Smart nitrogen cycle as a booster of the cost-effectiveness, competitiveness and operating conditions of livestock farming (N-FIKSU)N utilization (NUE) in milk and beef production is low and it should be improved due to both ecological and economic reasons. The dependence of N fertilizers on Russia must be replaced by domestic N. Based on facts, Finnish cattle production is better than its public reputation in maintaining security of food supply in terms of its environmental impact, and this should be brought up in the public discussion. Project N-Fiksu is designed to meet these needs.

NUE in ruminant production can be improved by several means (e.g. more exact consideration of N release from manure, use of forage legumes, optimization of crude protein in the animal diet, improving the precision of N fertilization of peatlands). All together these means could reduce fertilization costs by approx. 40 - 90 M€/year in Finland and 4,7 – 10,1 M€/year in North Savo region. 

It is essential to study nitrogen use under realistic conditions as a part of typical grass cycle, because several soil and growth processes (e.g. GHG emissions and N leaching) are realized only as a result of using livestock manure for several years. System-level optimization requires modeling of the whole N cycle.
The FGI is responsible for drone remote mapping for WP1c "Promotion of clover seed cultivation". In the work package, drone photography is used to observe both the abundance of flowering and the essential environmental features of pollinators.

The project is coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). Savonia University of Applied Science and the National Land Survey of Finland participate in the work package 1. 

Project title: N-Fiksu - Smart nitrogen cycle as a booster of the cost-effectiveness, competitiveness and operating conditions of livestock farming 

Funding: Pohjois-Savon liitto: Uudistuva ja osaava Suomi 2021–2027, Oikeudenmukaisen siirtymän rahasto – JTF.