Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) The poultry manure
agricultural management practice applies to agricultural operations, which store
poultry manure prior to land application and land apply poultry manure as part of
crop production practices. Poultry manure is collected and stored in a variety of
ways, depending on the need of the producer. The methods used to collect, handle and
store the manure greatly affect its quality. Manure often has to be stored before it
is land applied. Proper storage is essential for manure to maintain its value as a
nutrient resource and to prevent it from polluting surface or groundwater. The
important points to consider when storing poultry manure are to keep it covered so
rainfall will not create runoff from the storage area and to stack the manure no
more than five to six feet deep to prevent overheating and burning.
(b) Poultry manure should not be stored outside
unless it is covered by some type of waterproof sheeting and water is diverted away
from the stack. The manure stack should be located on high ground and away from
drainage ways and sources of surface water. Covered stockpiles should be considered
for short-term storage only. If manure will be stored in this manner for more than
one month, place an impervious pad under the stack.
1. Stockpiles of manure can be protected by
covering with plastic sheeting, which is anchored with earth or other suitable
weighted materials. Anchor the edges by laying the sheeting edge across a small
trench approximately 12 inches deep and backfilling with soil. Lay suitable weighted
materials over the top of the plastic on the pile. Heavy gauge (six mil) plastic can
last one or two seasons. Lighter gauge plastic is not recommended.
2. The liner consisting of a minimum of a six mil
plastic is laid on the soil surface on top of which the stockpile is formed. If the
soil is loose, compact it before laying out the plastic. Apply a 12-inch layer of
manure over the majority of the plastic before forming the pile to minimize the
possibility of tearing by the equipment tires. Fold the edges of the liner one to
two feet up the sides of the pile and anchor in the manure. Apply the surface cover
as described for a covered stockpile. The ground liner will be torn during unloading
of the pile and new plastic will be required each year.
3. If a permanent location for manure storage is
desired, a concrete slab can be constructed on which to place a covered stockpile.
The concrete should be at least six inches thick, reinforced with wire mesh and
placed on six inches of compact gravel. To prevent concrete failure, thicken the
perimeter of the concrete to form a footer where traffic enters and exits. Construct
the stockpile as described for a covered stockpile, as set forth in (b)1 above.
Anchor the cover sheet edges with wood poles, concrete blocks or other heavy objects
on the concrete slab.
4. Bunkers are
permanent aboveground concrete slabs with two parallel walls of concrete identical
to those used for storing silage on livestock farms. A bunker allows deeper piling
and compaction of manure to reduce the total area required for the manure storage.
An end wall can be constructed to slightly increase the storage capacity. However,
loading the structure is more easily accomplished without an end wall. A cover of
plastic sheeting can be attached to the walls with batten strips and anchored with a
suitable weighted material. A more permanent cover of fiberglass reinforced fabric
with edge anchorage eyelets similar to that used for truck covers may be
utilized.
5. Concrete slabs, bunkers or
other structures with permanent roofs may be constructed to eliminate the need for
plastic covers. The roof structure must be a clear span supported by the outside
walls or perimeter posts. Roof structures must be of sufficient height to allow
manure piling. Compaction loading will be difficult under a roof. Roofs 12 feet or
higher will require wall panels to protect the stored manure from excessive blowing
rain.
(c) The rate of manure
application should be limited to that amount required for crop production and
maintenance of a reasonable level of soil fertility. The amount of poultry manure
used depends on crop needs, soil fertility levels, physical characteristics of the
soil and the potency of the manure. The actual amount of manure applied should be
calculated for each crop production situation as follows:
1. Manure analysis should be conducted;
2. Soil fertility tests should be conducted on
land areas to be fertilized;
3. Crop
needs for projected yields for each of the main fertilizer elements should be
determined from appropriate guides for crop production; and
4. Manure application should be limited to amounts
needed to make up the difference between crop needs and existing soil fertility
levels.
(d) The following
concern field application of poultry manure:
1.
Manure should not be spread on ground that is frozen, snow covered or too wet to be
plowed within the time limits listed in (d)3 and 4 below.
2. A manure free vegetative buffer zone of not
less than 25 feet shall be maintained along or around defined drainage channels and
sinkholes on slopes of six percent or less. On slopes greater than six percent, the
vegetative buffer shall be four times the percent slope times 100 feet. Where a
vegetative buffer is not established, manure shall not be spread closer than 50 feet
from the defined drainage channel or sinkholes on slopes of six percent or less.
Without a vegetative buffer on slopes greater than six percent, the distance shall
be eight times percent slope times 100 feet. For example, the buffer zone for a 10
percent slope should be: 8 x 0.10 x 100 = 80 feet.
3. The following manure management alternatives
concern manure with less than 60 percent moisture content:
i. Manure to be spread on land which will be
tilled, shall be incorporated in the soil within 48 hours by:
(1) Moldboard plowing;
(2) Chisel plowing followed by disking;
or
(3) Other methods which at a minimum
achieve the results attained by the methods identified in (d)3i(1) or (2)
above.
ii. Manure may be
spread on the surface of pasture or hayland having more than a 75 percent vegetative
cover.
iii. Manure may be spread on the
surface on land where no-till corn will be planted at half the recommended rate as
determined in (c) above during the months of March, April, or May.
4. Manure containing 60 percent or more
moisture shall only be spread on cropland to be tilled and must be incorporated in
the soil the same day by:
i. Moldboard
plowing;
ii. Chisel plowing followed by
disking; or
iii. Other methods which at
a minimum achieve the results attained by the methods identified in (d)4i or ii
above.
5. The following
concern land slope:
i. Manure shall not be applied
on land where the slope exceeds eight percent, except when injected or plow furrow
application is made.
ii. If injected or
plow furrow application is made, the slope of the land shall not exceed 10
percent.
6. The requirements
for the application of manure as contained in (d)5 above may be modified if the
application is made according to an approved conservation plan, developed by the
Soil Conservation District for the control of runoff and erosion, and which has been
implemented by the owner.
