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Land Application of Manure Nutrients

Is manure application to cropland…

A source of organic matter that improves soil quality and reduces soil erosion and runoff?   OR   A source of pathogens that limit the beneficial uses of surface water?

A means of recycling essential nutrients for crop production and reducing use of energy intensive fertilizers?   OR   A source of nutrients polluting surface and ground water?

A means of recycling and sequestering carbon in the soil?   OR   A source of gaseous emissions creating nuisance and air quality concerns?

manure spreaderManure Benefits and Risks Depend on Location, Amount, and Timing

These above statements can all be true. Manure is a desirable plant fertilizer and has positive impacts on soil and soil health, but management decisions during land application influence the relative environmental benefit or risk resulting from manure. Timing, location, and amount of manure applied all must be carefully considered.

  • Manure application at amounts that match the nutrient requirements of harvested crops is the foundation of protecting water quality.
  • Preferred timing must balance multiple factors including timing of crop uptake of nutrients and probability of rainfall events following manure application.
  • Location must consider site specific field characteristics that influence environmental risks. Related Information: LPES Curriculum Lesson 33 and Lesson 34 include details on site selection.

Nutrient Management Plans

A nutrient management plan (NMP) is a document that spells out rate, timing, location, and other manure and fertilizer application factors.  The two nutrients that are watched most closely, relative to water quality, are phosphorus and nitrogen.

An NMP for any farm generally follows the same outline. Regulated or permitted operations will have the most specific requirements. In some states, even small farms are required to develop NMPs. There is a great deal of technical assistance available for developing  NMPs from extension, agencies, and private consultants. In some areas, cost-share assistance may be available. There are also many software tools available; one example is the Manure Management Planner Software. Since every state is different, it is recommended to look for state-specific resources and requirement before developing your NMP.

Amount of Manure to Apply

One of the first steps in developing an NMP is to estimate the amount of manure produced on a farm. Some other important pieces of information include: nutrient content as determined by a manure test (Related information: Sampling Manure) and the availability of nitrogen from that manure (consult your state extension service to obtain calculations on nitrogen availability appropriate for your area). Last, but not least, it is important to calibrate manure application equipment to ensure that you know how much manure was actually applied to each field.

Location, Location, Location

Manure application should be set back from wells, streams, lakes, sinkholes, or other environmentally sensitive features. Most states have rules dictating exactly how farm this setback should be.

Tile-drained fields should also receive special consideration with regard to manure application. If manure is applied while soils are saturated or right before a rainfall event, the manure may preferentially flow through tile drainage to water bodies.

Related Information: Manure Application in No-Till and the controversial topic of Manure Application to Legumes

Timing Manure Application

Manure application in spring, shortly before crops are planted, is generally recommended as it allows a short window where nutrients are prone to leaching or runoff. When manure is applied to fruit or vegetable crops, this recommendation may differ.

Manure application during crop growth will closely match nutrient needs, but can be destructive to the growing crop. One way to avoid crop damage is to apply liquid effluent through irrigation systems. (Also see Ohio research on top-dressing liquid swine manure to wheat and side-dressing on corn).

Applying manure in the fall, after the main crop is harvested, is a common practice and helps ensure manure storage structures are emptied before winter–reducing the chances of a overflow. Given the high price of fertilizer and the increased awareness of water quality, more farmers are following fall manure application with a cover crop.

Winter manure application is a controversial topic in many areas. Manure applied to snow-covered or frozen soils may be more likely to runoff under some conditions. Winter applications should only be made in order to prevent a manure storage overflow and should be done in low-risk areas with little slope or potential for runoff to water.

Evaluating if Nutrient Management Is Working

Whole Farm Nutrient Balance (WFNB) is a way to evaluate if the farm is currently accumulating more nutrients than are being exported from the farm. If this analysis is repeated from time to time, the trend can tell if a farm’s efforts are working or not. This website includes a dairy example and a swine example of WFNB.

Related information: Snap-Shot Assessments of Nutrient Use on Dairy Farms

Impacts of Feed Management or Manure Storage

Regional Topics

Economic Value of Manure for Land Application

Page Manager: Becky Larson, University of Wisconsin ralarson2@wisc.edu and Nichole Embertson, Whatcom Conservation District nembertson@whatcom.com
Reviewers: Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska, Doug Beegle, Pennsylvania State University, Ron Wiedreholdt, North Dakota State University.

Photo: CC 2.5 Rick Koelsch

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How Do I Participate in a Webinar?

