Organic Nutrients

By A.E. Ludwick and A.M. Johnston

rganic nutrient sources are economic in the U.S. The total number of such and agronomic resources that can operations is declining, but average size is supplement inorganic fertilizer use. increasing. They contain varying concentrations of Nutrients from manure that are available essential nutrients and provide organic car- for land application in North America were bon (C) that enhances physical properties of recently estimated at about 2,865 million soils. When applied in excess pounds of nitrogen (N), 3,691 of crop removal, organic million pounds of P2O5 , and Livestock production opernutrients can be potentially 4,318 million pounds of K2O ations are declining in numdamaging to the environment (Table 2). Much of this ber and growing in size. because of excessive nitrate manure is already being used This concentration of (NO3-) leaching to groundwain crop production, so it repanimal units (AU) has led ter, phosphorus (P) moving to resents a part of the nutrient to problems in utilizing surface waters through runoff pool rather than a potential manure for maximum agroand erosion, and ammonia addition. It is uncertain, hownomic and environmental (NH3) loss to the atmosphere. ever, what proportion of the benefit. The issue facing Indiscriminate use of animal nutrients from manure is North America is how to manure and sewage sludge being efciently utilized as economically transport or can also create human health opposed to that being disotherwise utilize a product hazards because of the accuposed of as a waste. of large volume and low mulation of heavy metals and Poultry contributes the nutrient content. pathogens. A further challargest amount of recoverable lenge of managing N and P of all livemanure as a nutri- TABLE 1. Average composition of various manures. stock types in the ent source is that of U.S., while milk Total N, NH4-N, Ratio variable composicows contribute % by wt. % of total N N:P2O5 N:K2O tion, as shown in the most potassium Table 1. (K), Table 3. The Liquid Hog 0.37 62 1.5:1 1.9:1 The dominant contributions of Dairy 0.29 48 1.8:1 0.9:1 source of livestock poultry and swine Beef 0.25 64 1.4:1 1.2:1 manure potentially have been increasPoultry 0.75 75 1.2:1 2.0:1 recoverable in ing while other North America is livestock types Solid Hog 1.00 27 0.7:1 1.2:1 from conned anihave been on the Dairy 1.10 12 3.4:1 2.0:1 mal operations, indecline. Beef 0.59 12 1.8:1 0.8:1 cluding beef and For example, Poultry 2.00 27 1:1 1.5:1 dairy cattle, swine, the poultry contriand poultry...about bution of recoverCalculated from OMAFRA, 1998; (based on total composition). 38 million animals able N grew from
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TABLE 2. Recoverable nutrients from manure produced by livestock in the U.S. in 1997 and Canada in 1996.
Million pounds of recoverable nutrients (available for soil application) N P2O5 K2O U.S. Fattened cattle Milk cows Other beef and dairy Swine Poultry All livestock types Canada Fattened cattle Milk cows Other beef and dairy Swine Poultry All livestock types Total, North America 390 636 131 274 1,153 2,583 582 559 248 634 1,268 3,290 755 1,072 364 811 812 3,814

The amount of livestock manure available for land application in North America continues to increase.

102 89 12 45 33 282 2,865

153 78 26 104 39 400 3,691

185 140 33 125 21 505 4,318

U.S. N and P data: Kellogg et al., 2000. U.S. K data: Dr. C.H. Lander, NRCS (personal communication). Canadian data: Anonymous, 1997.

TABLE 3. Percent of total recoverable manure nutrients accounted for by each livestock type in the U.S. in 1997.
Livestock type Fattened cattle Milk cows Other beef and dairy Swine Poultry All types Recoverable nutrients, % N P2O5 K2O 15.1 24.6 5.1 10.6 44.6 100.0 17.7 17.0 7.5 19.3 38.5 100.0 19.8 28.1 9.5 21.3 21.3 100.0

34 percent in 1982 to 45 percent in 1997, while the swine contribution grew from 9 percent in 1982 to 11 percent in 1997. The greatest percent decline in recoverable manure nutrient contribution during this period occurred for milk cows. The amount of farm-level manure will continue to increase as conned livestock numbers rise. Also, the percentage of recoverable nutrients will likely increase as handling and processing facilities improve. Estimates for the U.S. show that currently only 20 percent of excreted manure N and about 37 percent of P and K are recoverable. Historically, manure has been applied based on its N content, but repeated applications on the same areas have resulted in a buildup of soil P. Guidelines are now being developed to evaluate the environmental hazards associated with this excess P and how they can be minimized through controlled application rates.
Dr. Ludwick is formerly PPI Western U.S. Director, now retired. Dr. Johnston is PPI Western Canada Director, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; e-mail: ajohnston@ppi-ppic.org.

N and P data: Kellogg et al., 2000. K data: Dr. C.H. Lander, NRCS (personal communication).

Better Crops/Vol. 86 (2002, No. 2)