ARS | Publication request: Dairy manure field applications ¿ How much is too much?

Submitted to: University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Bulletin
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2009
Publication Date: April 1, 2009
Citation: Moore, A., Ippolito, J.A. 2009. Dairy manure field applications ¿ How much is too much? University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Bulletin. CIS 1156:1-5.

Technical Abstract: Applying dairy manure to agricultural fields can help increase crop yields, improve soil water-holding capacity, and enhance soil fertility. However, when manures are applied to fields at high rates over a period of several years, nutrients can accumulate, causing eutrophication in drainage waterways; disruptions in soil microbial populations; and nutritional imbalances for grazing animals. Growers and dairy producers also run the risk of violating state and federal regulations designed to avoid these issues. In this publication, we will help you understand the reasoning behind the laws that limit the application of specific nutrients in dairy manure. We will also provide a few general recommendations on how to avoid overloading fields with nutrients, and how to reclaim a field once you have exceeded these thresholds. The recommendations presented in this paper are suggestions, and do not have any regulatory implications. However, to enjoy the benefits of dairy manure applications instead of the pitfalls, please take note.