Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:12:58.337Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Feedlot manure nutrient loadings on South Dakota farmland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Donald C. Taylor
Affiliation:
Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
Diane H. Rickerl
Affiliation:
Professor of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.
Get access

Abstract

A key determinant of whether livestock manure is an asset or liability for agricultural producers and for society more generally is the amount produced relative to the nearby farmland area to which it can be economically transported for application. The objectives of this study are to estimate manure N and P loadings on the cropland and rangeland associated with 78 feedlot farm operations in South Dakota and to determine if they are greater for larger feedlots.

A substantial fraction of the feedlot operators studied apply plant-available N and P in livestock manure at rates that exceed crop and grass fertility requirements, and intensity of manure nutrient loadings on cropland is strongly and positively related to feedlot size. These findings raise a warning regarding possible nonpoint-source pollution of vulnerable water resources from manure produced by fed cattle in larger feedlots.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Baker, F.H., and Raun, N.S.. 1989. The role and contributions of animals in alternative agricultural systems. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 4:121127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Baker, F.H., Busby, F.E., Raun, N.S., and Yazman, J.A.. 1990. The relationships and roles of animals in sustainable agriculture and on sustainable farms. Professional Animal Scientist 6(3):3649.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Chase, C., Duffy, M., and Lotz, W.. 1991. Economic impact of varying swine manure application rates on continuous corn. J. Soil and Water Conservation 46:460464.Google Scholar
4.Conservation Technology Information Center. 1992. Managing livestock manure to maximize its value as a fertilizer. Conservation Impact 10:3. (Newsletter of CTIC.) West Lafayette, Indiana.Google Scholar
5.Cooke, G.W. 1982. Organic manures and fertilizers. In Cooke, G.W. (ed), Fertilizing for Maximum Yield. 3rd ed.Granada, London, U.K.Google Scholar
6.Ensminger, M.E. 1987. Beef Cattle Science. Animal Agric. Series. 6th ed.Interstate Printers and Publishers. Danville, Illinois.Google Scholar
7.Freeze, B.S., and Sommerfeldt, T.G.. 1985. Breakeven hauling distances for beef feedlot manure in Southern Alberta. Canadian J. Soil Sci. 65:687693.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Gerwing, J., and Gelderman, R.. 1996. Fertilizer recommendations guide. EC 750 (revised). Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State Univ., Brookings.Google Scholar
9.Holt, N.W., and Zentner, R.P.. 1985. Effects of applying inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manure on forage production and economic returns in East-Central Saskatchewan. Canadian J. Plant Sci. 65:597607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Honeyman, M.S. 1991. Sustainable swine production in the U.S. Corn Belt. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 6:6370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Hornick, S.B., and Parr, J.F.. 1987. Restoring the productivity of marginal soils with organic amendments. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 2:6468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Johnson, C.B., and Ullery, C.H.. 1993. Animal waste management to protect water quality. EC 895. Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State Univ., Brookings.Google Scholar
13.Kaffka, S.R. 1992. Utilizing manure on perennial forages. In Forage Fertility Management: Proceedings IX Eastern Forage Improvement Conference. Univ. of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada.Google Scholar
14.Killorn, R. 1985. Animal manure: A source of crop nutrients. Pm-1164 (revised). Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State Univ., Ames.Google Scholar
15.Klausner, S.D. 1989. Managing the land application of animal manures: Agronomic considerations. In Dairy Manure Management: Proceedings from the Dairy Manure Management Symposium, Syracuse, New York. NRAES-31. Northeast Regional Agric. Engineering Service, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
16.Koepf, H.H. 1993. Manure handling in sustainable agricultural systems. In H.H. Koepf (compiler). Forage-Based Farming, Manure Handling, and Farm Composting. Bull. 4. Michael Fields Agric. Institute, East Troy, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
17.Livestock Marketing Information Center. 1994. Fed cattle marketed, by size of feedlot, by state, and by year. Denver, Colorado.Google Scholar
18.Logan, T.J. 1990. Sustainable agriculture and water quality. In Edwards, C.A., Lal, R., Madden, P., Miller, R.H., and House, G. (eds). Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, Iowa. pp. 582613.Google Scholar
