Managing Livestock Manure to Managing Livestock Manure to Enhance Water Quality and Enhance Water Quality and

Social BenefitsSocial Benefits

Dr. Jeffery LorimorDr. Jeffery Lorimor

Iowa State UniversityIowa State University

Ames, IA USAAmes, IA USA

Income from LivestockIncome from Livestock

In Romania – In Romania – – Rural population is 46% of totalRural population is 46% of total– Overall Ag GDP is 18.5% of totalOverall Ag GDP is 18.5% of total– Of 14.8 million hectares, 63% is arableOf 14.8 million hectares, 63% is arable– Meat and egg production has declined Meat and egg production has declined

approximately 40% since 1990 except for milk, approximately 40% since 1990 except for milk, even though adequate feed is available even though adequate feed is available

L. Lordache, senior researcher, World Economy Institute L. Lordache, senior researcher, World Economy Institute

Animal ContributionsAnimal Contributions

Animals play multiple roles Animals play multiple roles by providingby providing– Draft powerDraft power– High quality protein High quality protein

(meat, milk, eggs)(meat, milk, eggs)– Cash income/income Cash income/income

diversificationdiversification– Ability to graze non-cropped Ability to graze non-cropped

groundground– Animal waste productsAnimal waste products

NutrientsNutrients Gas for heating and cookingGas for heating and cooking

IFPRI 2020 Brief no. 61IFPRI 2020 Brief no. 61

Livestock Benefit the Poor MoreLivestock Benefit the Poor More

Livestock benefit the Livestock benefit the poor by alleviating poor by alleviating micronutrient micronutrient deficiencies and by deficiencies and by directly alleviating directly alleviating poverty. poverty.

The rural poor tend to The rural poor tend to get a higher share of get a higher share of their income from their income from livestock than better-livestock than better-off rural peopleoff rural people

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

The environmental The environmental concerns of increasing concerns of increasing livestock production livestock production are are – Higher concentrations Higher concentrations

of animalsof animals– Water quality Water quality

deteriorationdeterioration– Air quality deteriorationAir quality deterioration

Two Environmental ThreatsTwo Environmental Threats

Two primary threats to water quality may Two primary threats to water quality may exist from animal productionexist from animal production– Direct discharge of collected wastesDirect discharge of collected wastes– Over application of manure nutrientsOver application of manure nutrients

Good management can minimize or Good management can minimize or eliminate both threatseliminate both threats

Direct Discharge EliminationDirect Discharge Elimination

Primary concern for direct discharge from Primary concern for direct discharge from manure to surface watersmanure to surface waters– Acute toxicityAcute toxicity

Oxygen demand (COD/BOD)…kills aquatic lifeOxygen demand (COD/BOD)…kills aquatic life Ammonia NHAmmonia NH33-N-N …kills aquatic life …kills aquatic life

– Chronic effectsChronic effects PhosphorusPhosphorus …excess algae growth …excess algae growth

Direct Discharge EliminationDirect Discharge Elimination

Primary concern for discharge to ground Primary concern for discharge to ground waterswaters– Acute toxicityAcute toxicity

MicroorganismsMicroorganisms e coli, streptococcus, etc.e coli, streptococcus, etc.– Might result from poor well constructionMight result from poor well construction

NitrateNitrate …Blue baby disease…Blue baby disease– Might result from too much nitrogen applied to the landMight result from too much nitrogen applied to the land

Direct Discharge EliminationDirect Discharge Elimination

Solid manure less risky Solid manure less risky than liquid manurethan liquid manure– Direct discharges are Direct discharges are

less likely since the less likely since the manure does not flowmanure does not flow

– Adequate space Adequate space between the manure between the manure and the water source is and the water source is the primary means of the primary means of protectionprotection

Direct Discharge EliminationDirect Discharge Elimination

Most states in the US require separation Most states in the US require separation distances between livestock production/ distances between livestock production/ manure storage facilities and water manure storage facilities and water resourcesresources– Iowa, for example, for liquid manure from Iowa, for example, for liquid manure from

animal buildings and manure storages requires animal buildings and manure storages requires 150 -300 meters separation150 -300 meters separation

Direct Discharge EliminationDirect Discharge Elimination

Solid manure stacksSolid manure stacks– Build stacks on Build stacks on

impermeable floors/soilimpermeable floors/soil– Protect against rainfall Protect against rainfall

with roofs or covers to with roofs or covers to avoid seepageavoid seepage

– Keep stacks away from Keep stacks away from streams, rivers, and streams, rivers, and lakeslakes

Avoid Over Application of ManureAvoid Over Application of Manure

Crops need nutrients to produce wellCrops need nutrients to produce well Nutrients can come from manure, legumes Nutrients can come from manure, legumes

(N), or from purchased fertilizer(N), or from purchased fertilizer We know what the crops needWe know what the crops need We know what the animals “produce” in We know what the animals “produce” in

manuremanure

ClarificationClarification

NOTE: animals do not produce nutrients. NOTE: animals do not produce nutrients. They They useuse nutrients. We say they “produce” nutrients. We say they “produce” because non-grazing animals accumulate because non-grazing animals accumulate nutrients from feed taken from a large area nutrients from feed taken from a large area into manure that accumulates in a small into manure that accumulates in a small area. area.

Basic ObjectiveBasic Objective

To avoid water quality problems we need to To avoid water quality problems we need to redistribute the animal manure back onto redistribute the animal manure back onto approximately the same area that the animal approximately the same area that the animal feed was produced on. feed was produced on.

