Experts from the Tatarstan branch of the Center for Agricultural and Soil Management help farmers prepare livestock waste for soil application.
For farmers, applying organic fertilizers (based on livestock by-products) to the soil is key, laying the foundation for next season's harvest. Ignoring this procedure leads to a decrease in soil fertility, which is especially important in Tatarstan, where approximately 20,000 hectares of acidic soils are identified annually.
Experts from the Tatarstan branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Center for Agricultural and Soil Management" note that organic fertilizers based on PPZh are most effective for restoring soil structure after harvest. They replenish the micronutrients, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus absorbed by plants during the season, creating favorable conditions for an early start of crops in the spring.
With the entry into force of Federal Law No. 248-FZ of July 14, 2022, "On Livestock By-Products and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation," agricultural producers must independently classify the substances they produce (manure, litter, and wastewater) as by-products or waste. For the legal use of livestock by-products, technical specifications (TS) are required, regulating their entire cycle—from identification to application to the soil.
"Technical specifications are a key document, taking into account the specific characteristics of a specific enterprise and the crops being cultivated. They establish the frequency of laboratory testing of by-products. Specialists at our branch are developing such documents—this year, TS have already been issued for 61 farms in the republic operating in the livestock and poultry sectors," said Idris Gatin, Deputy Director of the Tatarstan branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "TsOK AIC" (Agricultural Complex Center).
The importance of laboratory testing of livestock by-products (LBP) is due to potential risks: such products may contain pathogens, pesticides, and heavy metals. Without expert evaluation, fertilizers can pose a threat to the environment and negatively impact the safety of agricultural products.
The branch's laboratory specialists perform the full cycle of work on integrating LBP into agricultural production: from sampling and developing technical specifications to testing for 12 parameters, including toxic element content, pesticides, nutrients, and microbiological analysis.
As of September 25, 2025, the branch's laboratory experts analyzed 105 LBP samples and performed 630 safety tests. All procedures are regulated by Government Resolution No. 1940 of October 31, 2022, "On Approval of Requirements for the Handling of Livestock By-Products," which guarantees the environmental safety and efficient use of organic fertilizers.