It is strongly recommended that first-time viewers complete Step 1 several days or weeks before a webinar.

Step 1: Test Your Software

To test your software and connection speed, go to our LPELC Meeting Test Room. This room will be slightly different than the actual webinar room, but should allow you to:

    • install a small program that allows the webinar to work
    • test the controls in the room
    • find the chat box so you can ask questions during the webinar

If you are unable to connect to the testing room, contact your IT staff or our webinar coordinator.

Step 2: Connect to the webinar

On the scheduled day and time (about 15 minutes before the webinar begins), connect to the virtual meeting room through our Live Webinar Information page. Fill out the registration information when prompted.. If you want to download the power point presentations, and view other resources, go to the Live Webinar Information page.

Step 3: Participate in the webinar

The following is a list of the controls you have during the webinar:

    • View participant list
      • Raise Hand – notifies host
      • Rename – change your name that is seen in the participant list
    • Chat
    • Q&A – this is where you have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.
    • Leave Meeting
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Calculating Manure Application Rate

How much manure can I apply to this field? is a common question when developing a nutrient management plan for the upcoming year. This type of planning allows a farmer to ensure there is enough crop land available to adequately use manure nutrients, plan for manure storage emptying, or estimate commercial fertilizer needs to take advantage of lower pricing. Manure is a very good source of nutrients for plants and organic matter for soils. These nutrients have significant value if managed properly. This page describes the information needed to make these calculations. While the process may seem complicated, it is not difficult and provides an easy template to follow in future years.

How Many Nutrients Will the Crop Use?

The starting point for determining manure application is to calculate the amount of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), expected to be used by that year’s crop. To find the values recommended for your area, do a web search for “crop nutrient uptake” or “crop nutrient removal” plus your state’s name. If your search turns up empty, contact your local extension service for assistance. The following pieces of information are usually needed to use your state crop nutrient tables.

  • What is the crop to be grown?
  • What is the soil type in the field? (Not needed in all states.)
  • What is the expected yield for this crop?

A realistic yield can be determined by taking the 5-year average yield for this field and crop and add 10% (some states may recommend a different factor to add) to account for improvements in hybrids and farming techniques. If the 5-year average includes a disaster or exceptionally low yield due to hail, flooding, or similar situation, remove that year from the calculation. The crop nutrient uptake tables for your state will usually provide a factor to calculate nutrient need of the crop based on the expected yield.

Nitrogen Credits from Legumes and Past Manure Application

Organic-nitrogen from past legume crops or past manure applications continues to mineralize into crop-available nitrate-nitrogen for several years. To estimate how much nitrogen will become available from past manure or compost applications, see “Estimating Crop Nutrient Availability of Manure and Other Organic Nutrient Sources“. Legume credits recommended for your state can be found by doing a web search for “legume credit” plus your state name.

What Level of Plant Available Nutrients Are Already Present In the Soil?

In addition to organic-nitrogen that may be already present in soils, there may be plant-available nitrate-nitrogen already present. The best way to determine this is to do a soil nitrate test. To find recommended procedures and labs in your state, do a web search for “soil testing” plus your state name.

Phosphorus and potassium form past manure applications are mostly plant-available right away. If overapplied year after year (as can be the case with a field that receives repeated manure applications) the levels will build up over time. For phosphorus, this is a concern because of the potential for runoff to water. In some states, soils with extremely high phosphorus levels may be off-limits for further manure application (due to the relatively high phosphorus content of manure in comparison to nitrogen). Most states have developed a phosphorus index which is a risk management tool for avoiding fields or situations with greater potential for phosphorus runoff to water. If you are concerned that some of your fields fall into this category, see “What is the P Index?”

How Many Nutrients Are In the Manure?

Manure is highly variable from farm to farm. The nutrient content changes based on how is the manure collected, stored, and treated. It also varies by animal species. When doing pre-season planning, the best indicator of nutrient content in the manure is to look at past manure tests from your own farm. If you are doing your nutrient planning close to the time manure will be land-applied, then sampling manure in your storage will provide good information. As a last resort, planning can be done using “book values” or averages based on research and testing done in your state (do a web search for “manure book values” plus your state name).

It is impossible for plants to use applied nutrients with 100% efficiency, regardless if source is animal manures or commercial fertilizers. Studies have shown that nutrient use efficiency for nitrogen ranges from 30% to 75%, and is dependent on the crop, the specific nutrient, weather, and many other environmental factors. The goal of a nutrient management planner and waste applicator is to obtain the best use of the manure nutrients. This requires intensive management.

