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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189872
Title: OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF P-BASED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN POULTRY OPERATIONS

Author
item Sharpley, Andrew
item HERRON, SHERI - HERRON SOIL INTERPRTATION
item DANIEL, TOMMY - UNIV OF ARKANSAS

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2007
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Sharpley, A.N., Herron, S., Daniel, T. 2007. OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF P-BASED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN POULTRY OPERATIONS. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 62(6): 375-389.

Interpretive Summary: With the continued concern over the economic and recreational impacts of accelerated eutrophication of freshwater as a result of elevated phosphorus (P) inputs, more pressure is being put on agriculture to implement P-based nutrient management strategies, particularly for confined animal feeding operations. As P-based strategies usually have a negative impact on farm operation and economics, new challenges have arisen related to defining where and how much a problem there is, how to implement and maintain effective Best Management Practices (BMPs), and what are the best incentives for farmer adoption, which need to be overcome so that equitable solutions can be agreed among those affected (i.e., farming, municipalities, and public). The 1997 U.S. census showed poultry operations have a much higher confined animal unit density than either dairy or swine operations. This coupled with the generally greater concentration of P in poultry manure than other livestock types, indicates the challenge of making P-based management work will be especially great for poultry operations. Although P inputs onto a farm should be matched as closely as possible with export as poultry or crop products, this is often not possible with a limited land base. Thus, there is an inherent long-term increase in the potential for P loss in surface or subsurface runoff when poultry manure or litter is land applied. Even so, the short-term impacts of land applying poultry manure or litter on P loss can be successfully mitigated with adoption of a variety of P-based nutrient management measures available, which include feed, manure, land, and grazing management. However, developing and planning for BMPs at farm and watershed scales is not the single or final solution. Many farmers simply do not have the financial resources to implement and maintain costly remedial measures. Despite there being many cost-share programs to help defray remedial costs, institutional red-tape and conflicting requirements, often limit program enrollment and hinder their widespread adoption. Obviously, there are still challenges but when affected parties work together they can be overcome.

Technical Abstract: With the continued concern over the economic and recreational impacts of accelerated eutrophication of freshwater as a result of elevated phosphorus (P) inputs, more pressure is being put on agriculture to implement P-based nutrient management strategies, particularly for confined animal feeding operations. As P-based strategies usually have a negative impact on farm operation and economics, new challenges have arisen related to defining where and how much a problem there is, implementation and maintainance of effective Best Management Practices (BMPs), and determining the best incentives for farmer adoption. These challenges need to be overcome so that equitable solutions can be agreed among those affected (i.e., farming, municipalities, and public). The 1997 U.S. census showed poultry operations had a higher confined animal unit density (3.23 AU ha-1) than either dairy (0.89 AU ha-1) or swine operations (0.77 AU ha-1). This coupled with the generally greater (2 to 4 fold) concentration of P in poultry manure than other livestock types, indicates that the challenge of making P-based management work will be especially great for poultry operations. Although P inputs onto a farm should be matched as closely as possible with export as poultry or crop products, this is often not possible with a limited land base. Thus, there is an inherent long-term increase in the potential for P loss in surface or subsurface runoff when poultry manure or litter is land applied. Even so, the short-term impacts of land applying poultry manure or litter on P loss can be successfully mitigated with adoption of a variety of available P-based nutrient management measures. These include feed (enzymes, crop hybrids), manure (chemical and physical treatment, composting, transportation), land (amendments, conservation tillage, critical area targeting, buffers, soil testing), and grazing management (duration and intensity, stream bank fencing). However, developing and planning for BMPs at farm and watershed scales is not the single or final solution. Many farmers simply do not have the financial resources to implement and maintain costly remedial measures. Despite there being many cost-share programs to help defray remedial costs, institutional red-tape and conflicting requirements often limit program enrollment and hinder their widespread adoption. Obviously, there are still challenges, but when affected parties work together, they can be overcome.