Managing Manure
Incremes Its Value
NEWARK, Del. - In a single
year, the average dairy cow
produces manure containing
almost 200 pounds of nitrogen,
approximately 100 pounds of
phosphate and 150 pounds of
potash. Barring losses in storage,
the nutrients in this manure can
supply the fertilizer needs for an
acre of com.
By storing the manure in a way
that preserves these nutrients,
testing it for specific nutrient
content, and then making
calibrated applications, dairy
farmers can save money and
protect groundwater supplies.
The way manure is stored and
handled affects the amount of
nutrients that remain available to
the crop. For example, nitrogen in
the ammonia form can escape to
the atmosphere if it is not quickly
incorporated into the soil after
application.
Dairy manure in a lagoon can
lose 70 to 80 percent of its nitrogen
while in storage, says J. Ross
Harris Jr., University of Delaware
extension environmental
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New York Life Insurance
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Ephrata, PA 17522
Bus. (717) 733-3694
specialist. If stored in an anaerobic
pit, on the other hand, it will lose
only 15 to 30 percent of its nitrogen,
while in earthen storage it can lose
20 to 40 percent. Stored as a solid,
nutrient loss will occur at a rate
similar to that in slurry or earthen
storage.
Additional nitrogen losses can
occur after the manure is applied
to the land, the specialist says. If
broadcast and not incorporated, 10
to 30 percent of the nitrogen can
escape into the air. Most of this
loss will occur rhirina the first 24
hours after spreading. So im
mediate disking or other
cultivation is essential. In
corporation after application will
cut nitrogen losses from 1 to 5
percent, as compared to losses of
from 0 to 2 percent when knifed in.
Phosphorus and potassium
losses are likely to be negligible
except when manure is stored in
open lots or lagoons. Harris
estimates that approximately 20 to
40 percent of the phosphorous and
30 to 50 percent of the potassium
contained in dairy manure can be
lost by runoff and leaching in open
lots, while up to 80 percent of the
phosphate in lagoons can ac
cumulate in bottom sludges where
it remains unavailable unless the
sludge is removed and applied to
the land.
The specialist strongly en
courages manure testing and
spreader calibration practices
that enable dairy producers to
effectively mange the manure
from their herds as a resource and
at the same time prevent ground
water pollution.
Hams has written two fact
sheets that describe the calibration
procedures for spreading livestock
manure in a liquid, solid or
semisolid form. Copies of these
fact sheets are available in
Delaware from county extension
offices in Newark 302-451-8934,
Dover 302-697-4000, and
Georgetown 302-856-7303. For
further information on the use of
manure in crop production, he
suggests farmers contact their
extension agricultural agent.
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