Nutrient Management Planning

Nutrient management guidance is typically done at the state level. General guidance may be available at a regional or national level from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). You can also seek the advice of a local expert who is with the Cooperative Extension Service, land grant institution, state department of agriculture, or the state regulatory agency to obtain manure nutrient generation values relevant to the area, specieds, and system you are working with.

Tables that offer production volumes for manure as well as manure nutrient concentration are available for planning purposes, but should not be used to determine application rates on a daily basis. Frequent manure sampling is the only way to make a good assessment of manure nutrient value. Then, with data that relates to loss potential as it relates to manure application method and timing, one can make good recommendations as to appropriate application rates that assure maximum crop use efficiency and minimize losses.

Author: Karl Shafer, North Carolina State University

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Slurry Manure Collection and Handling Systems

Slurry manure is typically generated in systems where little or no bedding is added to the excreted manure/urine. Slurry manure is typically between 5% and 15% solids. It is “thicker” than liquid manure, but cannot be stacked or handled the same way as solid manure. Some common system for handling and storage of slurry manure are described in this article.

Collecting Slurry Manure

Slotted Floor

The simplest manure collection arrangement for slurry manure is the slotted or perforated floor over a manure collection tank. In this scenario excreted manure simply falls through openings in the floor on which the animals stand and collects in a tank below.

Slotted floors above a manure tank are a simple means of collecting slurry manure.

Scrapers

Slurry manure can also be collected using scrapers. In this case the manure is usually confined in an alley (dairy freestall barn) or gutter under slats (swine confinement building). A scraper moves along the length of the alley or gutter and deposits the slurry manure in a reception pit or tank at the end.

Mechanical or tractor-mounted tire scrapers can be used to collect slurry manure in a dairy freestall barn.

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Vacuum

Another type of slurry manure collection device utilizes a vacuum to “suck” slurry manure from a concrete surface and deposit it into a tank. This approach eliminates the need to pump the slurry manure into a tank or wagon.

Labor is reduced when a suction or vacuum is used to collect slurry manure from a concrete alley.

Slurry Pumps

Slurry manure has fluid properties that allow it to be moved by pumps that are specially designed to handle thick fluids containing solids and stringy material. Slurry manure pumps are designed with open-type impellers and usually have cutting or chopping devices at the inlet to the impeller to minimize plugging problems. Low-pressure/high volume slurry pumps are used to fill tankwagons and move manure in other applications where higher pressures are not required. High-pressure slurry pumps are used to move manure through long pipelines and provide the needed pressure for land application in crop fields.

Slurry pumps have open impellers and cutter/chopper blades designed to handle manure with high solids content.

Low-pressure/high volume slurry manure pumps are used to quickly fill manure tankwagons.

High pressure slurry manure pumps can move manure long distances through pipelines to field application equipment.

Transporting Slurry Manure

Tankwagons

Tankwagons can be used to transport or move slurry manure from one point to another, usually from a manure storage facility to a crop field. Tankwagons are available in a variety of sizes from small (1,000 gallons) to quite large (12,000 gallons). Tankwagons typically serve the dual function of transporting slurry manure to a crop field and spreading or injecting the manure into the soil for crop nutrient uptake.

Large tankwagons allow producers to empty manure storage facilities quickly with less labor.

Pipelines

Since slurry manure has fluid properties it can be pumped through pipelines from storage to crop field as an alternative to hauling with a tankwagon. Pumping is a “continuous flow” process whereas hauling is necessarily a “batch” process. Hence pumping can offer significant advantages over hauling in moving large amounts of manure in shorter lengths of time. Tankwagons are generally used to move manure over longer distances although pipelines have been used for distances up to five miles.

Rigid aluminum irrigation pipe has been used for pumping slurry manure in the past. However the labor advantages of using flexible “layflat” tubing for pumping make this type of pipeline more attractive in many cases. Long lengths of this tubing can be stored on reels and placed overland with much less labor than is required with rigid tubing.

Flexible hose or tubing requires less labor for a manure pipeline than rigid pipe.

Slurry Manure Land Application

Field or land application of slurry manure requires that the application devices place the manure in the proper location and at the proper rate for good nutrient management practices. Devices which inject or incorporate manure into the soil are generally preferred since the following advantages are associated with this practice.

  1. Odor is reduced
  2. More nutrients are retained
  3. Runoff potential is reduced

Injection units place manure into the soil to reduce odor, conserve nutrients and minimize runoff.

Some injection units are designed for sod with minimal surface disturbance.

