While livestock producers typically apply manure mainly to corn and other grain crops, the need for additional land area for manure spreading has led many farmers to consider application to perennial forages. This practice also opens up additional windows of time during the growing season. While alfalfa and other legumes fix their own nitrogen, they are big users of potassium and can benefit from K, P, and other nutrients in manure if soil supplies are not adequate. Grasses and grass-legume mixes can also respond to manure nitrogen. Heavy application rates and wheel traffic can damage plants, so it is important to apply at low to moderate rates and to avoid wet soil conditions. Apply manure as soon as possible after harvest to minimize contamination of forage. And, as in surface application to any crop, avoid application at times and in locations with high risk for surface runoff.

For more information, see:
Manure on Alfalfa and Grass fact sheet and

Manure Application to Legumes Webcast Archive.

Author: Bill Jokela, USDA Agricultural Research Service Soil Scientist