emission applicators, timing applications to cool, moist conditions, and accounting for nutrient content in fertiliser planning all compound the benefits.

Because the method is organic and enzyme-led, it avoids corrosive chemicals, reduces hazard risk, and supports broader environmental objectives. It is particularly well-suited to Mediterranean climates like Cyprus, where warm temperatures can accelerate volatilisation and seasonal rainfall patterns can drive episodic runoff events. Stabilising nutrients before the hot season and planning applications around rainfall reduces losses markedly.

Practical examples and outcomes farmers can expect

Each farm will see results through its own lens – fewer complaints about odour, an easier time pumping and spreading, better grass response, or lower fertiliser bills. Typical improvements observed with well-managed biological treatment include:

• Odour reduction: Noticeable drop in ammonia smell around the lagoon and during agitation. Workers report improved comfort; neighbours notice less nuisance. Odour reduction correlates with retained nitrogen.
• Reduced crust and sludge: Crusts that previously required mechanical breakup begin to soften and diminish. Bottom sludge layers become less tenacious, reducing the need for deep agitation and decreasing wear on equipment.
• Faster homogenisation: Agitation times may drop significantly, sometimes by a third or more, because solids are already partially degraded and suspended more uniformly. This saves fuel and time.
• Pumpability: Slurry moves through pipework with fewer blockages. Applicator booms and outlets remain cleaner, allowing more consistent application rates and reducing downtime.
• Measurable nutrient retention: Periodic analysis can show higher ammonium-N concentrations prior to spreading compared to previous seasons under similar inflows, indicating reduced volatilisation losses in storage.
• Field performance: After spreading, swards often show more even colour and growth. Because application is more uniform and nitrogen is more available, scorch risk is reduced and grass recovery is quicker. Over a season, farmers can adjust mineral N applications downward to reflect the higher nutrient value of their slurry.
• Compliance and documentation: With steadier nutrient analyses and less odour, farms find it easier to document good practice and demonstrate continual improvement during inspections.

The science behind biological pH moderation and nitrogen retention

At the interface between slurry and air, the NH4+/NH3 equilibrium is pH and temperature dependent. At higher pH and higher temperatures, a greater fraction of nitrogen exists as dissolved NH3, which can volatilise. The urease-catalysed hydrolysis of urea increases local pH by producing bicarbonate and carbonate species. If hydrolysis is rapid and occurs near the surface, pH spikes at the interface and ammonia losses accelerate.

Biological nutrient management tackles the problem at multiple points:

• Urease activity is not eliminated, but its impact is diffused by promoting microbial communities that use the released ammonium quickly in deeper, less oxygenated zones, and by enhancing carbon flows that result in CO2 production. Dissolved CO2 equilibrates as carbonic acid, buffering pH.
• Enzymatic breakdown of fibres and fats removes substrates that fuel sporadic microbial “booms” at the surface. A steadier decomposition pathway avoids the stop-start conditions that cause strong localised pH rises.
• Reduced turbulence at the surface due to fewer gas-bubble bursts (foam suppression) decreases the mechanical transfer of NH3 across the boundary layer.
• By improving homogenisation and keeping more nitrogen within the bulk liquid as NH4+, the system presents less free ammonia to the atmosphere during mixing and spreading.

This is a systems view: not a single intervention, but coordinated shifts in microbial ecology and physical characteristics that collectively reduce volatility and retain value.

Integration with lagoon covers, low-emission spreading, and nutrient planning

Biology works best alongside structural and managerial tools:

• Lagoon covers: Floating covers or fixed roofs provide a physical barrier to ammonia transfer and rain ingress that can destabilise storage. Biological treatment reduces crust and odour beneath covers, making them easier to manage and extending their life.
• Low-emission applicators: Trailing shoe, trailing hose, and injection systems place slurry closer to the soil, reducing the time and surface area for volatilisation. With biologically improved slurry, blockages are rarer and distribution more even, maximising the low-emission equipment’s benefits.
• Application timing: Spreading in cooler, moist conditions reduces volatilisation. Biology lowers the baseline emissions; timing trims the peaks.
• Rapid incorporation in arable systems: Where possible, incorporating slurry shortly after application limits ammonia losses further. Reduced viscosity can make incorporation more effective.
• Nutrient plans: With improved slurry value, farm nutrient plans should credit higher available N from organic sources. This allows confident reduction of mineral nitrogen applications, subject to crop need and regulatory caps.
• Buffer strips and field hydrology: Biological treatment reduces, but does not eliminate, runoff risk. Well-placed buffers, maintained ditch systems, and contour-aware spreading remain important. Lower solids content makes buffers more effective at intercepting particles and associated phosphorus.

Why organic and enzyme-led matters

Chemical acidification can reduce ammonia emissions by lowering pH, but it introduces handling hazards and can be costly to maintain. It also does little to improve slurry structure or long-term soil biology. Purely mechanical solutions, like more intensive agitation, can sometimes make things worse by exposing more of the slurry surface to air and driving off more ammonia.

Organic, enzyme-led remediation is complementary rather than antagonistic to farm systems:

• Safety: Non-corrosive and compatible with existing infrastructure.
• Soil health: Adds beneficial biology rather than imposing chemical load; supports microbial diversity and functions that underpin soil structure and resilience.
• Longevity: Biological balances, once established, can be maintained with light-touch dosing, making benefits cumulative year-on-year.
• Whole-system benefits: Odour reduction, pumpability, reduced crusting, and improved NUE are delivered together, not as isolated fixes.

For farms in Cyprus, where summer heat accelerates volatilisation and autumn storm events can trigger pulse runoff, stabilising nitrogen prior to the hot season and managing solids to improve infiltration can transform outcomes. By the time the first significant rains arrive, slurry-derived nutrients will be better integrated into soil, and surface fines that carry phosphorus will be lower.

Implementation roadmap for farms

1. Assessment

• Characterise slurry: pH, dry matter percentage, ammonium-N, odour, crust thickness, sludge depth.
• Map storage: Lagoon dimensions, inflow rates, mixing/agitation equipment, observed problem points (foam, scum, dead zones).
• Document application practice: Equipment, timings, rates, field risk map (slopes, proximity to waterways, soil textures).

2. Treatment plan

• Select a tailored biological and enzyme formulation based on the assessment.
• Define dosing schedule: Initial conditioning dose to address accumulated crust/sludge and establish microbial balance, followed by maintenance doses that align with inflows.
• Establish monitoring points and simple metrics (pH spot checks, odour scoring, agitation time logs, pump flow rates).

3. Operational integration

• Train staff on dosing points and safety.
• Adjust agitation routines to take advantage of improved homogenisation (often shorter, less aggressive).
• Calibrate applicators to reflect lower viscosity and consistent flow.

4. Field practice alignment

• Schedule applications to match crop demand and favourable weather windows.
• Use low-emission applicators where available; if broadcasting, opt for cool, still conditions and rapidly incorporate on arable fields.
• Maintain buffers and avoid high-risk zones when soils are saturated.

5. Review and iterate

• Re-test nutrient content mid-season and before spreading campaigns.
• Compare fertiliser purchases and field performance to prior seasons.
• Tweak dosing and timing to optimise outcomes.

Economic case: from cost centre to nutrient asset

A straightforward way to see the value is to translate retained nitrogen into fertiliser equivalents. Suppose a dairy farm’s lagoon previously lost a significant share of total nitrogen as ammonia during storage and spreading. If biological management reduces those losses so that an additional, say, 10–20 kg N per hectare remains plant-available at spreading, that can displace a notable portion of mineral N. Across several hundred hectares, the savings add up quickly, even before considering the operational gains from easier handling and shorter agitation.