Authors: Charles Fulhage and Joe Harner

Photos: CC 2.5 Charles Fulhage or Joe Harner

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Manure as a Source of Crop Nutrients and Soil Amendment

What Is Manure Worth Compared to Commercial Fertilizer?

Animal manure is considered an agricultural commodity that can be utilized as a fertilizer source for pastureland, cropland and hay production. Manure is recognized as an excellent source of the plant nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In addition, manure returns organic matter and other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur to the soil, building soil fertility and quality.

Any financial valuation of manure would be dependent on the market value of the N, P, K, and other plant nutrients that the manure is replacing, organic matter as a soil amendment, and the nutrient needs of the crops and fields receiving the litter.

The nutrient content of manure will vary depending on animal type and diet, type and amount of bedding, manure moisture content, and storage method. For more information, see the Clemson University publication Livestock Manure Production Rates and Nutrient Content.

Buyers and sellers should have a lab analysis to determine moisture and nutrient concentration of the manure. Generally speaking, liquid manures will contain a lower nutrient content than solid manures, due to the dilution effect. Assuming all nutrients are needed by the crop, higher manure nutrient content corresponds to higher manure value. Higher values help to offset transportation and handling costs.

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CC2.5 LPELC

Manure Composition

Nitrogen in Manure

Nitrogen in manure is found in the organic and inorganic forms. The organic form (slow release) slowly mineralizes providing plant-available N, while inorganic forms (fast release) consist primarily of NH4-N and are immediately plant available. However, inorganic forms are also susceptible to loss through ammonia volatilization during storage and field application. Promptly incorporating the manure into the soil can reduce these N losses. Due to the slow release organic form and potential losses of the inorganic form, not all of the N is available to the crops during the year of application. Nitrogen that is expected to be available to the plant has value as a fertilizer. The N which is lost to the environment or which is not available to the crop in the year it is needed or subsequent years does not have value. The guide “Fertilizer Nutrients in Animal Manure” provides information on the amount of N expected to be available in the 1st year and subsequent years from various manure sources:

Phosphorus and Potassium in Manure

Phosphorus and Potassium in manure are mostly present in the inorganic form. This means that P and K are similar to commercial fertilizer in that they are readily available for plant uptake. Most nutrient management plans are based on a P-Index or P-threshold which may limit manure application on some fields. Therefore, the value of these nutrients is based on crop nutrient needs as determined by a soil test and yield goal.

Micronutrients in Manure

Other nutrients such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) may be found in manure and are beneficial to the soil if a deficiency exists. Both Ca and Mg create an added value by producing a liming effect when added to the soil.

Organic Matter

Organic matter, primarily undigested feed and bacteria in the feces, increases infiltration of water, increases water holding capacity, enhances retention of nutrients, reduces wind and water erosion and promotes the growth of beneficial organisms when added to the soil. Although the value of organic matter is hard to quantify, higher quality soils are associated with increased yields and higher economic returns.

Manure As a Plant Fertilizer

Because manure is not a balanced fertilizer, some plant nutrient needs may be met while other nutrients may be under- or over-supplied. Any nutrient that is undersupplied by a manure application could incur a subsequent fertilizer application cost which would, in effect, lower the net value of the manure. Any nutrient that is oversupplied by a manure application would not have immediate value because it was not needed by the crop.

Additional Links

Authors: Josh B. Payne, Oklahoma State University and John Lawrence, Iowa State University

Reviewers: Ray Massey, University of Missouri and Kelsi Bracmort, NRCS

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Solid Manure Collection and Handling Systems

Solid manure is typically generated in systems where bedding is added to manure to absorb moisture and enhance environmental conditions in the production area. Solid manure can also result from drying conditions such as occur on the surface of a beef feedlot. Solid manure storage and handling is typically more forthright than liquid or slurry manure systems.

Solid Manure Collection

Solid manure is usually collected using scrapers, box scrapers, blades, front-end or skid-steer loaders or similar devices. Equipment sizes range from small blades suitable for tractors of 50 hp or less to large bucket loaders mounted on dedicated power units for operations generating large volumes of manure.

Solid Manure Handling

Solid manure is typically handled, transferred or transported in box-type vehicles (truck-mounted or pull-type) equipped with drag or apron chains to unload the material. Additionally, some type of fragmentation devices such as beaters, spinner plates or flails are usually employed at the unloading point to chop and spread the manure as it discharges from the vehicle. In some cases, large piston pumps or paddle-type barn cleaners are used to transfer solid manure from a production area to a manure storage area.

