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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Fertilizing Forages with Manure
Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2003 | No Comments
Livestock manure contains most nutrients that crops require and is frequently used as a fertilizer. This paper looks at its usefulness in relation to forages. The results showed that in general the application of hog manure resulted in significant forage yield increases when compared to the control plots in all cases. Forage stands that are kept in good condition will have a greater response to manure application than stands contaminated with weed or poorly productive grasses.
Soil type, nutrient demand of various crops and nutrient content of manure will affect the manure application rate. In order to calculate this rate correctly, nutrient analysis of the manure and soil test recommendations should be done. Factors that need to be considered when applying manure are 1) application methods, such as low-disturbance injection which provides a low-cost alternative to fertilization, 2) application timing, where spring application seems to be the most beneficial and 3) application frequency where applications made to meet a two year nutrient requirement result in good responses.
A study by PAMI (2000) indicated that application of high rates of manure resulted in a carryover of nutrients in the years following application that have contributed to a concentration of nitrates in the forage. A number of factors can influence this accumulation and it is recommended that forages (cut for hay or grazed) that have received nutrients should be tested to determine nitrate and potassium levels.
A REVIEW OF AMMONIA EMISSIONS FROM CONFINED SWINE FEEDING OPERATIONS
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Measures for the prevention and control of Taenia solium taeniosis and cysticercosis
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Acceptable Phosphorus Concentrations in Soils and Impact on the Risk of Phosphorus Transfer from Manure Amended Soils to Surface Waters
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Manure is a valuable source of P for crop production. However, applying too much manure P,
especially in the wrong place, is not only agronomically wasteful, but potentially harmful to the
environment. As a result of recent increases in Manitoba’s production of livestock, the risk of
transfer of manure P from agricultural land to surface water is probably increasing. However,
the amounts of P that are discharged from livestock production and other agricultural activities
are very difficult to determine due to a lack of hydrological data and, more important, a lack of
data on the transfer of P from soil to water. Part of this problem is due to the highly variable
impact of soil type, P management, landscape and climate on P retention and release by soil,
information that is not well documented for Manitoba conditions. Fortunately, livestock
producers have a wide variety of potential techniques for reducing P discharge from their
operations; however, the technical and economic merit of these techniques is generally not well
documented either, for Manitoba conditions. As a result of these challenges, legislation and
regulation regarding P management should be introduced cautiously to ensure environmental
protection without undue hardship to the agricultural industry.
Emission of greenhouse gas from livestock waste and wastewater treatment in Taiwan
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Efficacy of Alum and Coal Combustion By-Products in Stabilizing Manure Phosphorus
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Where Do I Start on a CNMP
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Where a producer starts on the road to developing a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) depends on the producer’s current situation and the amount of time and effort they are willing to invest. The reasons for developing a CNMP could be that it is a requirement, depending on the size of the operation or that an operation wants to receive funds from NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (NCMP are required for this). Another reason may be that the farmer is proactive. There are six components of a CNMP that are not equal by time or effort but all must be completed. They are nutrient management (a budget for all potential sources of nutrients), manure and wastewater handling and storage (description of methods), feed management (the volume and concentration of nutrients), land treatment practices (how manure is applied), record keeping (proof of following the plan) and finally other utilization activities (ex: manure composting or power generation).When a producer signs their CNMP, they are stating that it is accurately reflecting their operations and following the plan. The producer’s involvement in all aspects of the CNMP is vital as it means they understand what the goal is and why it is necessary.
High Levels of H2S in Swine Barns is a Concern
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In a study done by the Prairie Swine Center, researchers evaluated worker exposure to H2S, a potentially deadly gas, while completing tasks such as pulling plugs or power washing rooms. Measurements were taken over two seasons in all parts of the barns, and in many instances, concentrations were many times higher than the recommended maximums. The concentration of H2S that a worker can be exposed to for 8 hours is 10 ppm and short-term exposure is 15 ppm. The findings showed that while plugs were pulled, the H2S concentrations, a meter from the floor and within a meter of the plug area, were high in many cases, sometimes exceeding the monitors which can go up to 1,000 ppm. The use of these monitors in buildings is recommended for worker safety.
Scientists at the Prairie Swine Center plan to develop a system that will allow workers to reduce their exposure to H2S. They will look at 3 different options, the first being a plug design that allows workers to pull the plug away from the plug area. The second will look at a water-based spraying system to see if H2S emissions can be controlled while the manure is pulled. The third option is to see if it is a feasible to retrofit a scraper system in an existing manure pit to be able to take the manure out of the barn on a daily basis but yet in a liquid form to see if H2S emissions can be controlled that way.