Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322228
Title: Phosphorus and nitrogen losses from winter stacking of manure

Author
item LIU, JIAN - Pennsylvania State University
item Kleinman, Peter
item BEEGLE, DOUGLAS - Pennsylvania State University
item WELD, JENNIFER - Pennsylvania State University
item SHARPLEY, ANDREW - University Of Arkansas
item Saporito, Louis - Lou
item SCHMIDT, JOHN - Dupont Pioneer Hi-Bred

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Appropriate management of animal manure including storage is essential for minimizing nutrient losses and guaranteeing good water quality. A field lysimeter study was carried out at the Susquehanna River Basin, northeastern USA to investigate phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) losses in leachate and runoff from manure stacks with and without a protective cover. Columns (0.5 m deep) of Hagerstown and Delaware soils were buried below ground and pan lysimeters were placed upon the ground prior to stacking of manure to collect water leaching through the stack. The column and pan lysimeters were distributed along a transect of each stack (defined as interior, middle, and edge columns based on lysimeter location in relation to stack), and additional control columns and pan lysimeters were installed outside stacking area. Moreover, plot troughs were installed on top of stack to collect runoff water from stack surface. The study run for two years, and concentrations of different forms of N (total N, NH4, and NO2 + NO3) and P (total P, total dissolved P, and dissolved reactive P) in water were determined. Preliminary analysis of the results suggests that covering significantly reduced both P and N losses from manure stacks compared with that from the stacks without a cover. With regard to the uncovered manure stacks, leachate concentrations of both P and N were low from the interior and control columns of both soils. Leachate total N concentrations from edge columns of Delaware soil were significantly higher than those from Hagerstown soil, but the opposite pattern was observed for the middle columns. For P, leachate total P concentrations from Hagerstown soil were consistently higher than those from Delaware soil. We conclude that manure stack should be covered during winter, especially on Hagerstown soil with a high risk of P leaching.