Chapter 5: Proper Applications of Waste Products

Proper Application of Waste Products Proper waste application involves knowledge of the:Proper waste application involves knowledge of the: –waste application system –soils and crops –the required buffers that must be adhered to This chapter will explain the required buffers and all other factors that must be considered when you are trying to determine when and how much animal waste to land apply.This chapter will explain the required buffers and all other factors that must be considered when you are trying to determine when and how much animal waste to land apply.

What Buffers Are Required When I Make Land Applications? There are three different sets of buffers you should consider when land applying animal waste:There are three different sets of buffers you should consider when land applying animal waste: –perennial streams –groundwater wells –“good neighbor” buffer

Buffers Perennial Streams: Under the existing 15A NCAC 2H.0200 Nondischarge Rules, you can not land apply animal wastes within 25 feet of perennial streams.Under the existing 15A NCAC 2H.0200 Nondischarge Rules, you can not land apply animal wastes within 25 feet of perennial streams. Perennial streams are defined as streams indicated by a solid blue line on a United States Geological Survey map.Perennial streams are defined as streams indicated by a solid blue line on a United States Geological Survey map. Effective October 1, 1995 for new or expanding swine farms, you may not apply waste within 50 feet of perennial streams.Effective October 1, 1995 for new or expanding swine farms, you may not apply waste within 50 feet of perennial streams.

Buffers Groundwater Wells: A 100-foot buffer is required around wells for:A 100-foot buffer is required around wells for: –location of lagoons –other waste treatment facilities –land application sites Even on a properly managed site it is best to maintain the buffer to reduce the potential for problems.Even on a properly managed site it is best to maintain the buffer to reduce the potential for problems.

Buffers “Good Neighbor” Buffer: Maintain a minimum distance of 200 feet from any homes or other buildings frequented by people.Maintain a minimum distance of 200 feet from any homes or other buildings frequented by people. Do not make land applications on days with excessive wind. Drift on these days may irritate neighbors or pollute surface waters.Do not make land applications on days with excessive wind. Drift on these days may irritate neighbors or pollute surface waters.

Proper Application of Waste Products Irrigation Scheduling: Proper land application of lagoon liquid involves the use of water management strategies to best achieve a balance between:Proper land application of lagoon liquid involves the use of water management strategies to best achieve a balance between: –optimizing the timing of nutrient application to match crop uptake –maintaining adequate storage in the lagoon to handle extreme rainfall without overtopping –applying water at a rate and amount such that no direct surface runoff or percolation below the root zone occurs

Irrigation Scheduling Decision Making: Do I need to irrigate?Do I need to irrigate? How much water should I apply?How much water should I apply?

Irrigation Scheduling Determining When to Irrigate: Ask yourself:Ask yourself: –Do I have an actively growing crop (or will a crop be planted or actively start growing within 30 days)? –Do I have a nitrogen deficit remaining for this crop cycle? –Is the liquid level in my lagoon above the minimum storage depth? –Are my land application fields dry enough to be irrigated? –Do I have a waste analysis within 60 days of this irrigation? If the answer to all five questions above is yes, then you should schedule an irrigation.If the answer to all five questions above is yes, then you should schedule an irrigation.

Irrigation Scheduling Basic Soil-Water Relationships: Saturationall soil pores are filled with water and conditions are undesirable for good crop growth or wastewater irrigation.Saturation  all soil pores are filled with water and conditions are undesirable for good crop growth or wastewater irrigation. Field capacitythe soil has had time to drain away excess water, but still remains in a very moist condition.Field capacity  the soil has had time to drain away excess water, but still remains in a very moist condition. Permanent wilting pointplants cannot remove water from the soil.Permanent wilting point  plants cannot remove water from the soil.

Irrigation Scheduling Basic Soil-Water Relationships: Gravitational Watergravitational water is computed as the volume of water in the soil between saturation and field capacity.Gravitational Water  gravitational water is computed as the volume of water in the soil between saturation and field capacity. Plant-Available Water (PAW)the difference between the water content at field capacity and the permanent wilting point. Irrigation should be scheduled to maintain the water content of the soil between these two extremes.Plant-Available Water (PAW)  the difference between the water content at field capacity and the permanent wilting point. Irrigation should be scheduled to maintain the water content of the soil between these two extremes.