For more information, visit the Solid Manure Application Equipment page.

Authors: Charles Fulhage, University of Missouri and Joe Harner, Kansas State University

 

Poultry litter contains bedding to create manure mixture with as much as 50% solids.

 

 

 

 

Solid manure handling equipment should have heavy-duty characteristics and be able to operate in corrosive environments.

 

 

 

 

Box-type manure spreaders (left) with flails or beaters can handle manure containing large amounts of bedding.
Trucks spreading poultry litter (right) are equipped with spinner plates to spread the manure in a wide swath.

 

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Images CC 2.5 Charles Fulhage or Joe Harner

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Solid Manure Application Equipment

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How is solid manure applied to cropland?

The most common equipment for applying solids to the land is a rear-discharge, box-type spreader equipped with beaters that broadcast the manure over a width of several feet (see Image 1).

Usually, the manure is conveyed to the beaters at the rear by slats attached at each end to a sprocket-driven chain. Some use a powered front end-gate to push the material to the beaters at the rear. To handle semisolid manure, a tight-fitting, closable rear end-gate is required.

Some spreaders have a side discharge; most of these have V-shaped hoppers and feed the material to the discharge with augers. A rotating expeller slings the material out of the discharge port. The application rate is varied by an adjustable gate opening, usually operated by a hydraulic cylinder.

Flail-type spreaders have a semicircular hopper bottom and a rotating shaft with chain-suspended hammers to fling the material from the hopper. The flail-type and the side-discharge spreaders are adapted to both semisolid and solid manure.

Image 1: Broadcasting manure on cropland.

Manure spreaders may be tractor-drawn models or they may be mounted on a truck. Most tractor-drawn spreaders are PTO operated, but some are driven from the ground wheels. Some are hydraulically powered for greater speed variation, especially for the apron drive, to vary the application rate. In the past, spreader capacities varied from about 30 to 400 cubic feet with tractor horsepower requirements ranging from 10 to more than 120.

Recommended Reading About Land application of Manure

Land Application Equipment for Livestock and Poultry Manure Management

Authors: Jon Rausch, Ohio State University and Ted Tyson, Auburn University.

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Role of Solid Liquid Separation in Manure Storage

There are benefits for manure storage systems in separating manure into solid and liquid components. Solid-liquid manure separation is also a desirable first step in many systems used for manure treatment (composting, anaerobic digestion, etc.)

Solids Accumulation

Waste solids, particularly those from dairy freestall housing bedding, can accumulate quickly in waste storage ponds. Solids accumulation requires longer, more thorough agitation at pump out time to re-suspend settled solids and special manure solids handling “chopper” pumps for transfer to tanker wagons or waste slurry irrigation systems.

Solids can cause pumping problems, and over time can greatly reduce usable storage pond volume. Serious consideration is usually given to the installation of solids separation equipment between animal housing, particularly dairy freestall barns, and the waste storage pond.

Mechanical separators are typically either rotating or stationary screens and generally remove 20 to 30 percent of the waste solids. These separators require little attention although operation in freezing weather requires special considerations. They produce manure solids that may be easily recycled as bedding or land applied off-farm with solid manure spreaders.

vibrating screen separator conveyor inclined screen separator typical two-cell settling basin

Settling Basins

Properly designed gravity settling basins can remove up to 50 percent of the waste solids but need enough elevation between the barn collection channel bottom and the maximum storage pond liquid surface height for installation of the settling basin and associated minimum 1% slope gravity in/out transfer lines. Gravity settling basins require periodic cleaning out with a tractor front end loader and work best when at least two are constructed side by side to allow alternating use and some manure solids drying out before cleaning.

Separated solids can be handled by conventional manure solids handling equipment. These nutrient-rich solids can be spread on distant fields and pastures as fertilizer and soil amendments, or sold for horticultural uses, with or without composting. Removing solids that retain their nutrients can help reduce nutrient loading on nearby fields, which are often irrigated from storage ponds or lagoons during the periodic pump outs required for proper management.

Related Web Pages

Page Managers: Ted Tyson, Auburn University, tysontw@auburn.edu and Saqib Mukhtar, Texas A&M University, mukhtar@tamu.edu .

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Liquid Manure Collection and Handling Systems

Handling and storage of liquid manure requires planning and consideration of the best fit for the entire system. Below are some descriptions of common liquid manure systems.

Systems Which Produce Liquid Manure

Liquid manure containing 5 percent solids or less generally results from the addition of washwater or rainwater to manure. Examples of liquid manure sources include lagoons, holding ponds and dairy parlor washwater.

