Livestock Waste Sampling, Analysis, and Calculation of Land Application Rates

Prepared by:
James C. Barker, Professor and Extension Specialist
 Biological and Agricultural Engineering
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Published by: North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Publication Number: EBAE 111-84

Last Electronic Revision: March 1996 (JWM)

I. SAMPLE COLLECTION

A. Semi-Solid Lot Manure

i. Scraped directly from lot into spreader: From loaded spreader, collect about 2 lbs manure from different locations using nonmetallic collectors.

ii. From storage: Collect about 2 lbs manure from under the surface crust avoiding bedding materials using nonmetallic collectors.

B. Liquid Manure Slurry

i. Under-slotted-floor pit

a. Extend a 1/2" nonmetallic conduit open on both ends into manure to pit floor.

b. Seal upper end of conduit (e.g., by placing a thumb over end of conduit) trapping manure that has entered lower end, remove and empty slurry into plastic bucket or nonmetallic container.

c. Take subsamples from 5 or more locations or at least 1 quart.

d. Mix and add about 3/4 pint to nonmetallic sample container.

ii. Exterior storage basin or tank

a. Make sure manure has been well mixed with a liquid manure chopper-agitator pump or propeller agitator.

b. Take subsamples from about 5 pit locations, from agitator pump or from manure spreader and place in a plastic bucket.

c. Mix and add 3/4 pint to a nonmetallic sample container.

C. Lagoon Liquid

i. Collect about 3/4 pint of recycled lagoon liquid from inflow pipe to flush tanks in a nonmetallic sample container.

ii. From lagoon

a. Place a small bottle (1/2 pint or less) on end of 10-15' pole.

b. Extend bottle 10-15' away from bank edge.

c. Brush away floating scum or debris.

d. Submerge bottle within 1' of liquid surface.

e. Empty into a plastic bucket, repeat about 5 times around lagoon, mix, and add 3/4 pint to nonmetallic sample container.

D. Broiler or Turkey Litter

i. House litter

a. Visually inspect litter for areas of varying quality, e.g., areas around feeders and waterers, and estimate percent of floor surface in in each area.

b. Take about 5 litter subsamples at locations proportionate to item a. E.g., if 20% of litter of similar visual quality is around feeders and waterers, take 1 subsample there and the other 4 subsamples from remainder of floor surface.

c. At each location, collect litter from a 6" by 6" area down to earth floor and place in a plastic bucket.

d. After 5 subsamples have been added to the bucket, mix, and add about 2-3 lbs litter to a nonmetallic sample container such as a 1-gallon freezer bag and seal.

 ii. From stockpile

a. Take subsamples from about 5 locations at least 18" into pile.

b. Mix, add 2-3 lbs to nonmetallic sample container and seal.

II. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND TRANSFER

A. Place sample into an expandable container that can be sealed. Rinse residues from container with clean water but do not use disinfectants, soaps, or treat in any other way.

B. Pack sample in ice, refrigerate, freeze, or transfer to lab quickly.

C. Hand-delivery is most reliable way of sample transfer.

D. If mailed, protect sample container with packing material such as newspaper, box or package with wrapping paper, and tape.

E. Commercial sample containers and mailers are also available. Contacts:

i. A&L Eastern Agricultural Lab, Inc.         iii. Polyfoam Packers Corp.
    7621 Whitepine Road                             2320 S. Foster Avenue
    Richmond, VA  23237                             Wheeling, IL  60090
    Ph:  (804)743-9401                              Ph:  (312)398-0110

ii. Fisher Scientific Co.                       iv. NASCO
    3315 Winton Road                                901 Janesville Avenue
    Raleigh, NC  27604                              Fort Atkinson, WI  53538
    Ph:  (919)876-2351                              Ph:  (414)563-2446

F. Private analytical labs are available, but sample analyses are costly.

G. The NCDA provides this service for North Carolina residents.

i. Address:

North Carolina Department of Agriculture Agronomic Division
Plant/Waste/Solution Advisory Section
Blue Ridge Road Center
P.O. Box 27647
Raleigh, NC 27611
Ph: (919)733-2655
Attn: Dr. Ray Campbell

 ii. Forward $4 along with the sample.

iii. Include the following identification information with sample:

a. Livestock species (dairy, swine, turkey, etc.)

b. Livestock usage (swine-nursery, finishing; turkey-breeders, brooderhouse, grower, number flocks grown on litter; etc.)

c. Waste type (dairy-lot scraped manure, liquid slurry; swine- pit slurry, lagoon liquid, sludge; broiler- house litter, stockpile

iv. Routine analyses performed on all samples: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B

v. Additional analyses performed upon request: DM, Mo, Cd, Ni, Pb

III. INTERPRETATION OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS

A. Results are usually either on a percent (%) of total weight or a parts per million (ppm or mg/L) basis.

B. Results may be reported on a dry-weight basis (db) or on an AS-IS or wet- weight (wb) basis.

C. Results expressed as dry-basis should be converted to wet-basis before calculating land application rates by multiplying reported values by % dry matter (% expressed as decimal). If a dry matter analysis is not performed, average dry matter values may be obtained from appropriate tables of average characteristics.