Irrigation Scheduling Estimating Soil-Water Content: There are three practical methods of determining if the field is dry enough to be irrigatedthese include:There are three practical methods of determining if the field is dry enough to be irrigated  these include: –a subjective method that involves “feeling” the soil –objective methods utilizing soil-moisture measuring devices –an accounting approach (checkbook method) to estimate soil-water

Irrigation Scheduling Determining How Much to Irrigate: Irrigation should be scheduled and timed so that:Irrigation should be scheduled and timed so that: –no surface runoff occurs during the irrigation –the root zone is not completely saturated at the conclusion of the irrigation –the irrigated water does not leach below the root zone

Irrigation Scheduling Determining How Much to Irrigate: The amount of wastewater that can or should be applied during any single irrigation cycle is dictated by how much water the soil can “soak up.”The amount of wastewater that can or should be applied during any single irrigation cycle is dictated by how much water the soil can “soak up.” This varies from day to day and is influenced by:This varies from day to day and is influenced by: –rainfallwhen and how much it last rained –rainfall  when and how much it last rained –crop maturitywater uptake rate of the crop –crop maturity  water uptake rate of the crop –soil typetexture, structure, depth, and cover –soil type  texture, structure, depth, and cover –effective root depth –evapotranspirationwhich is influenced by temperature, wind, and relative humidity –evapotranspiration  which is influenced by temperature, wind, and relative humidity

Approximate Water Infiltration Rates for Various Soil Textures and Slopes

Irrigation Scheduling Operational Considerations: Discharge ratethe volume of water exiting a sprinkler per unit of time.Discharge rate  the volume of water exiting a sprinkler per unit of time. Precipitation ratenormally expressed as unit depth of water (inch) per unit of time (usually hour).Precipitation rate  normally expressed as unit depth of water (inch) per unit of time (usually hour). Total application volumecomputed based on the amount of time the system operates at a given rate on a given field.Total application volume  computed based on the amount of time the system operates at a given rate on a given field.

Example If your target application volume to achieve the required annual PAN is 3.0 inches, and you should apply no more than 0.5 inch at each irrigation, how many times must you irrigate?If your target application volume to achieve the required annual PAN is 3.0 inches, and you should apply no more than 0.5 inch at each irrigation, how many times must you irrigate? To answer this, use Formula 7:To answer this, use Formula 7:

Typical Layout of a Stationary Sprinkler System

Stationary Sprinklers Determination of Precipitation Rate: Determine the discharge rate (sprinkler flow rate) and wetted diameter from manufacturer’s literature.Determine the discharge rate (sprinkler flow rate) and wetted diameter from manufacturer’s literature. Determine sprinkler spacing. Recommended sprinkler spacing is 50 to 65 percent of wetted diameter.Determine sprinkler spacing. Recommended sprinkler spacing is 50 to 65 percent of wetted diameter. Precipitation rate is then computed using Formula 8:Precipitation rate is then computed using Formula 8: Precipitation rate (in./hr)= 96.3 sprinkler flow rate (gpm) sprinklerspacing (ft) lateral spacing (ft) X X

Stationary Sprinklers Determination of Precipitation Rate: Time of operation is computed using Formula 9:Time of operation is computed using Formula 9:

Typical Layout of a Traveling Gun Irrigation System

Traveling Gun Sprinklers Determination of Precipitation Rate: Precipitation rate is computed using Formula 10:Precipitation rate is computed using Formula 10: Precipitation rate (in./hr)= 96.3 sprinkler flow rate (gpm) 3.14 [0.9 sprinkler radius (ft)] 360 w 2 X XX X

Traveling Gun Sprinklers Determination of Application Volume: Application volume is computed using Formula 11:Application volume is computed using Formula 11: Application volume (in.)= 19.3 sprinkler flow rate (gpm) lane spacing (ft) travel speed (in./min) x x