Flush Systems

A typical example of a collection system resulting in liquid manure is the flush removal of manure from a dairy freestall barn. In this scenario dilute lagoon wastewater is pumped into flush tanks which in turn release the water into freestall alleys to wash the manure to the lagoon.

Flush water released into dairy freestall alleys dilutes manure and washes it to the lagoon.

Open Lots

Another form of dilute or liquid manure is runoff from lot surfaces. In these cases, most of the manure solids remain on the lot, or are removed by solids separation devices prior to a lagoon or holding pond that receives the runoff. The runoff then contains primarily fine suspended or dissolved solids that result in dilute liquid in the receiving basin.

Runoff holding ponds for beef feedlots typically contain dilute wastewater with less than 5% solids.

Equipment for Liquid Manure Handling

Liquid manure (less than 5% solids) is less difficult to handle hydraulically with pumps and pipes than the thicker slurry-type manure. Equipment designed to handle irrigation water is often suitable for handling the dilute wastewater found in liquid manure systems. However, operators often elect to use the same pumping and handling equipment for liquid manure as for slurry manure. This practice provides for the possible need to handle manure that may be occasionally thicker than anticipated and reduces the likelihood of plugging.

Irrigation

Conventional irrigation equipment may be suitable for handling dilute manure from certain lagoons or runoff holding ponds when the likelihood of encountering solids at problem levels is remote. In these cases, pumps designed for irrigation (typically more efficient than slurry manure pumps) will usually be acceptable for handling the wastewater.

Conventional irrigation pumps can handle manure wastewater with limited solids content.

Conventional irrigation application equipment can also be used to land apply dilute manure wastewater if solids levels are low enough to preclude plugging nozzles and orifices. Traveling guns have been used for many years for surface application of effluent from lagoons and runoff holding ponds. Traveling guns are applicable to small and irregular fields and thus find acceptance in areas where crop fields may be limited in size by terrain, timber or property boundaries. Center pivot systems are also able to handle dilute wastewater and are applicable where fields tend to be larger and reduced labor for land application is desired.

This traveling gun applies dilute manure wastewater to a growing crop as it travels across the field.

Center pivot irrigators can apply dilute manure wastewater with low labor input.

For additional information, see Liquid Manure Application and Irrigation Equipment

Authors: Charles Fulhage, University of Missouri, and Joe Harner, Kansas State University

Photos: CC 2.5 Charles Fulhage or Joe Harner

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Liquid Manure Application and Irrigation Equipment

Liquid manure application to crop land

Direct injection of liquid animal manure
Direct injection of liquid animal manure

Liquid animal manure is land applied using liquid manure tankers or irrigation equipment. Liquid manure tanks are frequently pulled, much like a wagon, behind a tractor or mounted on a truck or other power source. Pull type tanks range in size from less than 1,000 gallons to over 8,000 gallons. Those that are mounted on a truck are generally between 3,000 and 6,000 gallons. Truck mounted tankers make over the road travel quicker and safer.

Drag-line direct injection of animal manure
Drag-line direct injection of animal manure

Liquid manure tankers generally discharge manure from the rear of the tank on the soil surface. Alternatively, various types of soil incorporation tools may be used and are generally mounted directly to the tanker. Manure from the tank is distributed through a series of hoses and discharges through the soil incorporation tool. Soil incorporation of liquid animal manure can minimize odors and conserve nutrients.

Irrigation of wastewater by hard hose traveling gun
Irrigation of wastewater by hard hose traveling gun

Land applications by sprinkler irrigation or by a drag-hose, tractor-mounted applicator are the current practical methods of applying large volumes of lagoon effluent or contained lot runoff. Drag-hose applicators can decrease odor problems and the loss of ammonia nitrogen to the air by incorporating the manure. The advantages of sprinkler irrigation include reduced cost because of lower energy and labor requirements.

Lagoon wastewater applied by pivot irrigation for hay production
Lagoon wastewater applied by pivot irrigation for hay production

Labor requirements can be further reduced by permanently installed underground pipes to sprinkler risers, center-pivot irrigators or hose attachment points for traveling guns or drag-hose applicators. However, land application of manure slurry and lagoon effluent with irrigation equipment requires a higher level of management than other methods of spreading to avoid pollution and nuisance problems.

Recommended Reading on Liquid Manure Application and Irrigation Equipment

Authors: Jon Rausch, Ohio State University and Ted Tyson, Auburn University

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