Publications
The Mid-Atlantic Nutrient Management Handbook
Nutrient management planning is necessary to properly manage N, P, and other potential pollutants from fertilizer, manure, biosolids, and other fertility sources. Each of the five states in the Mid-Atlantic region requires Certified Nutrient Management Plans to be completed for certain agricultural operations. The Mid-Atlantic Nutrient Management Handbook was written by extension specialists and researchers for use by state regulatory agencies as a reference text for their nutrient management training programs. The handbook is a revision and update of a former nutrient management training manual for the Chesapeake Bay watershed area and was developed to incorporate the advances in the understanding of managing soils, crops, and nutrients for the protection of surface water and groundwater that have occurred since the original manual was published, and to broaden the scope of the manual to cover the entire Mid-Atlantic region.
Click here to view the handbook.
Poultry Litter Use and Transport in Caroline, Queen Anne's, Somerset and Wicomico Counties in Maryland: A Summary Report
Poultry growers on Maryland 's Eastern Shore produce over 285 million broilers per year. This results in the annual creation of almost 350,000 tons of poultry litter. Poultry litter is high in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Traditionally, poultry litter has been used as a nutrient source on local cropland. Using poultry litter allows crop growers to eliminate or significantly cut back on commercial fertilizer use, resulting in substantial cost savings.
A recent analysis of nutrient balances shows that some counties may have more nutrients available from poultry litter and other animal manures than local cropland can use. Poultry litter may need to be transported out of these counties or alternative uses will need to be found. Litter transport is a commonly utilized strategy to address nutrient excesses. State governments in Maryland , Virginia , and West Virginia have utilized transport subsidy programs to stimulate adoption of poultry litter by new users. This study is based on a mail survey that documents the use and movement of litter within two primary poultry producing counties (Somerset and Wicomico) and two secondary poultry producing counties (Caroline and Queen Anne's) in Maryland. This research was coordinated with similar surveys in West Virginia and Virginia in order to develop a regional information base on litter use and transport.
Available in PDF format.
Nutrient Trading Resource Directory
This Nutrient Trading Resource Directory points readers to a core set of information generated by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the states in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Quality Program and other state
efforts. The federal and state nutrient trading programs in the Mid-Atlantic region are summarized in this
directory. The links for each program contain useful information on programs and efforts.
Available in PDF and MS Word formats.
Work-Load Issues Concerning the Use of RUSLE to Estimate Soil Losses in P Index Assessment Tools in the Mid-Atlantic Region
RUSLE or the revised universal soil loss equation is a tool developed by USDA-NRCS to estimate soil erosion losses as affected by rainfall, the erodability of the soil, percent slope, slope length, the type of cropping system and the presence of conservation practices. Estimated soil losses using RUSLE1 or RUSLE2 are calculated separately for input into the P-Index which requires a field visit to collect site specific information (i.e., slope, slope length, etc.).
Available in HTML or PDF formats
Development of Regionally-Consistent Phosphorus Source Coefficients for Use in Phosphorus Index Evaluations in the Mid-Atlantic Region
One of the evaluation factors used to assess a site's P loss potential is a measure of the P solubility of nutrient materials applied to the soil. The Phosphorus Source Coefficient (PSC) represents the relative proportion of the total P applied to the field that is potentially subject to loss with drainage water. The PSC is a quantifiable characteristic of the nutrient amendment and is independent of the characteristics of the soil to which the amendment is applied.
Available in HTML or PDF formats
The Conservation Security Program: A Guide for Interested Farmers
As a farmer, why should you be interested in the USDA's new Conservation Security Program (CSP)? It's getting a lot of attention from policy "wonks" and farm, conservation, and environmental organizations, but why should a farmer pay attention?
Available in PDF format
Land Application of Biosolids to Provide Plant Nutrients, Enhance Soils Properties, and Prevent Water Quality Impairment
The following links are to web sites that describe biosolids use, management recommendations, and federal and state regulation controlling biosolids application. We have included both general links and those which specifically pertain to biosolids use in EPA Region III. We hope these links will be useful in promoting the environmentally sound use of these potentially valuable residuals.
Available in PDF format.
Composting and Compost Use for Water Quality
The following links are for websites which describe the use of composted organic materials for environmentally beneficial purposes. We have included both general links and those which specifically pertain to compost use in EPA Region III. We hope that practitioners, policy makers, regulators, and editors will be able to use the information contained in these links to learn more about large-scale use of compost and to implement the use of compost as a means to reduce potential environmental problems.
Available in PDF format.
The Conservation Security Program: Encouraging and Rewarding Good Conservation
The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a new USDA-sponsored program that encourages and rewards farmers practicing outstanding stewardship on working farmland by offering financial incentives that increase with the level of conservation effort. Soil and water quality are the primary focus of the CSP. However, program goals also include improved wildlife habitats, air quality, environmentally responsible energy production, and related natural resource concerns.
Available in PDF format.
Nitrogen, Ammonia Emissions and the Dairy Cow
The key to improving nitrogen (N) efficiency of the cow is to balance the various protein fractions along with providing adequate CHOs and their fractions. Nutritional imbalances arise when nitrogen is fed in excess of requirements, excessive rumen degradable protein (RDP) or soluble protein are fed relative to fermentable CHOs, diets are improperly balanced for rumen undegradable protein (RUP), or there are inadequate amounts or an imbalance of amino acids. Sound ration balancing of proteins and CHOs that promotes increases in milk production should decrease nitrogen excretion in feces and urine per unit of milk produced.
Available in PDF format.
Home Practices To Promote Water Quality
There are a variety of choices that the average homeowner can make in order to reduce the movement of nutrients and chemical contaminants from the residential landscape to our region's waterways. The Cooperative Extension Services in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia have numerous publications and fact sheets that can help homeowners make educated decisions about nutrient, pesticide and water management in the residential environment. This document highlights some of these publications.
Available in HTML or PDF formats
Creating Markets for Manure: Basin-wide Management in the Chesapeake Bay Region
Historically, animal and crop production systems were often integrated on a single
farm. The agricultural operation grew crops for sale and as feed, fed and grew animals,
and spread animal manure on fields to fertilize the feed crop that would then be used to
feed the animals on the farm. This integrated farming system recycled nutrients on the
farm. Nutrients were exported off farm as crop and animal products, and losses occurred
due to runoff, leaching, and atmospheric deposition. Larger animal operations sometimes
supplemented crop feed production by importing additional feed products.
Available in PDF format
TMDL Resource Directory
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, which is mandated by the Clean Water Act, is a watershed management process that integrates watershed planning with water quality assessment and protection. Water bodies in violation of state water quality standards are referred to as “impaired.” Pollutant-specific TMDL plans are required for impaired water bodies. Developing a TMDL plan involves a study that 1. identifies the sources of the pollutants causing water quality impairments, 2. quantifies the pollutant contribution from each source, or source category in the case of nonpoint source pollution (NPS), and 3. determines the pollutant reduction from each source required to meet applicable state water quality standards.
Available in HTML and PDF formats
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