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August 25, 2005 Manure is a Valuable Resource If the high prices of commercial nitrogen fertilizer are putting pressure on your crop production budgets, then livestock manure may be the substitute you’re looking for, according to a North Dakota State University livestock waste management specialist. “Livestock manure has for too long been regarded as a waste product,” says Ron Wiederholt, NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. “With an average of 10 to 15 pounds of nitrogen available per ton in the first year of application of beef feedlot manure, its value is once again starting to be recognized.” Compared with anhydrous ammonia at about 24 cents per pound of actual nitrogen, or urea at about 35 cents per pound of actual nitrogen, beef feedlot manure at 12 cents per pound of available nitrogen is a clear bargain (custom hauled with 12 pounds of available nitrogen per ton). “At half the price of commercial nitrogen fertilizer, utilizing livestock manure is a smart business move,” Wiederholt says. “If the cost of applying manure is spread out over the amount of phosphorous and potassium contained in manure, then the cost of the nitrogen is even less.” Producers who have access to livestock manure to supplement their crop fertility program have a competitive advantage over producers without access. Along with producing meat or milk, livestock are fertilizer factories. Producers spend money and time growing crops they feed to livestock, which the livestock then process into coproducts. Usually producers think about just the meat or milk, but the manure nutrients are just as valuable. To realize the value of manure, it has to be applied uniformly and consistently. When commercial fertilizer is applied, take care to apply it at the proper rate and in a uniform fashion. “Just like commercial fertilizer, producers already have paid for the manure through feed and labor, Wiederholt says. “If you don’t apply the manure uniformly or properly credit the manure nutrients, you are wasting a valuable resource that could be adding to your bottom line.” Besides the nutrients available, research has shown positive benefits to soil quality from the use of manure. Manure contributes significantly to the organic matter in the soil as well as adding needed carbon for life cycles that go on in the soil. These benefits are more long term and are noticed gradually over the years with the application of manure. “If there is hesitation to believe the value of manure as a soil amendment, producers can be assured that significant amounts of research have been done on the value of manure nutrients and its impact on soil quality,” Wiederholt says. “Some producers are concerned, though, that most of this research has been done in states surrounding North Dakota. To address this concern, there is ongoing research being conducted at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center to verify manure’s nutrient value under our soil and growing conditions. Results and information from that research will become available as the trials conclude.” ### Source:
Ron Wiederholt, (701) 652-2951, rwiederh@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