D. If ammonia-nitrogen tests are not performed, refer also to appropriate tables for average percentages of the total nitrogen as ammonia.

E. Phosphorus and potassium results can be reported as elemental P and K or in fertilizer forms of P2O5 and K2O. Recommended fertilization rates of various crops are usually reported as P2O5 and K2O.

F. The following conversion factors apply: 


   MULTIPLY                         BY                         TO GET
   ____________________________________________________________________________

   lb P                             2.29                       lb P2O5
   lb K                             1.20                       lb K2O
   in                               2.54                       cm
   ft                               0.3048                     meter
   mile                             1.6                        km
   acre                             0.4                        hectare
   gallon                           3.79                       liter
   gallon H2O                       8.35                       lb H2O
   ft3                              7.48                       gallon
   acre-inch                    27154.                         gallon
   yd3                             27.                         ft3
   ft3/sec                        449.                         gallon/min
   lb                               0.45                       kg
   ton (short)                      0.91                       metric ton
   lb/acre                          1.12                       kg/ha
   lb/gallon                      120.                         kg/m3
   lb/ft3                          16.                         kg/m3
   lb/in2 H2O                       2.31                       ft H2O
   lb/ft2                           4.9                        kg/m2
   percent (%)                     20.                         lbs/ton
   percent (%)                     83.5                        lbs/1000 gallons
   percent (%)                   2266.                         lbs/acre-inch
   ppm or mg/L                      0.002                      lbs/ton
   ppm or mg/L                      0.00835                    lbs/1000 gallons
   ppm or mg/L                      0.2266                     lbs/acre-inch
   ____________________________________________________________________________
   TO GET                           BY                         DIVIDE

G. Example 1 : Liquid dairy manure slurry from an earthen storage basin

i. Lab analysis 
    a. Total N       =     0.270 %wb
    b. NH3N          =    41.0 % of Total N
    c. Total P       =     0.073 %wb
    d. K             =     0.210 %wb
ii. To convert to equivalent total fertilizer concentrations: 
    a. Total N =  0.270  x  83.5                 =  22.5 lbs/1000 gals
    b. NH3N    =  0.410  x  22.5                 =   9.2 lbs/1000 gals
    c. P2O5    =  0.073  x  83.5  x  2.29 P2O5/P =  14.0 lbs/1000 gals
    d. K2O     =  0.210  x  83.5  x  1.20 K2O/K  =  21.1 lbs/1000 gals

H. Example 2 : Swine lagoon liquid

i. Lab analysis 
    a. Total N       =     0.060 %wb
    b. NH3N          =    81.7 % of Total N
    c. Total P       =     0.010 %wb
    d. K             =     0.049 %wb
ii. To convert to equivalent total fertilizer concentrations: 
    a. Total N =  0.060  x  2266                  =  136 lbs/acre-inch
    b. NH3N    =  0.817  x   136                  =  111 lbs/acre-inch
    c. P2O5    =  0.010  x  2266  x  2.29         =   53 lbs/acre-inch
    d. K2O     =  0.049  x  2266  x  1.20         =  133 lbs/acre-inch

I. Example 3 : Broiler house litter

i. Lab analysis 
    a. Dry matter    =    78.3  %wb
    b. Total N       =     4.62 %db
    c. NH3H          =    15.4 % of Total N
    d. Total P       =     2.19 %db
    e. K             =     2.43 %db
ii. To convert to equivalent total fertilizer concentrations: 
    a. Total N =  4.62   x  0.783 wb/db   x  20        =  72.3 lbs/ton
    b. NH3N    =  0.154  x  72.3                       =  11.1 lbs/ton
    c. P2O5    =  2.19   x  0.783   x  20  x  2.29     =  78.5 lbs/ton
    d. K2O     =  2.43   x  0.783   x  20  x  1.20     =  45.8 lbs/ton