19.Lorimor, J., Zhang, R., Melvin, S.W., and Killorn, R.. 1995. Land application for effective manure nutrient management. Pm-1599. Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State Univ., Ames.Google Scholar
20.McGary, L. 1989. Make manure pay: Your livestock “waste” can be a valuable resource for crops. Farm Journal 113(3):AC8.Google Scholar
21.Mathers, A.C., and Stewart, B.A.. 1984. Manure effects on crop yields and soil properties. Trans. Amer. Soc. Agric. Engineers 27:1022–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Midwest Plan Service. 1985. Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook. 2nd ed. MWPS-18. Iowa State Univ., Ames.Google Scholar
23.National Research Council. 1989. Alternative Agriculture. Board on Agriculture. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
24.National Research Council. 1993. Soil and Water Quality: An Agenda for Agriculture. Board on Agriculture. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
25.Nelson, D.W., and Shapiro, C.A.. 1989. Fertilizing crops with animal manure. EC 89-117. Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln.Google Scholar
26.Office of Technology Assessment. 1990. Technologies to improve nutrient and pest management. In Beneath the Bottom Line: Agricultural Approaches to Reduce Agrichemical Contamination of Groundwater. OTA-F-418. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
27.Paine, M.D. 1973. Confined animals and public environment. GPE-7000. Great Plains Beef Cattle Feeding Handbook. Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater.Google Scholar
28.Ranek, J., and Noyes, S.. 1995. South Dakota Agricultural Statistics: 1989–1995. S.D. Agric. Statistics Service, Sioux Falls.Google Scholar
29.Roka, F.M., Hoag, D.L., and Zering, K.D.. 1993. Are manure nutrients an economic resource or waste? In Agricultural Research to Protect Water Quality: Proceedings of a Conference. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, Iowa.Google Scholar
30.Schmitt, M.A. 1988. Manure management in Minnesota. AG-FO-3553. Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
31.South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts. 1991. South Dakota Coordinated Soil and Water Conservation Plan. Pierre.Google Scholar
32.South Dakota Dept. of Environmental and Natural Resources. 1990. South Dakota Report to Congress: 305(b) Water Quality Assessment. Pierre.Google Scholar
33.Sutton, A.L. 1994. Proper animal manure utilization. Nutrient Management Supplement to J. Soil and Water Conservation 49:6570.Google Scholar
34.Sutton, A.L., Nelson, D.W., and Jones, D.D.. 1985. Utilization of animal manure as fertilizer. AG-FO-2613. Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
35.Taylor, D.C., and Feuz, D.M.. 1994. Cattle feedlot management in South Dakota. Economics Research Rep. 94–1. Economics Dept., South Dakota State Univ., Brookings.Google Scholar
36.U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1989. Livestock and meat statistics, 1984–88. Statistics Bull. No. 784. Economics Research Service, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
37.U.S. Dept. of Commerce. 1989. 1987 Census of Agriculture; Vol. 1, Geographic Area Series; Part 41, South Dakota and County Data. U.S. Bureau of Census, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
38.U.S. Dept. of Commerce. 1994. 1992 Census of Agriculture; Vol. 1, Geographic Area Series; Part 41, South Dakota and County Data. U.S. Bureau of Census, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
39.Vanderholm, D.H. 1994. Livestock production trends, water quality, and economic impacts. In D.E. Storm and K.G. Casey (eds). Proceedings of Great Plains Animal Waste Conference on Confined Animal Production and Water Quality. GPAC Pub. 151. National Cattlemen's Association, Englewood, Colorado.Google Scholar
40.Van Dyne, D.L., and Gilbertson, C.B.. 1978. Estimating U.S. livestock and poultry manure production. ESCS-12. Economics Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agric., Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
41.Wadman, W.P., Sluijsmans, C.M.J., and Cremer, L.C.N. DeLande. 1987. Value of manures: Changes in perceptions. In van der Meer, H.G., Unwin, R.J., VanDijk, T.A., and Ennik, G.C. (eds). Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops: Fertilizer or Waste? Proceedings of International Symposium on European Grassland. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
42.Wallingford, G.W., Murphy, L.S., Powers, W.L., and Manges, H.L.. 1975. Disposal of beef-feedlot manure: Effects of residual and yearly applications on corn and soil chemical properties. J. Environmental Quality 4:526531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43.Walter, M.F., Richard, T.L., Robillard, P.D., and Muck, R.. 1987. Manure management with conservation tillage. In Logan, T.J., Davidson, J.M., Baker, J.L., and Overcash, M.R. (eds). Effects of Conservation Tillage on Groundwater Quality: Nitrates and Pesticides. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan.Google Scholar
44.Watts, P. 1991. Feedlot waste management series: Manure production data. F37. Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Australia.Google Scholar