Making Manure
(Continued from Page 12)
In manure that has been treated with fly ash or
alum, highly water-soluble phosphorus shifts to
other forms that are less soluble and therefore more
stable. The mechanisms responsible for these shifts
are precipitation, absorption, and entrapment. Sci
entists believe the shifts are desirable and beneficial
because the phosphorus available for crops would
be similar over the long term, while its environmen
tal losses would be substantially reduced.
“Treating manure with alum or fly ash prior to
field application can be a management tactic partic
ularly useful on farms where manure has to be
spread during late fall to early spring. These are
sensitive times when crops are not growing, and
phosphorus and other nutrients cannot be utilized
vhile runoff potential is the highest. With treated
nanure, phosphorus would have a better chance to
stay in the fields until the crops can use it rather
than being dissolved in runoff waters and getting
into streams and rivers,” said lead scientist Dr.
Zhengxia Dou, at the Center for Animal Health and
Productivity at New Bolton Center. Dou was joined
in the research by scientists J.D. Toth and James
Ferguson, both from Penn.; G.Y. Zhang of the Soil
Science Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Nanjing, China; and W.L. Stout, of the U.S.D.A.’s
Agricultural Research Service in University Park.
The amounts of aluminum or heavy metals in
soils that have been fertilized with alum- or fly ash
treated manure are well below the natural levels
and within government-regulated limits.
“Of course, soils and crops in fields receiving
treated manures should be monitored through
proper testing to safeguard the health of animals
and humans,” Dou said.
An integrated, whole-farm management program
is most effective in helping producers improve nu
trient efficiency, enhance productivity, and mini
mize adverse environmental consequences.
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