Page 12-Com Talk, Lancaster Firming, Saturday, March 19,1994 Using Manure In Leon Ressler Lancaster Extension Environmental Agent Crop nutrients arc a major part of the cost in com produc tion. Substituting manure for fertilizer can result in savings for the com producer in many situations. Development of highly con centrated 1 animal production facilities has created large quantities of manure which need to be marketed to other operations for use in crop production. If you are considering using manure as a source of crop nutrients, you should first con sider the advantages and disad vantages of using animal manures. Low cost is a primary advan- How Much Is Manure Worth? 1. Determine the current market price for N, Pfl s , and K a O for your area and use those prices in the following example formulas. 2. Use a manure test to determine the N-P a O s -K a O content of your manure. If no manure test is available use book values in the agro nomy guide. 3. Use table 21 in the 93-94 Agronomy Guide to determine the N availability factor for the manure nitrogen under your management system. For Example: A poultry layer manure sample has a nutrient content of 38 lbs. of N, 48 lbs. of 0 2 0 ? , and 25 lbs. of K ? 0 per ton. The man ure will be spring applied and incorporated within one day. The value per ton would be: 38 lbs. N X .50 (Availability Factor) X $0.25 per lb 48 lbs. P a 0 5 X $0.22 per lb. 25 lbs. K a O X $O.lB Note: This calculation assumes that the crop requires all the nutrients in the manure. However your soil test may show for instance that your corn field requires only nitrogen. In that case you could only justify paying for the nitrogen in the manure if you were buying it. f&i qA Pa U/ K ffHi \fr —j T Z o IjpUßbto Crop Production tage that one can realize using manure. In concentrated animal production areas, manure is available for less than the com mercial value of the nutrients. In some situations the manure is free. Manure can also add organic matter, which helps to improve the soil’s water-holding capaci ty. Micronutrients are a bonus that comes with manure as well. Some of the nitrogen that is in the manure is available slowly over time, which can contribute to the nitrogen needs of future crops. As with everything, using manure comes with disadvan tages as well. Weed seeds can be a problem, especially with bedded pack manure. This is less of a concern with poultry or hog manure. ILASSBS 'DuuWOv!/ 1994 Corn Another problem with man ure is that the nitrogen, pho sphorus, and potash come in a fixed ratio. For example, your soil tests may indicate your com crop needs only nitrogen and potash, but to meet that need with manure means that you will be applying phosphor us as well. Most soils in Pen nsylvania have the capacity to store phosphorus, but it is important to monitor your fields with soil tests to avoid buildup of extremely high levels. Odors and flies can be a problem with manure, especial ly if your field is in a urban area. Prompt incorporation is the best way to minimize problems with your neighbors. The biggest disadvantage =$ 4.75 =510.56 =$ 4.50 $19.81 Sffiß. BINS AND AUGERS w i ■» Take ’em Down! We Will Assemble & Deliver Bins To Your Farm Northeast Agri Systems, Inc Flyway Business Park 139 A West Airport Road Lltltz, PA 17543 Ph (717)569-2702 Table 21. Percentage of total manure nitrogen remaining available to crops after storage and handling, as affected by application method and field history. A. Current year, time of application, and incorporation Manure applied for CORN or SUMMER ANNUALS the following year: Applied in spring incorporation the same day incorporation within 1 day incorporation within 2-4 days incorporation within 5-6 days incorporation after 7 days or no incoiporation Applied previous fall or winter with no cover crop' Applied previous fall or winter with cover crop harvested for silage 1 Applied previous fall or winter with a cover crop as a a green manure Manure applied for SMALL GRAINS: Applied previous fall or winter . Q.JO 0.40 1 There is the potential of significant nitrogen loss to the environment when manure is applied in this manner. * These low availability factors do not indicate a net loss of N. A large amount of N is removed m the cover crop silage but is recycled in the manure when the silage is fed. N availability factor B. Historical frequency of manure application on the field Poultry manure Rarely received manure in the past Frequently received manure (4-8 out of 10 yrs) Continuously received manure (>8 out of 10 yrs) We Stock Truckloads Of Chore-Time Bins & Miles Of Chore-Time FLEX-AUGER r Pennsylvania’s Authorized Master Distributor m 1-800-673-2580 9 (D©lN mi HIWO PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. with manure is the handling costs and' potential compaction from application equipment. Ultimately, an evaluation of the nutrient value of the manure versus what it will cost you to get it on the field will determine whether it is the right move for you. In order to make that evalua tion, you need to know the fer tilizer value of the manure. Ask the supplier of the manure to give you a manure lest indicat ing its fertilizer value. Then it is a fairly simple calculation to determine the what the nutri ents are worth. When calculating the value of the nitrogen, remember that only a portion of the nitrogen will be available to the crop the first year. Refer to Table 21 in “The 1993-1994 Agronomy Guide” to determine nitrogen availability for your manage Bins... Large Or Small STORE HOURS Mon -W 7 30 to 4 30 Sot ft 00 to Noon 24 Hr 7 Day Repair Service ment system. Multiply the per centage of the nitrogen avail able times the pounds of nitro gen per ton times the commercial value of the nitro gen per pound and you will have the value of the nitrogen per ton. Multiply the pounds of phosphorus per ton times the maiicet value for a pound of phosphorus and you will have the value of the phosphorus per ton of manure. Repeat this same process for potash and you will have the value for potash per ton. Then add the values for the nitrogen, phosphorus, and pot ash to arrive at a total value of the manure. Remember, this calculation assumes that you need all three nutrients. If your soil tests indi cate you only need nitrogen, then the value of the nitrogen is really all that the manure is (Turn to Pago 14) N availability factor Poultry manure 0.75 0.50 0.45 0.30 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.50 0.07 0.12 Put ’em Up! «a Custom Applications FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL OUR TOLL-FREE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER: 1-800-67S.2SSQ Other manure 0.50 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.40 Other manure 0.15 0.25
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