Page 188 - Nutrient Management Planning Guide

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Manure Application Equipment

Key Features of Manure Application Equipment

Five important criteria can be used to compare performance of application equipment:

Manure placement • Nitrogen conservation • Potential for odour nuisance • Soil compaction • Timeliness of manure application •

The performance of selected application systems in relation to these characteristics is summarized in Table 4.5.2

Table 4.5.2 Performance 1 of Selected Application Systems for Each of the Five Characteristics Discussed

Application system

Solid spreading systems

Box spreader (tractor-pulled) F VP F F P Box spreader (truck-mounted) F VP F F F

Liquid spreading systems

Liquid tank spreader (with splash plates) P P P P F Liquid tank spreader (with drop hoses) F F G P F Liquid tank spreader (with knife injectors) G E E P F Liquid tank spreader (with shallow incorporation) G E E P F Drag-hose system (with shallow incorporation) G E E G G

1 VP = Very Poor, P = Poor, F= Fair, G = Good, E = Excellent

From Koelsch, R. and Humenik, F. Not dated.

Manure Placement

The goal of all application systems is to apply manure in an acceptable pattern where crops will have the greatest access to manure nutrients. When manure is applied and left exposed on the surface, nutrients in the manure are vulnerable to loss through volatilization. Immobile nutrients (potassium and phosphorus) will remain in the top layers of soil, making them largely unavailable to the crop, and more susceptible to loss through runoff. Ideally, manure should be injected or incorporated soon after application (Figure 4.5.5). This reduces the risk of nutrient losses and improves crop access to manure nutrients.