Slurry spreading represents a critical component of the waste management strategy since it influences the nutrients' availability for the crops. The Italian Regulation in force sets severe limits to the slurry application to land. These limits-and the necessity to optimise the slurry fertilising value-require to operate with the correct application rate and with a sufficient spreading uniformity. An innovative slurry spreader able to optimise the reuse of this by-product as an agronomic resource whilst respecting the national regulation has been tested under practical conditions. The agronomic trials showed that the controlled recycling-performed with the innovative slurry spreader-gave no statistically different grain yields from those obtained with the chemical fertilisation. The ammonia emissions recorded after the slurry injection were the 16% of those recorded after the band application. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.