Other economic benefits include:

• Reduced downtime: Fewer blockages and smoother pumping keep spreading windows on schedule.
• Lower maintenance: Less abrasive solids and more uniform liquids reduce wear on pumps and applicators.
• Fewer odour complaints: Less conflict and less likelihood of pressured changes in practice at inconvenient times.
• Compliance headroom: Demonstrable emission reductions and improved nutrient accounting lower the risk of penalties and provide more flexibility under tightening rules.

Because the approach is tailored, farms can scale to fit their budgets and priorities, starting with the most impactful stores or the highest-risk fields.

Addressing common concerns and misconceptions

“Biology is unpredictable.”
Left unmanaged, yes. But a well-designed microbial and enzyme programme harnesses predictable pathways. Monitoring pH, odour, agitation time, and nutrient content provides rapid feedback. Over time, the system stabilises and becomes more reliable than the pre-treatment status quo.

“It’s just a deodoriser.”
Odour reduction is a visible (or rather, smellable) outcome, but it’s not the whole story. Consistent improvements in nitrogen retention, reduced crusting, and enhanced pumpability reflect underlying chemical and physical changes, not masking.

“My lagoon is too big/too far gone.”
Heavily crusted or stratified lagoons may require a staged approach: an initial conditioning period to break down old solids, followed by maintenance dosing. Larger stores benefit from distributed dosing points or recirculation during initial treatment. The scale is manageable with proper planning.

“We already invested in low-emission spreading.”
Excellent. Biological treatment is synergistic. Cleaner, more uniform slurry makes low-emission applicators shine and reduces maintenance needs.

“Will it work with my specific diet/manure type?”
Different rations influence slurry characteristics. The tailored nature of biological treatment adapts to these differences. The initial assessment is key to matching the biology to the slurry profile.

Environmental co-benefits and sustainability

Beyond farm gates, the benefits compound:

• Air quality: Lower ammonia emissions reduce the formation of PM2.5, contributing to better public health outcomes.
• Water quality: Reduced nitrate leaching and phosphorus runoff protect rivers, reservoirs, and coastal ecosystems, supporting fisheries and tourism.
• Climate alignment: While the primary target is ammonia, stabilised nutrient cycles and improved soils can support lower nitrous oxide emissions and carbon sequestration in the long term.
• Biodiversity: Reduced nitrogen deposition and cleaner runoff ease pressure on sensitive habitats.

For Cyprus, where coastal health and tourism are vital, preventing nutrient-driven algal blooms is not merely a nice-to-have; it is core to economic resilience. Agriculture can be part of the solution by keeping nutrients where they belong – in the soil-plant system.

Case-style scenarios: what transformation can look like

Dairy lagoon in a warm climate

• Before: Thick crust, strong ammonia odour, frequent pump blockages, agitation requiring several hours, uneven field application, neighbours complaining during hot months.
• After biological treatment: Crust breaks down, odour notably reduced even during agitation, pumping becomes routine with reduced blockages, agitation time halved, uniform application allows a 10–15% reduction in mineral N on grassland without yield penalty.

Pig slurry store with foaming risk

• Before: Intermittent foaming causing safety concerns, episodes of overflows during agitation, variable nitrogen analyses from load to load.
• After: Foam suppressed as volatile intermediates are stabilised, safer agitation, more consistent nutrient analysis supports tighter fertiliser planning and reduced purchased N.

Mixed arable and livestock enterprise on sloping land

• Before: Autumn applications correlated with visible runoff in the first heavy rains, ditches showing algal growth, soil surface sealing in headlands.
• After: Lower viscosity and solids mean better infiltration, buffer strips capture fewer fines because fewer are present, algal growth declines, and headlands remain more friable post-application.

Aligning with regulations and best practice codes

Across Europe and the UK, codes of good agricultural practice emphasise:

• Reducing ammonia emissions at source and during application.
• Timing applications to crop need and weather.
• Using low-emission spreading technologies.
• Maintaining records of nutrient applications and analyses.
• Protecting watercourses with setbacks and buffers.

Biological nutrient management helps meet these standards. It makes it easier to justify reduced mineral N use, demonstrate emission reductions through proxy indicators (odour, crust, agitation time), and show consistent nutrient content in organic manures. It complements infrastructure investments and helps future-proof operations as environmental expectations continue to rise.

