Darke Soil & Water Conservation District
Understanding Best
Management Practices for Manure Application
by Janell Weiss
As part of Darke Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) commitment
to outreach on the Ohio agricultural pollution abatement program, we
are continuing our series of monthly articles on agricultural topics.
Be on the lookout for future columns from Darke SWCD staff on manure
storage and stockpiling, cover crops, nutrient management plans and
other related topics. All articles will be released to local media and
available online at www.darkeswcd.com.
Darke SWCD staff would like to engage the county in a conversation on
environmental stewardship. This series of articles will provide farmers
with information to help them protect water quality. Additionally
non-farming community members can learn what farmers are doing and can
do to protect water quality in our lakes, rivers and streams. This
month’s article focuses on best management practices for spring and
summer manure applications.
Darke SWCD staff encourages Darke County producers to use caution when
applying manure this spring and summer. All livestock producers, manure
applicators, and owners or operators of farms receiving manure have the
responsibility to protect water quality by following the Natural
Resources Conservation Service Nutrient Management Practice Standard
590, available at
www.darkeswcd.com/agriculture-pollution-abatement.html. This document
outlines the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship: right source, right rate,
right time and right place.
Manure is a biologically active and balanced fertilizer that makes it
the “right source” of fertility for many Darke County producers.
Achieving and maintaining soil fertility can be accomplished by
applying manures at the “right rate”. Type of manure, existing soil
nutrient levels and planned crop need to be considered when determining
manure application rates. Liquid manure application rate
recommendations also depend on field conditions and soil moisture. A
liquid application should be applied lightly enough to avoid surface
ponding, surface runoff and tile discharge. Also, tillage or injection
of manure can improve infiltration, increase nutrient retention and
prevent runoff.
In order to apply manure to the “right place”, manure applicators must
be aware of field drainage. It is recommended that unincorporated
manure not be applied adjacent to tile inlets, risers, catch basins,
tile suck holes and watercourses, including streams, ditches, grassed
waterways, side ditches. Recommended setback distances for various
features are outlined below.
Recommended minimum setback distances for surface application of manure:
100 ft. from residences and private wells down slope from the
application area
100 ft. from ponds and lakes with a minimum of 35 ft. of permanent
vegetative buffer
100 ft. from streams, ditches and surface inlets; 35 ft. if a
vegetative barrier is present
35 ft. from grassed waterways and field surface drains
300 ft. from public wells, a public surface drinking water intake and
upslope from developed springs
Recommended minimum setback distances for direct injection or
incorporation of manure within 24 hours:
100 ft. from residences and private wells down slope from the
application area
100 ft. from ponds and lakes with a minimum of 35 ft. of permanent
vegetative buffer
0 ft. from streams, ditches and surface inlets
0 ft. from grassed waterways and field surface drains
100 ft. from public wells
300 ft. from a public surface drinking water intake and upslope from
developed springs
Lastly, applying manure at the “right time” is critical. Avoid manure
applications when there is a greater than 50 percent chance of rain
exceeding one-half inch within 24 hours.
Follow these guidelines to maximize crop uptake and minimize nutrient
losses. For more information about manure application criteria or other
manure management issues, please contact the SWCD office at
937-548-1752.
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