Manure has long been utilized as a fertilizer for plants and a desirable soil amendment. Even with the increasing interest in utilizing manure for energy uses, most systems still eventually return some or all of the manure to the land as a fertilizer. More on land application of manure….
Environmental Impacts & Benefits of Manure Application
Waste to Worth Conference Proceedings about Nitrogen Watershed N Reduction Tool |
When managed properly, the nutrients in manure can be beneficial for soils and plants. When applied at rates higher than what plants can use, the nitrogen (especially nitrate) and phosphorus in manure can lead to ground and surface water impairment.
Other areas that should be monitored for potential impacts of manure include:
- Copper Sulfate Foot Baths on Dairies and Crop Toxicities
- Preferential Flow of Manure in Tile Drainage
Manure Nutrient Planning
The basis of manure nutrient management is the “nutrient management plan” or NMP. The NMP offers step by step guidance for several tasks including manure testing, calibrating application equipment, estimating nutrient availability, and calculating an appropriate manure application rate among other things. After the plan is developed, it must be implemented and adapted as the need arises. Many aspects of an NMP will be influenced by state-specific factors. Many tools and resources exist for developing an NMP. Additional considerations should be recognized when applying manure to fruit and vegetable crops. Related:
As with any planning process, checks must be in place to determine if the plan is working. Some examples of tools that can help gauge if NMPs are improving nutrient use efficiency are the whole farm nutrient balance (WFNB) and snap-shot assessments [dairy farms]. Related: Swine WFNB Tools
Highlighted Resource
Phosphorus and Manure Land Application
When managing land-applied manure phosphorus (P), it is important to recognize the potential for runoff and the likelihood of reaching water. A group of phosphorus experts has created a series of fact sheets on P management. Below are some proceedings papers from the 2013 “Waste to Worth” conference that discuss phosphorus and its management.
Waste to Worth Conference Proceedings About Phosphorus | ||
Global Supply of P | EPA Perspective | P Index Review |
Chitosan + Poultry Litter | Illinois River P Levels | Chesapeake Manure to Energy |
Feedlot Manure Economics Tools | Drainage Water P Removal | Computer Models & Phosphorus Management |
Alternative Litter Storage |
Manure Application to Legumes
Manure Nutrient Management Webcasts and Videos
Webcast Presentations
-
- 4 R’s
- Winter spreading
- Adaptive management
- Improving Implementation of Nutrient Managements Plans
- Ethanol Co-Products Impact on Manure Nutrient Management Webcast
- Managing Manure on Small Farms Webcast
- The Soil Health Paradigm: Holistic Manure Management
- Changing Management of Nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
- Utilizing Liquid Livestock Manure as a Top-dress to Wheat and Side-dress to Corn
- Live from the National Poultry Waste Symposium
- Manure Application in No-Till
- Precision Phosphorus Feeding for Dairy Cattle
- Live from the National Water Quality Meetings
- Manure Nutrients, Cover Crops, and Slurry Seeding
- Snap-Shot Assessments of Nutrient Use on Dairy Farms Webcast
- Conserving Manure Nitrogen in Animal Housing
- Manure Management Planner Software
Videos
-
- Animal Waste Management Software Training Video
- Archived Workshop on WFNB
Research Summaries
-
- Improving Manure Nutrient Application in Karst Topography (CIG Summary)
- Prairie Strips Have Potential to Keep Soil and Nutrients in the Field
- Research Summary: An Innovative Use of Liquid Swine Manure to Control Soybean Cyst Nematodes
- Research Summary: An Integrated Approach to Reduced Risk of Phosphorus Pollution of Surface Waters in Crop-Livestock Based Managed Ecosystems of the Midwest
- Research Summary: Evaluation of a Synthetic Tube Dewatering System for Animal Waste Pollution Control
- Research Summary: Improving Pasture and Hay-ground with Low-disturbance, Manure Slurry-enriched Seeding
- Research Summary: Protocol for Determining the Cost/Benefit of a Manure Storage Lagoon Cover
- Research Summary: Sustainable Management of Nutrients in Pasture Soils, Effect on Animal Congregation Sites
- US Geological Survey National and Regional Trends in Ground-Water Quality