Manure Incorporation: A Nutrient Management Tool In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Agronomy & Pest Management
Leon Ressler
Penn State Extension
Lancaster
Abstract
In the 1980’s Nutrient Management Planning was introduced and No-Till planting was promoted as steps to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses into the Chesapeake Bay. Since phosphorus was tightly attached to soil particles No-Till to reduce erosion was seen as the primary tool to reduce phosphorus in our waterways. No-Till was heavily adopted in Pennsylvania including in the Amish community and currently about 70% of the acres are planted no-till. However long term manure application in No-Till situations has resulted a concentration of phosphorus in the top inch of soil. This band of phosphorus on the soil surface is so concentrated, phosphorus is now dissolving and leaving the field in clear water. In 2017 Penn State Extension joined with Sustainable Chesapeake, The Lancaster Conservation District and others to promote manure incorporation funded with a NFWF grant($199,000). Agri-applicators a local custom operator invested in improved incorporation equipment and funds were provided to cover the additional cost of incorporation directly to the famers interested in trying the concept. This concept was promoted by Penn State Extension with numerous newspaper and online newsletter articles, at crop production winter meetings and field day events. This concept was adopted by 51 farmers participating in the grant. These producers injected on a total of 4,876 acres over the life of the project (through 2020), reducing nitrogen loading by 35,800 lbs and phosphorus loading by 2,449 pounds in total. The concept was adopted by a significant number of other farmers and Agri-applicators is injecting manure on over 5,000 acres per year. In 2021 Penn State Extension again joined with Sustainable Chesapeake, The Lancaster Conservation District and others to promote manure incorporation in the Amish community with a $300,000 grant from The Campbell Foundation. An Amish equipment manufacturer was recruited to develop a prototype unit which was introduced at a field day in July of 2021. There is significant interest in the Amish Community to adopt this in the spring manure application season in 2022.
Authors: Leon Ressler
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Leon Ressler Agronomy Educator, Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 17601