IV. NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

A. Equations :

i. Plant avail N (PAN) = A x NH3N + 0.5 x (Total N - NH3N)

ii. Avail P2O5 = B x Total P2O5

iii. Avail K2O = C x Total K2O

iv. where A, B, C are availability coefficients from following table:

B. Nutrient Availability Coefficients

METHOD OF               AVAILABILITY      DRY      SEMI-    LIQUID    LAGOON
APPLICATION              COEFFICIENT    LITTER     SOLID    MANURE    LIQUID
                                                  MANURE    SLURRY
____________________________________________________________________________

Injection                       A         -         -        0.95      0.95
                                B         -         -        0.80      0.80
                                C         -         -        0.80      0.80

Broadcast w Cultivation         A        0.90      0.75      0.75      0.85
                                B        0.75      0.75      0.75      0.80
                                C        0.75      0.75      0.75      0.80

Broadcast w/o Cultivation       A        0.25      0.25      0.35      0.45
                                B        0.60      0.60      0.70      0.75
                                C        0.60      0.60      0.70      0.75

Irrigation w Cultivation        A         -         -        0.60      0.75
                                B         -         -        0.75      0.80
                                C         -         -        0.75      0.80

Irrigation w/o Cultivation      A         -         -        0.25      0.50
                                B         -         -        0.70      0.75
                                C         -         -        0.70      0.75
____________________________________________________________________________

C. Example 1 : Liquid dairy manure broadcast & disked under within 48 hrs

 i. PAN     =    A  x  NH3N   +   0.5 x (Total N - NH3N)
            =  0.75 x 9.2 #/1000 gals  +  0.5 x (22.5 - 9.2) #/1000 gals
            =  13.6 lbs/1000 gallons

ii. PAP2O5  =    B   x  Total P2O5
            =  0.75  x  14.0 lbs/1000 gals    =    10.5 lbs/1000 gals

iii. PAK2O   =    C   x  Total K2O
            =  0.75  x  21.1 lbs/1000 gals    =    15.8 lbs/1000 gals

D. Example 2 : Swine lagoon liquid irrigated w/o cultivation.

         i. PAN     =  0.50 x 111 lbs/ac-in  +  0.5 x (136 - 111) lbs/ac-in
                    =  68.1 lbs/acre-inch

        ii. PAP2O5  =  0.75  x   53 lbs/ac-in    =    39.7 lbs/acre-inch

       iii. PAK2O   =  0.75  x  133 lbs/ac-in    =   100.0 lbs/acre-inch

E. Example 3 : Broiler litter broadcast w/o cultivation. 

         i. PAN     =  0.25 x 11.1 lbs/ton  +  0.5 x (72.3 - 11.1) lbs/ton
                    =  33.4 lbs/ton

        ii. PAP2O5  =  0.60  x  78.5 lbs/ton    =    47.1 lbs/ton

       iii. PAK2O   =  0.60  x  45.8 lbs/ton    =    27.5 lbs/ton

V. CALCULATION OF APPLICATION RATES

A. Example 1 : Liquid dairy manure broadcast and disked into corn silage land.

i. Recommended corn silage fertilization rates: 
    a.  200 lbs N/acre/year
    b.   50 lbs P2O5/acre/year
    c.  150 lbs K2O/acre/year
ii. Waste application rates 
    a. N:      200 #/ac/yr  /  13.6 #/1000 gals   =  14,749 gals/ac/yr
    b. P2O5:    50 #/ac/yr  /  10.5 #/1000 gals   =   4,770 gals/ac/yr
    c. K2O:    150 #/ac/yr  /  15.8 #/1000 gals   =   9,485 gals/ac/yr
iii. IF ENOUGH LAND EXISTS, SELECT THE LOWER OF THE N OR P2O5 RATES AND SUPPLEMENT WITH COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER, OTHERWISE, N SHOULD DETERMINE MAXIMUM RATE.

    a. Supplemental N and K2O needed at P2O5 rate  =  4,770 gals/ac/yr

       1. N:      4,770 gals/ac/yr  x  13.6 #/1000 gals  =  65 #/ac/yr
                  200  -  65    =    135 lbs/ac/yr supplement

