Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332388
Title: A review of regulations and guidelines related to winter manure application

Author
item LIU, JIAN - Pennsylvania State University
item Kleinman, Peter
item ARONSSON, HELENA - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences
item BECHMANN, MARIANNE - Norwegian Institute Of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
item GEEGLE, DOUG - Pennsylvania State University
item Bryant, Ray
item FLATEN, DON - University Of Manitoba
item LIU, HONGBIN - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item MCDOWELL, RICHARD - Agresearch
item ROBINSON, TIM - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) - The Netherlands
item SHARPLEY, ANDREW - University Of Arkansas
item Veith, Tameria - Tamie

Submitted to: Ambio
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2016
Publication Date: 2/3/2018
Citation: Liu, J., Kleinman, P.J., Aronsson, H., Bechmann, M., Geegle, D., Bryant, R.B., Flaten, D., Liu, H., Mcdowell, R., Robinson, T., Sharpley, A., Veith, T.L. 2018. A review of regulations and guidelines related to winter manure application. Ambio. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-018-1012-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-018-1012-4

Interpretive Summary: Land spreading of manure during winter months when there is limited crop uptake may lead to waste of nutrients and pollution of adjacent surface waters. However, farmers may not have other choices than winter spreading when there is insufficient manure storage capacities on the farm. How to manage manure during winter months has become an important issue in the area of water quality management. Scientists from ten institutions in USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, China, and Kenya carried out a review study to assess winter manure management strategies in different parts of the world. European countries usually have small animal densities, and they favor a ban of winter manure spreading; while US states, where animal production is much more intensive, commonly regulate or recommend implementation of conservation practices when winter spreading is needed. There are still many countries where winter spreading may cause water quality problems but effective measures have not been in place. Results shed light on sustainable manure management across the world.

Technical Abstract: Application of animal manure to frozen and snow-covered soils can increase the risk of nutrient losses and impairment of water quality in regions with hardy winters. In conjunction with global distributions of animal densities, we reviewed world-wide regulatory and voluntary guidelines on winter manure management to reduce off-site nutrient losses. Almost all developed countries have guidelines to restrict winter manure applications either completely (e.g., European Union member nations), or partially (e.g., most states/provinces of United States, Canada, and New Zealand). Approaches range from restricted manure application over large periods of time to guidelines based upon field conditions. In USA, guidelines for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are often stricter than for non-CAFOs. In contrast, there is a paucity of such guidelines in developing countries such as China, despite an increasing animal production industry and concern over water quality. This review explores the causes of variability in guidelines and highlights opportunities to advance existing guidelines.