Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Planner Certification Training Dr. Mark Risse Biological and Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Pollution Prevention

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Topics of the day: n Selecting Application Sites n Placement and Timing n Application Methods n Calibration n BMP’s n Records n Review How to apply at the right place and time!

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Soil Characteristics Affect the Soil’s Ability to Treat or Use Manure n Depth to groundwater determines the amount of time that a pollutant is in contact with the soil. n Soil Depth determines amount of time manure is in contact with soil. n Texture ä sandy soils drain rapidly and therefore the soil does not hold a waste material so that the nutrients can be used by crops ä soils with more clay are better suited for holding waste materials until the nutrients can be used n Organic matter has a very large absorptive capacity for most pollutants.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Manure application sites should be... n In compliance with local, state, and federal regulations n Isolated from neighbors, roads, or highways n On land with low or medium slopes n Buffered from surface waters n On land with deep seasonal high groundwater tables and good depth to bedrock n On sites suitable for growing crops while minimizing risks of groundwater contamination

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Where should you put nutrients? n Nutrients should be placed where plant roots can reach them. n Surface-applied and solid manure nutrients are more subject to loss. n Placement depends on application and handling equipment available. n Manure with highest nutrient content should go on fields farthest away and with highest demand.*

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Proper placement = uniformity

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Timing n Applying manure nutrients at the proper time for crop needs is crucial. n Proper timing is as important as proper application rates. n Nutrients that are not used by crops are subject to runoff and leaching, with negative environmental consequences.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program What determines when manure is applied? It should not be your storage structure!

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Timing n Nutrients should be applied to coincide with the crop uptake requirements- 30 days before planting. n Having multiple crop types can help insure that a crop is available

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Application rates that exceed soil infiltration will result in runoff from spray fields, which is a source of pollution. This is one of the most commonly reported violations.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Timing n Even on well drained sites, soils may be “too wet” for liquid application during unseasonably wet periods. n During these wet periods, land application may need to be delayed for a month or more.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Land Application Equipment

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Liquid applications n Transport limited n Riskier Storage ä Lagoon Design and Management n More apt to be disposal vs. utilization n Solid Separation should be encouraged

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Environmental Rating : Surface Applied Liquid Land Application Equipment

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Pumps: n The suction line and strainer should be floated in the lagoon so that the intake is about 18 inches below the water level to draw the most solids-free liquid. n The pump should be located on the upwind side of the lagoon since solids tend to migrate to the downwind side.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation and Land Application Systems/Equipment n Solid-Set Sprinklers/Guns n Traveling Guns n Center Pivot/Linear Move Systems n “Pump and Haul” Tanks n Umbilical Hose Systems

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Design: n A properly designed irrigation system provides the operator the opportunity to uniformly apply wastewater at agronomic rates without direct runoff from the site. n A “good design” does not guarantee proper land application. ä the performance of a well-designed system can be ruined by poor management ä a poorly designed system can sometimes provide good performance with proper, intensive management

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Pressure gauge is useful to insure system performance

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Performance n Study conducted in NC on many types of systems found over 50% were found not operating at desired or designed conditions n Operating pressure generally too low resulting in ä Deficient wetted radius ä uneven application at rates higher than allowed by CNMP ä Poor system design or installation ä Improper equipment operation

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Why Calibrate? n Verify application rate n Troubleshoot operation n Determine proper overlaps n Identify “hot spots” n Evaluate application uniformity n Monitor change in equipment operation n Changes in manure consistency

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Calibration n Notebook explains procedures. At a minimum you should know the amount applied and the area covered. The average depth of application should be measured when irrigating. n Application Uniformity measures the distribution of nutrients. It requires application rates at many points but is essential in determining overlap and evaluating systems.

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Stationary Irrigation System

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Typical Layout of a Stationary Sprinkler System

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Stationary Sprinklers: n Advantages ä good for small or irregular shaped fields ä do not have to move equipment ä Low labor requirement n Disadvantages ä higher initial costs ä must protect from animals in fields ä small bore sprinklers are more likely to get plugged or broken ä no flexibility to move to other (new) fields

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Hard-Hose Traveler Irrigation System

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Typical Layout of a Traveling Gun Irrigation System

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Big Gun Nozzles: n Ring nozzle: ä provides better breakup of the wastewater stream resulting in less soil compaction ä provides better application uniformity throughout the wetted radius n Taper bore nozzle: ä throws water about 5 percent further than the ring nozzle ä results in about a 10 percent larger wetted area

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Hard-Hose Traveler: n Advantages ä system is transportable ä application rate can be adjusted (speed and nozzle settings) ä easily used for new fields ä less plugging n Disadvantages ä more difficult to calibrate ä does not maximize the use of area for irregularly shaped fields ä impractical for small areas ä High power requirement ä High application rates

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Center Pivot

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Sprinkler Options n Impact sprinklers on top n Sprinklers on drop pipes to just beneath pivot frame n Sprinklers on drop hoses to 18” to 36” above the ground n “Bubblers” on drop tubes to just above ground level - LEPA systems

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation System Center Pivot & Linear Move System: n Advantages ä precise application rate can be adjusted (speed and nozzle settings) ä low drift losses if drop nozzles are used ä easily used for regularly shaped fields, some systems are transportable ä labor savings ä remote operation n Disadvantages ä does not maximize the use of area for irregularly shaped fields ä impractical for small areas ä initial cost

Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program Irrigation Scheduling Determining When to Irrigate: n Ask yourself: ä Do I have an actively growing crop (or will a crop be planted or actively start growing within 30 days)? ä Do I have a nitrogen deficit remaining for this crop cycle? ä Is the liquid level in my lagoon above the minimum storage depth? ä Are my land application fields dry enough to be irrigated? n All four questions should be yes to irrigate.