       2. K2O:    4,770 gals/ac/yr  x  15.8 #/1000 gals  =  75 #/ac/yr
                  150  -  75    =     75 lbs/ac/yr supplement


    b. P2O5 and K2O applied at N rate             =  14,749 gals/ac/yr

       1. P2O5:  14,749 gals/ac/yr  x  10.5 #/1000 gals  = 155 #/ac/yr

       2. K2O:   14,749 gals/ac/yr  x  15.8 #/1000 gals  = 233 #/ac/yr

B. Example 2 : Swine lagoon liquid irrigated onto control-grazed bermudagrass pasture.

i. Recommended grass fertilization rates: 
    a.  300 lbs N/acre/year
    b.   75 lbs P2O5/acre/year
    c.  240 lbs K2O/acre/year
ii. Waste application rates: 
    a. N:      300 #/ac/yr  /  68.1 #/ac-in     =     4.41 ac-in/ac/yr
    b. P2O5:    75 #/ac/yr  /  39.7 #/ac-in     =     1.89 ac-in/ac/yr
    c. K2O:    240 #/ac/yr  / 100.0 #/ac-in     =     2.40 ac-in/ac/yr
iii. Nutrient application rates: 
    a. Supplemental N and K2O needed at P2O5 rate  =  1.89 ac-in/ac/yr

       1. N:      1.89 ac-in/ac/yr  x  68.1 #/ac-in    =   129 #/ac/yr
                  300  -  129    =    171 lbs/ac/yr supplement

       2. K2O:    1.89 ac-in/ac/yr  x 100.0 #/ac-in    =   189 #/ac/yr
                  240  -  189    =     51 lbs/ac/yr supplement

    b. P2O5 and K2O applied at N rate              =  4.41 ac-in/ac/yr
 
       1. P2O5:   4.41 ac-in/ac/yr  x  39.7 #/ac-in    =   175 #/ac/yr
       2. K2O:    4.41 ac-in/ac/yr  x 100.0 #/ac-in    =   441 #/ac/yr

C. Broiler litter broadcast onto fescue pasture.

i. Recommended pasture fertilization rates: 
     a.  200 lbs N/acre/year
     b.   40 lbs P2O5/acre/year
     c.   60 lbs K2O/acre/year
ii. Waste application rates: 
     a. N:      200 lbs/ac/yr  /  33.4 lbs/ton     =     6.0 tons/ac/yr
     b. P2O5:    40 lbs/ac/yr  /  47.1 lbs/ton     =     0.85 ton/ac/yr
     c. K2O:     60 lbs/ac/yr  /  27.5 lbs/ton     =     2.2 tons/ac/yr
iii. Nutrient application rates: 
     a. Supplemental N and K2O needed at P2O5 rate    =  0.85 ton/ac/yr
  
        1. N:      0.85 ton/ac/yr  x  33.4 lbs/ton    =    28 lbs/ac/yr
                   200  -  28    =    172 lbs/ac/yr supplement

        2. K2O:    0.85 ton/ac/yr  x  27.5 lbs/ton    =    23 lbs/ac/yr
                    60  -  23    =     37 lbs/ac/yr supplement
     b. P2O5 and K2O applied at N rate                =  6.0 tons/ac/yr

        1. P2O5:   6.0 tons/ac/yr  x  47.1 lbs/ton    =   282 lbs/ac/yr
        2. K2O:    6.0 tons/ac/yr  x  27.5 lbs/ton    =   165 lbs/ac/yr

VI. TOTAL LAND AREA REQUIREMENTS

A. Total Steady-State Live Animal Weight

   i. Dairy
        calf                   per head, one-time capacity           350 lbs
        heifer                 per head                             1000 lbs
        milk cow               per head                             1400 lbs
  ii. Beef
        stocker                per head, one-time capacity           550 lbs
        feeder                 per head, one-time capacity           800 lbs
        brood cow              per head                             1000 lbs
 iii. Veal calf                per head, one-time capacity           200 lbs
  iv. Swine
        nursery pig            per head, one-time capacity            30 lbs
        feeder-to-finish       per head, one-time capacity           135 lbs
        farrow-to-weanling     per active sow                        433 lbs 
        farrow-to-feeder       per active sow                        522 lbs
        farrow-to-finish       per active sow                       1417 lbs
   v. Sheep
        feeder lamb            per head, one-time capacity            60 lbs
        ewe                    per head                              160 lbs
        ram                    per head                              240 lbs
  vi. Goat
        kid                    per head, one-time capacity            50 lbs
        doe                    per head                              140 lbs
        buck                   per head                              210 lbs
 vii. Horse                    per head                             1000 lbs
viii. Rabbit                   per head, doe and litter               10 lbs
  ix. Layer
        hen                    per bird                                4 lbs
        pullet                 per bird, one-time capacity           1.5 lbs
   x. Broiler
        broiler                per bird, one-time capacity             2 lbs
        roaster                per bird, one-time capacity             4 lbs
        breeder                per bird                                6 lbs
  xi. Turkey
        poult                  per bird, one-time capacity           2.5 lbs
        grower hen             per bird, one-time capacity            10 lbs
        grower tom             per bird, one-time capacity            15 lbs
        breeder                per bird                               20 lbs
 xii. Duck                     per bird, one-time capacity             3 lbs