Traveling Gun Sprinklers Determination of Traveling Speed: Traveling speed is computed using Formula 12:Traveling speed is computed using Formula 12: Travel speed (in./min)= 19.3 sprinkler flow rate ( gpm) lane spacing (ft) application volume(in.) x x

Irrigation System Calibration Calibration involves collecting and measuring flow at several locations in the application area.Calibration involves collecting and measuring flow at several locations in the application area. Any number of containers can be used to collect flow and determine the application rate:Any number of containers can be used to collect flow and determine the application rate: –rain gauges –pans –plastic buckets –jars

Irrigation System Calibration For stationary sprinklers, collection containers should be located randomly throughout the application area at several distances from sprinklers.For stationary sprinklers, collection containers should be located randomly throughout the application area at several distances from sprinklers. For traveling guns, sprinklers should be located along a transect perpendicular to the direction of pull.For traveling guns, sprinklers should be located along a transect perpendicular to the direction of pull. Set out collection containers 25 feet apart along the transect on both sides of the gun cart.Set out collection containers 25 feet apart along the transect on both sides of the gun cart.

Application Using Spreader Equipment Wastes that have a higher solids content than can not easily be handled through an irrigation system may require land application through a pump and haul system.Wastes that have a higher solids content than can not easily be handled through an irrigation system may require land application through a pump and haul system. The decision process for waste application is more related to the stage of crop growth and whether the crops need nutrient applications.The decision process for waste application is more related to the stage of crop growth and whether the crops need nutrient applications.

Application Using Spreader Equipment One important issue is the “trafficability” of the fields, or how easily your equipment can be operated to obtain uniform waste application without rutting the field or causing soil compaction.One important issue is the “trafficability” of the fields, or how easily your equipment can be operated to obtain uniform waste application without rutting the field or causing soil compaction. Once the decision has been made to perform waste application, you must be aware of your equipment’s waste application rate. This requires the calibration of the land application equipment.Once the decision has been made to perform waste application, you must be aware of your equipment’s waste application rate. This requires the calibration of the land application equipment.

Calibration of Manure Spreaders Applicators can apply manure, bedding, and wastewater at varying rates and patterns, depending on:Applicators can apply manure, bedding, and wastewater at varying rates and patterns, depending on: –forward travel and/or PTO speed –gear box settings –gate openings –operating pressures –spread widths –overlaps

Calibration of Manure Spreaders Calibration defines the combination of settings and travel speed needed to apply manure, bedding, or wastewater:Calibration defines the combination of settings and travel speed needed to apply manure, bedding, or wastewater: –at a desired rate –to ensure uniform application

Calibration Liquid Manure Spreaders: Spread at least one full load of waste, preferably in a square or rectangular field pattern for ease of measuring, with normal overlaps.Spread at least one full load of waste, preferably in a square or rectangular field pattern for ease of measuring, with normal overlaps. Measure the length and width of coverage, recognizing that the outer fringe areas of the coverage will receive much lighter applications than the overlapped areas.Measure the length and width of coverage, recognizing that the outer fringe areas of the coverage will receive much lighter applications than the overlapped areas.

Calibration Liquid Manure Spreaders: Multiply the length by the width and divide by 43,560 to determine the coverage area in acres:Multiply the length by the width and divide by 43,560 to determine the coverage area in acres: –Formula 13 –Formula 14 Coverage area (area of rectangle in ft 2 ) = length (ft) × width (ft) Coverage area (acres)= length (ft) width (ft) 43,560 ft per acre 2 x

Calibration Liquid Manure Spreaders: Divide the gallons of wastewater in the spreader by the acres covered to determine the application rate in gallons per acre (Formula 15):Divide the gallons of wastewater in the spreader by the acres covered to determine the application rate in gallons per acre (Formula 15): Repeat the procedure at different speeds and/or spreader settings until the desired application rate is achieved.Repeat the procedure at different speeds and/or spreader settings until the desired application rate is achieved.