Research data tells us that properly Research data tells us that properly distributed manure nutrients do not cause distributed manure nutrients do not cause water quality deteriorationwater quality deterioration

Properly Managed Manure Will Properly Managed Manure Will Reduce Nitrates in Shallow GroundwaterReduce Nitrates in Shallow Groundwater

Nitrate Concentrations in Tileline Flowfrom

Land Fertilized With Swine Manure

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Average

Nitrates in TileflowNitrates in TileflowPoultry Manure PlotsPoultry Manure Plots

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5

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25

30

Check 1X UAN 1X 2X

Nit

rate

N,

mg

/l

Field plots

Lysimeters

Nitrogen ConcentrationsNitrogen Concentrations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Per

cent

AnhydrousAmmoniaNitrogen

Urea-AmmoniaNitrogen

Liquid SwineManure

Bedded SwineManure

Typical Nutrients Used by CropsTypical Nutrients Used by Crops

We know the nutrient needs of the We know the nutrient needs of the cropscrops– Corn needs 55-17-14 kg of N-P-KCorn needs 55-17-14 kg of N-P-K– Wheat needs 60-27-14 kg of N-P-KWheat needs 60-27-14 kg of N-P-K

Yearly Nutrients “Produced”Yearly Nutrients “Produced”

0

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N P K

Kg

/ a

nim

al

/ y

ea

r

Liquid manure

Solid manure

Animals per HectareAnimals per Hectareto Provide to Provide NitrogenNitrogen needed needed

CornCorn WheatWheat SoybeansSoybeans

Swine Swine beddedbedded

1010 1111 0 (16)0 (16)

Beef Beef beddedbedded

22 22 0 (6)0 (6)

PoultryPoultry 500500 500500 0 (600)0 (600)

Protecting WaterProtecting Water

If we do not apply more nutrients than the If we do not apply more nutrients than the crops need, we will protect water quality. crops need, we will protect water quality.

This applies to both purchased fertilizer and This applies to both purchased fertilizer and to animal manure.to animal manure.

To protect water quality…do not over apply To protect water quality…do not over apply nutrientsnutrients

Other IssuesOther Issues

Good manage must include other issuesGood manage must include other issues– Soil erosion…manure can increase of decrease Soil erosion…manure can increase of decrease

soil erosion, depending on how it is managedsoil erosion, depending on how it is managed– Losses…nitrogen losses can occur if manure is Losses…nitrogen losses can occur if manure is

not covered with soil soon after being applied to not covered with soil soon after being applied to the fieldthe field

– Seepage…seepage from storage piles can be Seepage…seepage from storage piles can be an issue if left uncontrolledan issue if left uncontrolled

SummarySummary

Animals can play a vital role in the well Animals can play a vital role in the well being of a countrybeing of a country

One of the many contributions animals can One of the many contributions animals can make is to concentrate nutrients from feed make is to concentrate nutrients from feed into manure for use as crop fertilizerinto manure for use as crop fertilizer

Good manure management is the key to Good manure management is the key to changing a potential pollutant into a valuable changing a potential pollutant into a valuable natural resourcenatural resource

SummarySummary

The current world bank project near The current world bank project near Calarasi is an excellent example of a Calarasi is an excellent example of a project that can result in improved project that can result in improved manure management and improved water manure management and improved water quality.quality.

I commend you for your efforts I commend you for your efforts

Annual Nutrient AmountsAnnual Nutrient Amounts

Solid (bedded) beef manureSolid (bedded) beef manure– 132-66-132 lb/hd/yr (60-30-60 kg/hd/yr) 132-66-132 lb/hd/yr (60-30-60 kg/hd/yr)

PoultryPoultry– 60-60-40 lb/100 birds/yr 60-60-40 lb/100 birds/yr

(30-30-10 kg/100 birds/yr) (30-30-10 kg/100 birds/yr)

CompostCompost

Proper compost requires four things:Proper compost requires four things:– CarbonCarbon– NitrogenNitrogen– OxygenOxygen– MoistureMoisture

Composting PrinciplesComposting Principles

Composting PrinciplesComposting Principles

105

50Te

mp

era

ture

ºF

Heating Temperature plateau

Substratedepletion

Time

Mesophilic

(degradation)

Psychrophilic (maturation)

Thermophilic (conversion)

Composting PrinciplesComposting PrinciplesEfficient composting requiresEfficient composting requires

A balanced source of energy and nutrients A balanced source of energy and nutrients Typically with a C:N ratio between Typically with a C:N ratio between 20:1and 40:120:1and 40:1

Sufficient moisture Sufficient moisture Typically between 40% and 60%Typically between 40% and 60%

Sufficient oxygenSufficient oxygen

Typically 5% or greaterTypically 5% or greater

A pH range between 6 and 8A pH range between 6 and 8

Composting PrinciplesComposting PrinciplesMoist, high-Moist, high-

nitrogennitrogenprimary primary

ingredientingredient

Bulking agent Bulking agent withwith

large firm large firm particlesparticles

Dry, high-Dry, high-carboncarbon

amendmentamendment

Composting PrinciplesComposting PrinciplesComposting methodsComposting methods

Passive composting pilePassive composting pile

WindrowWindrow

Passively aerated windrowPassively aerated windrow

Aerated static pileAerated static pile

In-vesselIn-vessel

Composting Principles —Composting Principles — In-Vessel Bin In-Vessel Bin

Composting Principles -- Composting Principles -- WindrowsWindrows