Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Animal manure utilization in crop nutrient planning

Project ID: 1993-10

Abstract

On northeast Iowa's karst limestone terrain, the impact of agriculture on water quality is an important concern. This project cooperated with and built on other initiatives aimed at encouraging livestock producers to take credit for the nutrients in their livestock manure. Improved management of the manure resource can help avoid over-application of purchased nutrients and potential pollution of water supplies. Cooperating farmers were instructed in manure spreader calibration and other means for taking advantage of manure's fertilizer value. All of the farmers who participated in the program are now taking credit for more of the nutrient resources available on their farms. Seventy percent increased their manure credits, and 30% also increased legume credits.

Lead investigator: Gerald A. Miller, ISU Agronomy

Year of grant completion: 1996

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Initiative.

Topics: Nutrient management