B. Minimum Land Area Calculations

i. Example 1: Liquid manure slurry from 100-cow dairy farm broadcast and disked into corn silage land. 
      a. Total animal live weight =  100 cows x 1400 #/cow  =  140,000 #

      b. Total manure =  140000#  x  21.2 gals/1400#/day  x  365 day/yr
                      =  775,000 gallons/year

      c. Acres of land

         1. N:      775,000 gals/yr  /  14,749 gals/ac/yr   =   53 acres
         2. P2O5:   775,000 gals/yr  /   4,770 gals/ac/yr   =  162 acres
ii. Example 2: Lagoon liquid from 200-sow farrow-to-finish swine unit irrigated onto control-grazed bermudagrass pasture. 
      a. Total animal live weight =  200 sows x 1417 #/sow  =  283,400 #

      b. Total liquid =  283400 #  x  2.7 gals/135#/day  x  365 days/yr
                      =  2,100,000 gals/year  /  27,154 gals/ac-in
                      =  77 acre-inches/year

      c. Acres of land

         1. N:      77 ac-in/yr  /  4.41 ac-in/ac/yr      =     18 acres
         2. P2O5:   77 ac-in/yr  /  1.89 ac-in/ac/yr      =     41 acres
iii. Example 3: Litter from a 20,000-bird capacity broiler house broadcast onto fescue pasture. 
      a. Total bird live weight  =  20000 birds x 2 #/bird   =  40,000 #

      b. Total litter  =  40,000 #  x  0.038 #/2#/day  x  307 days/yr
                          /2000 lbs/ton               =    117 tons/year

      c. Acres of land

         1. N:      117 tons/yr  /  6.0 tons/ac/yr       =      20 acres
         2. P2O5:   117 tons/yr  /  0.85 ton/ac/yr       =     138 acres

VII. SPREADER CALIBRATION

A. Irrigation (stationary sprinkler):

  i. Example 2a:  How many hours are needed to apply 0.5 inch with a 17.2-gpm
                  sprinkler on an 80 ft by 80 ft spacing?

 ii. Depth (in)   =   flow rate (gpm)  x  applic period (hrs)  x  96.3
                      ------------------------------------------------
                                    irrigated area (ft2)

iii. Period (hrs)  =  applic depth (in)  x  irrigated area (ft2)
                      ------------------------------------------
                               flow rate (gpm)  x  96.3

                   =  0.5 in  x  (80 ft x 80 ft)       =      1.9 hours
                      --------------------------
                           17.2 gpm  x  96.3

B. Irrigation (hard-hose or cable-tow travelling sprinkler):

  i. Example 2b:  What travel speed is needed to apply 1 inch with a 500-gpm
                  gun on a 300-ft lane spacing?

 ii. Depth (in)   =            flow rate (gpm)  x  1.605
                      -------------------------------------------
                      lane spacing (ft)  x  travel speed (ft/min)

iii. Travel speed (ft/min)  =        flow rate (gpm)  x  1.605
                               ---------------------------------------
                               lane spacing (ft)  x  applic depth (in)

                            =  500 gpm  x  1.605       =     2.7 ft/min
                               -----------------
                               300 ft  x  1.0 in

C. Semi-Solid, Liquid Slurry, or Dry Litter Spreader:

i. For semi-solid and dry litter spreaders, weigh one typical load.

ii. As long as the same spreader is loaded with similar quality and quantity of manure or litter, one weighing will be adequate.

iii. Liquid tank spreaders are rated in gallons of capacity.

iv. Through a field trial and operating the spreader in a typical spreading or unloading mode, determine:

a. effective spreading width
b. time required to unload a typical load

v. Example 3: What forward speed would be needed to apply 6.0 tons litter per acre from a spreader with a 6-ton capacity a 5-min spreading time, and a 25-ft spreading width? 

     a. Rate (tons/ac) =    spreader capacity (tons/load)  x  495
                        ----------------------------------------------
                        time (mins) x width (ft) x forward speed (mph)

     b. Forward speed (mph) =  spreader capacity (tons/load)  x  495
                             -----------------------------------------
                             time (mins) x width (ft) x rate (tons/ac)

                            =         6 tons  x  495         =   4 mph
                               ----------------------------
                               5 mins x 25 ft x 6.0 tons/ac

Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
EBAE 111_84