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Contain the manure - line
it, cover it, contain it. This helps to reduce water mixing
in with the pile and nutrients and pathogens from being carried
away in runoff.
Also, manure
piles can generate leachate or liquids with a high concentration
of nutrients and pathogens
that can soak down into groundwater. Lining and covering
manure piles helps to prevent leachate and runoff from
impacting ground and surface waters and is very important
when site
conditions do not allow for an ideal location.
Photo courtesy of the Livestock
and Land Program, CA.
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Low cost option:
Compost, leaves, or woodchips are an option for lining the bottom of a manure
storage area. There should be a minimum finished depth of 6-12 inches under
the weight of the pile (this will require up to 1 foot of compost at the
start). Covering the pile with a tarp or plastic liner will provide double
the protection. A base of compost, leaves or woodchips will be most most
effective for a 6 month period and should be replenished (manure removed
a new pile established) at least once per year. Information based on research
conducted by the University of Connecticut.
Convenient
storage options:
Photo courtesy of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.
Storing manure
in dump trailers, dump trucks, and dumpsters are an option
when hauling the manure away at frequent intervals. It is
best when the manure is going to a farm that can use it or
a compost facility. Open trailers and trucks should be covered
with a tarp or plastic liner.
Photo courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Equine
Pasture Initiative.
Other
storage options:
Manure is stored under a roofed area and on
a concrete pad.
Photo courtesy of the Livestock
and Land Program, CA.
Manure pile lined and covered with a plastic liner.
Photo courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Equine Pasture Initiative.
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Keep clean water clean -
do not let water from roofed areas and other land areas flow
into and mix with the manure pile. Divert this runoff away
from the manure pile.
Photo
courtesy of University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.
Open manure storage structure with concrete floor and three
walls built out
of pre-cast concrete blocks.
Walls can help
to serve as a container and divert clean runoff from entering
the manure storage area. In an open, non-covered storage
area such as this, it is important to consider the runoff
coming from the manure storage area.
Roofing or covering
a manure pile is also a key way to prevent direct rainfall
or snow from mixing with the manure pile. This also eliminates "dirty" runoff
from leaving the manure storage area.
Photo courtesy of the Livestock
and Land Program, CA.
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Treat the dirty water:
Be sure to direct "dirty" runoff leaving a manure storage area
to well vegetated areas - vegetated swales, grassed areas, woodlands, etc.
- that can soak up the nutrient and pathogen rich water.
Do not allow
it to travel near wells, water resources, along driveways
or off the property.
Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS. Grass filter
area that soaks up barnyard runoff.
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Consider composting the manure -
it produces a stable, soil-like product that is free of weed
seeds and pathogens when done correctly. Manure with lots
of wood shavings and sawdust can actually deplete the soil
of nitrogen when applied to crops and gardens.
This is because
of the high levels of carbon contained in the wood products
- the carbon to nitogen ratio or C:N ratio is typically
500:1. Composting is a good option for manure with lots of
bedding.
Photo courtesy
of University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.
Visit our composting
page for more information.
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Determine how big an area you will
need to store the manure.
Measure
the amount of manure and bedding collected from the barns
and livestock
yards each day. This may change depending on the season.
More manure is often collected during winter months.
The manure and
bedding produced by one average horse is between 2 and 2.5
cubic yards per month or 25 cubic yards per year.
This would require
a storage area of about 12 feet by 12 feet with an accumulated
depth of 3 to 5 feet for one year of storage.
When land applying
manure on-farm, 6 months storage is common to allow for spring
and early fall manure applications.
Average daily
manure production from various livestock are available on
the bigger picture - how
much manure is produced, how much land
is available page.
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