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Nutrient Management

Is manure application to cropland...

A source of organic matter that improves soil quality and reduces soil erosion and runoff? (Manure Impacts on Soil webcast) OR
A source of pathogens that limit the beneficial uses of surface water? (Pathogens webcast)

A means of recycling essential nutrients for crop production and reducing use of energy intensive fertilizers? (Nutrient Management webcasts OR
A source of nutrients polluting surface and ground water? (Phosphorus)

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

These statements can all be true. Management decisions during land application influence the relative environmental benefit or risk resulting from manure. If managed properly, manure offers environmental benefits. Failure to implement appropriate management practices will produce environmental concerns introduces the principles of environmental stewardship critical to managing manure as an environmental asset.

Manure application at amounts that match the nutrient requirements of harvested crops is the foundation of protecting water quality. Timing and location of manure application also influence the relative risk or benefit. Preferred timing must balance multiple factors including timing of crop uptake of nutrients and probability of rainfall events following manure application. Location must consider sight specific field characteristics that influence environmental risks. See LPES Curriculum Lesson 33 and Lesson 34 for details on site selection.

A nutrient management plan that carefully considers rate, timing, location, and other factors can benefit the environment. This section will connect you with some of the best resources for land applying manure:

• Calibration of Manure Application Equipment
• Environmental Benefits of Manure Application
• Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Manure: Phosphorous and Surface Water Protection
• Ethanol Co-Products Impact on Manure Nutrient Management Webcast
• Implementing a Nutrient Management Plan
• Integrated Nutrient Management and Limits of the Phosphorus Index
• Land Application of Manure Nutrients
• Management of Land-Applied Manure Phosphorus
• Managing Manure on Small Farms Webcast
• Manure Application to Alfalfa
• Manure Application to Legumes
• Manure Application to Legumes Webcast Archive
• Manure Application to Soybeans
• Manure Impacts on Soil
• Manure Nutrient Management Articles
• Manure Nutrient Management Educational and Informational Resources
• Manure Production and Characteristics
• Manure Sampling
• Manure Testing
• Manure and Compost Utilization on Fruit and Vegetable Crops
• Nitrogen Availability from Organic Sources Webcast Archive
• Nutrient Planning on Small Farms
• 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
• Software and Web-Based Resources for Nutrient Management
• State Specific Manure Nutrient Management Information
• US Geological Survey National and Regional Trends in Ground-Water Quality
• Value Added Processing of Manure
• Value of Manure in Land Application Systems
• Whole Farm Nutrient Balance

Authors: Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska and Doug Beegle, Penn State University
Reviewer: Karl Shaffer, North Carolina State University