Agricultural Waste Land Application Guidelines Source: NRCS,LA
The following guidelines apply to the land application of animal manure and other organic by-products and are consistent with the specifications contained in the conservation practice
standards Nutrient Management (590) and Waste Utilization (633)
1. Land application of animal manure and other organic by-products shall be based on a field by field risk assessment for phosphorus transport from the field using the Phosphorus Index.
2. Animal manure or other organic by-products shall not be applied within 100 feet of a stream or waterbody or within 35 feet of a stream or waterbody where a well established vegetative buffer (natural or constructed) exists between the application site and stream or waterbody.
3. Animal manure or other organic by-products shall not be applied to actively eroding land areas except as specified in the conservation practice standard Critical Area Planting (342).
4. Animal manure and other organic by-products shall not be applied to soils with the following characteristics:
• On soils with a water table within 2 feet of the surface
• On soils which are frozen, snow covered or saturated
• On soils with less than 10 inches to unconsolidated soil material
• On soils subject to frequent flooding or overflow during times when flooding is expected. Frequently flooded sites may be used for land application between May 1 and November 15.
5. Application of animal manure and other organic by-products shall be delayed if precipitation capable of producing runoff and/or erosion is forecast within 24 hours of the time of the planned application.
6. Animal manure and other organic by-products shall not be applied in winter for spring seeded crops. Apply only to actively growing crops or forages.
7. Animal manure and other organic by-products shall not be applied within 100 feet of waterwells.
8. Animal manure and other organic by-products shall not be applied when wind direction and velocity would cause odors and/or particulate matter to drift toward residences, public areas or roads. The impact of odors can be minimized by applying wastes when temperatures are cool and when wind direction is away from neighbors.
9. Animal manure and other organic by-products associated with irrigation shall not be applied at rates in excess of the soil’s infiltration rate.
Animal manure and other organic by-products shall be protected from the weather, accidental leakage or spillage. The material may be stored in temporary waste storage facilities (dry stack), pole barns or on the ground covered by 6 mil. polyurethane secured with weights (old tires, etc.) or in silage bags. If stored outside on the ground more than 30 days, the ground should first be covered with an impervious liner to prevent nitrogen leaching into ground water.
10. Manure spreaders or similar equipment shall be calibrated to ensure uniform application of material at planned rates.
11. Animal manure and other organic by-products shall be sampled at least once annually. Wastes shall be analyzed for moisture content, N, P and K as a minimum.
12. Soil samples shall not be more than three (3) years old. Annual soil testing, where animal manure and other organic by-products are land applied, is highly recommended.
13. Records shall be kept for a minimum of five (5) years which document implementation of plans for nutrient management and waste utilization. As applicable, records shall include:
• Quantity of manure and other agricultural waste produced and their nutrient content
• Soil test results (no more than 3 years old)
• Dates and amounts of waste application where land applied and the dates and amounts of waste removed for energy production or export from the operation
• Waste application method
• Crops grown and yield (both yield goals and measured goals)
• Other tests such as determining the nutrient content of the harvested product
• Calibration of application equipment