IMPLICATIONS FOR SAMPLING AND REGIONAL DATABASE CREATION

The chemical characteristics of beef, dairy, horse, sheep, and chicken solid manures in Colorado were evaluated by sampling six to ten different livestock operations for each manure type and comparing the results to values found in the literature. Due to the semi-arid climate of Colorado, manure tends to be drier and have lower ammonium levels and higher phosphate and potash levels that those reported in the Midwest. Within farm variability was assessed by analyzing ten sub-samples from each of nine manure sources.

Results

• On average, about 25 sub-samples are necessary for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium characterization of solid manures, but determining ammonium and nitrate concentration requires over 100 sub-samples to form a representative sample, due to their low concentration.
• Data from Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico were combined to form an Mountain West Manure Database.
• The manure types, with a minimum of 72 farms represented in the database, have narrow confidence intervals.
• Until we have adequate sample numbers to establish reliable table values based on local data for all manure types, manure sampling is recommended.

Full text reference:

J.G. Davis, K.V. Iverson, and M.F. Vigil. 2002. Nutrient variability in manures: Implications for sampling and regional database creation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 57(6). 473-478.

Cooperator: Merle Vigil, USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Funding from the Colorado Farm Bureau

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Last updated November 5, 2007 by Webmaster