Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Environmental impacts of use of poultry manure on water quality

Project ID: 1999-68B

Abstract

The significant expansion of the U.S. poultry industry has led to questions about the effects of large amounts of poultry manure on the surface and groundwater. These are the final year's results of a field study on how poultry manure application can affect water supplies.

Key Question: How much does use of poultry manure as a fertilizer affect water quality and crop yields?

Findings: Application of poultry manure at rates exceeding the nutrient uptake needs of crops is likely to result in leaching of N and P to surface and groundwater systems and could increase the pollution potential of water bodies.

Lead investigator: Rameshwar Kanwar, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, et al

Year of grant completion: 2004

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

Topics: Economic and environmental impacts, Manure nutrient and compost management