What is this booklet about?
Livestock manures are a valuable source of nutrients in many organic rotations. Making best use of these nutrients:
This booklet draws on scientific research undertaken in the last 10 years, much of it in the UK, and most of it funded by DEFRA (formerly MAFF).
This booklet:
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provides information on typical nutrient contents of livestock manures from organic and conventional sources
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describes the availability of manure nutrients to the growing crop
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outlines best management practices to optimise manure nutrient supply
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discusses environmental protection and other manure related issues.
Summary: effective manure management entails-
1 Valuing all manure nutrients.
2 Taking steps to reduce losses of nutrients from animal housing and during manure storage, e.g.
3 Knowing the nutrient content of your manures:
4 Calculating a nutrient balance to compare manure nutrient supply with crop removals.
5 Applying evenly and at known application rates.
6 Adopting methods to reduce nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilisation, e.g.
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wherever practical, avoid late summer or early autumn manure applications
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wherever practical, incorporate the manure rapidly into the soil surface.