These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

Animal Manure Management Home

Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts

Print Share/Bookmark

Land Application of Manure Nutrients

Last Updated: February 14, 2011

View as web page


Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center:

Home Page

All articles about:

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 important 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.

manure spreader

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:

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

Browse related Articles by tag: animal manure management, manure nutrients, manure introduction


Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.