From waste management to resource management

Perhaps the most important shift is conceptual. Slurry is not waste to be disposed of; it is a resource to be refined. When the lagoon is seen as a bio-reactor rather than a holding pond, management priorities change. The question becomes: how do we retain nutrients, reduce emissions, and deliver value to soil and crops with minimal hassle and risk? Biology provides that lever because agriculture is biology. It harnesses the same living processes that built fertile soils in the first place.

By focusing on stabilising nitrogen, moderating pH naturally, improving slurry structure, and synchronising release with plant demand, farms tap into a virtuous cycle:

• Less ammonia to the air.
• Less nitrate and phosphate to the water.
• More nutrient value to the crop.
• Lower input costs and smoother operations.

This is the essence of turning waste into value with biological nutrient management.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. How quickly will I notice changes after starting biological treatment?
   Some improvements, such as odour reduction and easier agitation, are often noticeable within weeks of the initial dose, especially if agitation occurs to distribute the biology. Crust breakdown and sludge reduction can take longer and typically become evident over one to three months, depending on starting conditions, temperature, and dosing consistency. Nutrient retention benefits become clear when pre-spreading analyses show higher ammonium-N compared with previous, similar periods.
2. Will biological treatment replace the need for low-emission spreading or covering my lagoon?
   No – it complements these practices. Biological treatment reduces emissions at source and improves slurry quality, making low-emission applicators more effective and easier to operate. Covers provide a physical barrier; biology improves what’s beneath. Combined, they deliver the best results. If budget is limited, biology is a flexible, scalable starting point that can enhance returns on later infrastructure investments.
3. Is it safe for animals, staff, and equipment?
   Properly designed organic enzyme and microbial formulations are non-corrosive and safe when used as directed. They reduce odour and foaming, which can improve working conditions and reduce certain operational risks during agitation. As with any farm input, follow handling guidelines and ensure dosing equipment is set up correctly. Many farms find that cleaner, less viscous slurry is also easier on pumps and reduces wear.
4. How does this affect my fertiliser planning?
   Expect your slurry to be worth more nitrogen. After a season of treatment, test nutrient content to update your nutrient management plan. Many farms can reduce purchased nitrogen applications to grassland and some arable crops, subject to crop demand and local regulations. Track crop performance and soil tests to fine-tune rates. The goal is to improve nitrogen use efficiency—delivering the same or better yields with less mineral N.
5. Will it work in hot, dry climates like Cyprus?
   Yes. In fact, higher temperatures increase the risk of ammonia volatilisation, making biological stabilisation particularly valuable. By moderating pH and retaining nitrogen in the lagoon, you reduce the baseline losses that heat would otherwise amplify. Plan dosing before the hottest months, and schedule spreading for cooler periods or ahead of light rainfall (avoiding heavy storms) to minimise volatilisation and runoff.

Closing summary

Ammonia emissions and farm runoff are not isolated problems; they stem from the same root cause: unstable nutrients in slurry and manures. When nitrogen is allowed to convert rapidly at the surface and when slurry structure hinders even application and infiltration, losses to air and water are inevitable. The answer is to stabilise the system biologically.

Bioglobe’s organic enzyme remediation aligns lagoon biology, slurry handling, and field application into a coherent strategy. It reduces ammonia volatilisation by moderating pH and retaining nitrogen in ammonium form within the bulk liquid. It breaks down crusts and sludge, lowering viscosity and improving flow. It supports soil microbial communities post-application, releasing nutrients in step with crop demand and reducing leaching and runoff risk. The results are cleaner air, cleaner water, more productive fields, easier operations, and lower fertiliser bills.

Turning waste into value is not a slogan; it is a practical pathway. By managing the biology of nutrients from lagoon to leaf, farms in Cyprus and beyond can convert a liability into a dependable asset, building resilience in the face of environmental expectations and market pressures.