If not properly managed, livestock manure can pollute surface water and groundwater. Below are problems which may arise as a result of pollution.
Recycling occurs when microorganisms in the soil break the manure
down into simpler, more stable compounds, releasing nutrients for use
by plants. Manure is most commonly used as a fertilizer and soil
conditioner. When manure is widely dispersed, as in open-grazing systems, the soil can recycle the nutrients on
site. However, when large amounts of manure are deposited in small
areas, as in confinement systems, the manure must be collected and
transported to cropland where it is spread over larger areas as a
fertilizer. Care must be taken not to overapply manure beyond what the soil and crops can
handle
The application of livestock manure to cropland is labor intensive and becomes difficult during periods when the ground is frozen, when crops are at certain growth stages, and when weather or labor schedules do not permit. Storage facilities are often constructed to allow producers to wait until conditions are right for application and when the nutrients can be most efficiently utilized by crops. Manure loses some of its nutritive value during storage and during land application.
State environmental regulations often require that storage facilities be built and maintained for confined livestock operations. In those cases, a permit must be acquired before constructing the storage to ensure that the design of the structure meets required standards. Cost sharing funds are sometimes available to help cover the cost of manure storage facilities.
Although storages may help to prevent water pollution by allowing land application to take place at optimal times, care must still be taken to ensure storages are carefully located, installed, and maintained so that seepage and runoff from the storages do not enter the groundwater or surface water.
 Return to Main Menu | © Copyright |
