The Application of Liquid Fertilizer Quality Certification (LFQC) for Liquid Manure Fertilizers and Probability of Implementation as a Quality Specification for Business Purposes in South Korea

Abstract

Liquid manure could be a valuable source of plant nutrition, if well treated. However, well-treated manure should have to follow some quality control protocol to reduce its adverse effects on the environment. Liquid Fertilizer Quality Certification (LFQC) is an established quality certification system that ensures the production of environmentally friendly liquid manure fertilizer. This study uses LFQC_1 and LFQC_2 to check the quality status of 18 liquid pig manure samples by examining their nutrient contents, harmful contents such as heavy metals and microorganisms, stability, and maturity according to their physiochemical properties. The TN, TP and TK have been tested to determine their nutrient contents and As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg, pathogens, and antibiotics were tested to measure their harmfulness. EC, pH, TS, LFGI, and mechanical stability analysis has been done to ensure these liquid manures' stability and maturity. Finally, all 18 samples were ranked by their score according to LFQC_1 and LFQC_2.