MINIMIZING THE RISK OF MANURE RUNOFF THIS FALL/WINTER. Nichole Embertson, Ph.D. Whatcom Conservation District

Transcription

1 MINIMIZING THE RISK OF MANURE RUNOFF THIS FALL/WINTER Nichole Embertson, Ph.D. Whatcom Conservation District Whatcom Speaker Series October 16, 2014

2 What is on your mind right now?? Agronomics = Nutrient Management Storage Management = Waste Management

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4 Agricultural Runoff to Surface H2O Where do water pollutants come from? Chemical: Pesticides, herbicides Sediment: Soil, manure Nutrient: Manure, fertilizer Pathogen: Manure, livestock, septic, wildlife, dogs, WWTP, natural Other sources: humans, industry, wildlife, dry deposition, rainwater, forests, wetlands, etc.

5 Agricultural Runoff Why is runoff a problem? Runoff contains sediment, nutrients (N, P), pathogens, fecal coliform, and others Contributes to eutrophication, turbidity, low oxygen, toxicity, etc. in surface waters Effects freshwater fish (salmon) and shellfish beds, wetlands, wildlife, and other resources

6 What is the Issue? Nutrients in grain, forage Crop Uptake Manure Nutrient Agronomic Rate: Nutrient Balance Apply Nutrients to Crops Minimize Losses! Excess Nutrients, Sediment, Pathogens Soil Air Surface Water Ground Water

7 Factors That Lead to Pollution Event Pollutant availability Variable uptake and/or conversion (N, P, FC, ) Improper manure application/grazing practices Timing, method, rates Weather events Precipitation, flooding, high water table, wind Poor field conditions Soil type, slope, surface cover, saturated soils

8 4 R s of Nutrient Management Right Time Right Placement 4 R s Nutrient Management (NRCS) Right Rate Right Source

9 Application Risk Management You want to apply, so what should you do? 1. Determine agronomic rate 2. Identify optimal fields (field risk map) 3. Determine current conditions: o Manure Spreading Advisory (MSA) o Seasonal Manure Setbacks 4. Assess field and fill out ARM Worksheet 5. Apply and monitor fields Do this assessment year round!

10 Determine Agronomic Rate Apply nutrients at the right rate and timing to match crop needs Agronomic is the difference between waste disposal and nutrient management Soil Nutrients Available Plant Needs Manure Nutrients Applied

11 Identify Low Risk Fields Runoff Risk Rating (October-June) Leaching Risk Rating (June-October)

12 Weather & Forecast Links

13 Manure Spreading Advisory First line of defense in runoff prevention If risk is high, don t apply Updated daily from NOAA forecast Current guidance and setbacks

14 Manure Application Setback Distances Runoff reduction Dynamic distance/date Based on scientific principle and local considerations Apply to both liquid and solid manure Demonstrating effectiveness

15 ARM Worksheet Fill out Worksheet Forecast Field Conditions Protective Measures Send to WCD Runoff Risk by field and day Recordkeeping & accountability

16 Nutrient Management Plan Guidance

17 Proper Manure Application Timing Apply based on soil type and season Sandy soils = high leaching rate in fall Clay soils = high runoff rate in spring Silt soils = increased runoff in fall and spring Property Sand Silt Clay Infiltration/Drainage High Medium-Low Low Permeability (leaching) High Medium Low Runoff Low Medium High Water Holding Capacity Low Medium-High High Nutrient Storage/Supply Low Medium-High High Compaction Low Medium High Manure Application Jan-Aug Jan-Oct Apr-Nov

18 Fall Nitrate Test Fall nitrate test = Quantity of plant available nitrogen available as nitrate in top foot of soil. When do you take sample: No manure application at least 30 days prior After Sept 1, before 5 inches of rain (loam, clay soil) After Sept 1, before 3 inches of rain (sandy soil) What is good or bad : Good = Below 20 (corn) / Below 15 (grass) Bad = Above 45 (corn) / Above 30 (grass) (next year = reduce applications after Aug 1) Why is a high value and issue? Lynden = 5.48 in as of October 16

19 Fall Application of Liquid Manure Fall nitrate tests = do you even need manure now? Injection or aeration is best in high risk seasons Observe the forecast Watch for ponded areas Watch for swales/slopes to waterways Follow application setback guidance (80 Oct-Feb)

20 Fall Application of Solid Manure Spread on cover crop fields, not fallow If pile in fields: Bigger piles are better Don t store piles: On fields in flood plane Within 100 feet of waterbody Within 500 feet of wells On a slope to a waterbody Near neighbors On well drained soils

21 Plant Cover/Relay Crops Cover/relay crops reduce: Runoff of sediment Runoff and leaching of nutrients Can be harvested for feed

22 Vegetative Stream Buffers Various options based on crop, field, and stream conditions Channel Bank Vegetation Hedgerow (15 ) Filter Strip (30+ ) Field Border (30+ ) Other

23 Good Grazing Practices Pasture Management Grazing rotation Fencing of critical areas Pen management Mud mitigation Runoff prevention

24 Don t do this!

25 Storage and Clean Water Storage management Limit clean water from entering storage Gutters, downspouts, roof panels, slab, driveways, ,000 ft 2 x 1 inch of precipitation = 6,233 gallons Clean water collected from Sept 1 March 1 (30 ) = 187,012 gal 100

26 Monitor Your Rainfall Free Rain Gauges Available! Gauge your collection, storage, and irrigation needs Log data on:

27 Dept of Ecology (DOE) Dept of Ag (WSDA) Whatcom County WRIA 1 (Water Resource Inventory Area) Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, PUD #1, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe USGS Stream flow, temperature Other

28 Watershed Map Fecal coliform sampling Sampling conducted by WRIA 1 Gives idea of current water quality Self assessment and education

29 Take Your Own Water Samples Follow standard procedures Pick a representative spot Don t contaminate sample! Store and preserve correctly Use lab endorsed sample container only Send to an accredited lab

30 Interpreting Water Results Need to consider: Time of year Precipitation Potential Sources Nutrients vs. Pathogens (FC) What is high or low? What do you do if high? Stream Team opportunities

31 Discovery Farms Program in WA Producer lead effort Focused on surface water quality monitoring No bad data Way to assess current practices and discover new ways of doing things Strong outreach and education Are you interested????

32 Questions/Discussion Nichole M. Embertson, Ph.D. Whatcom Conservation District O: (360) x 126 W: E: NEmbertson@WhatcomCD.org Disclaimer: The reproduction or use of any of the images or content within this document is not allowed without prior approval from the creator.