safe use of animal-based soil amendments · safe use of animal-based soil amendments m. charles...
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Safe Use of Animal-based Soil AmendmentsM. Charles Gould
Extension Educator
Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute
Michigan State University Extension
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Overview
• Function and purposes of soil amendments
• Types of organic soil amendments• Manure• Biosolids• Compost
Manure pile on a Michigan dairy farm.
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Section 1Function and purposes of soil amendments
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What are soil amendments?
• Soil amendments are
organic and inorganic
materials applied on
and mixed into
agricultural soils to
change the physical
and chemical
characteristics of the
soil. Colters slice a furrow into the sod for
liquid manure application.
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Impact of soil amendments in a cropping system• Improve physical properties (texture/tilth/structure)• Improve aeration• Increase water holding capacity (in light soils)
• Increase nutrient-holding capacity• Improve water infiltration (in heavy soils)• Add nutrient/mineral values for plant growth• Improve cation exchange capacity (CEC)• Adjust pH• Suppress soil microbes that could harm plants• Increase the soil microbe community that helps plants
grow.
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Environmental and management effects on nutrient release in a cropping system
• Soil moisture
• Soil temperature
• Cover crops
• Soil organic matter
• Crop rotation
• Soil pH
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Key point
• Soil amendments are
used in cropping
systems to achieve
specific outcomes.
Oilseed radish cover crop in
Michigan.
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Section 2Types of organic soil amendments: Manure
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What is manure?
• The byproduct of the digestive process in ruminant and monogastric animals.
• A common and highly valued soil amendment in a cropping system.
• It can be handled as a solid or a liquid.
Manure total solids characterization and handling requirements. Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension
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Benefits of manure
• Supplies macro- and micro-nutrients that are
essential for crop growth.
• Functions like a slow release fertilizer.
• Builds soil organic matter, stimulating the
biological processes in the soil that help to build
fertility.
• Nutrient content varies between species, diet
and bedding content.
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Manure handling• Manure storage and treatment sites should be situated
as far as practical from fresh produce production and handling areas.
• Consider barriers or physical containment to secure manure storage or treatment areas where contamination from runoff, leaching, animal, foot and/or equipment traffic, or wind spread is a concern.
• Consider good agricultural practices to minimize leachate from manure storage or treatment areas contaminating produce.
• Consider practices to minimize the potential of recontaminating treated manure.
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Manure application• Land application is an
approved method for manure management.
• Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for Manure Management and Utilization (Manure GAAMPs).
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Manure application• A farmer complies with the intent of the Michigan Right
To Farm Act when a Manure Management Systems
Plan is developed, implemented, and sufficient
documentation is provided to prove the plan was
followed.
• Application rate is determined by soil test, amendment
analysis, realistic crop yield, and soil type.
• Manure Management Systems Plans focus more on
nutrient placement and movement rather than pathogen
control.
• Produce Safety Plans focus on pathogen control
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Food safety considerations
• Raw manure can never come in contact with the harvestable portion of the crop or harvested produce. (PSR)
• Applications of raw manure should only occur:• Two weeks prior to planting
• A minimum of 120 days prior to harvest for crops in contact with soil.
• A minimum of 90 days prior to harvest for crops not in contact with soil.
• Raw manure must be incorporated within 48 hours of application.
• Raw manure should not be applied on commodities typically eaten raw that are harvested within 120 days of planting.
• Maximize the interval between raw manure application and harvest.
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Food safety considerations
• Treatments that may reduce pathogen levels.
• Passive treatment – relies on the passage of time in
conjunction with environmental factors that help reduce
pathogens such as UV, moisture and temperature
fluctuations.
• Active treatments – require more management and inputs.
Includes pasteurization, heat drying, anaerobic digestion,
alkali stabilization, aerobic digestion or some combination.
• Also consider how manure may enter a field from other
sources, and plan accordingly.
• Adjacent field practices can have an affect on your produce
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Recordkeeping
• Document what,
where, when, how,
and how much was
applied.
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Tilling surface applied liquid hog
manure into the soil.
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Corrective action plan
• What happens when:
• Accidental contact with harvestable portion of the
crop
• Runoff from adjacent fields
• Alternative markets
• Kill step
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Key points
• Excellent slow release fertilizer and soil builder.
• Locate manure storage and treatment areas away from fruit and vegetable production areas.
• Land application of manure is an acceptable practice for fruits and vegetables if recommended and Produce Safety Rule practices are followed.
• Manure can be treated to reduce pathogen load.
• Document what, where, when, how and how much manure was applied.
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Section 3Types of organic soil amendments: Compost and biosolids
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What are biosolids?
• Nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the
treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment
facility.
• Class A biosolids contain no detectable levels of
pathogens.
• Class B pathogens are treated but still contain
detectable levels of pathogens.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Biosolids storage, handling and application
• Class A biosolids:• Can be applied to fruits
and vegetable crops when following PSR and EPA 40 CFR part 503.
• Are not stored on a farm. Used on demand.
• Are applied by custom applicators.
• Are applied based on a nutrient management plan.
Biosolids are typically granular in
nature.
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Definition of compost
A group of organic residues or a mixture of organic residues and soil that have been piled, moistened, and allowed to undergo aerobic biological decomposition resulting in a dark or black carbon-rich relatively stable humus.
Source: Rynk, R., van de Kamp, M., Willson, G.B., Singley, M.E., Richard, T.L., Kolega, J.J., Gouin, F.R, Laliberty, Jr., L.,
Kay, D., Murphy, D.W., Hoitink, H., and Brinton, W.F. 1992. On-Farm Composting Handbook, Robert Rynk, editor. NRAES-
54. Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Composted manure from an Ottawa County, MI dairy
farm.
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Definition of composting
Composting is controlleddecomposition, the natural breakdown process, of organic residues.
Cooperband, Leslie. 2002. The Art and Science of Composting.
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisc.
Rotating
drum
in-vessel
composter
Tractor
pulled
compost
turner
Photo credits: Charles Gould
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Constructing Your
Compost Pile
▪ Green materials
▪ Grass clippings
▪ Coffee grounds
▪ Manure
▪ Brown materials
▪ Dried leaves
▪ Chopped straw or hay
▪ Sawdust
▪ Wood shavings
1 part:2-3
parts
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Stage 1 of the Compost Process
• Approximately days 1-2.
• Mixed materials are the
same temperature as the
air temperature.
• Psychrophilic bacteria
are active at this stage
(0°- 55°F).
• Heat is produced when
bacteria break down
organic matter.
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Stage 2 of the Compost Process
• Approximately days 3-5.
• A well-mixed pile will heat up
to between 100°F and 140°F.
• Mesophilic bacteria, active
between 50°- 120°F, are the
most abundant and do the
most decomposition.
• Oxygen and moisture are
critical at this stage.
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Stage 2 of the Compost Process
• Thermophilic bacteria
are active from 110° -
160°F.
• The fastest organic
matter breakdown occurs
during this stage because
of the heat.
• C:N ratio decreases due
to carbon loss.
• pH rises above neutral.
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Stage 2 of the Compost Process
• Volume reduction of 50-60%.
• Weight reduction of 40-80%.
• At this stage, pathogens, weed seed, and
fly larvae are destroyed.
• Temperatures above 160°F will cause
microbial activity to cease.
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Stage 3 of the Compost Process
• Approximately day 6 and beyond. This stage can last for several weeks or months depending on how often the pile is turned.
• The pile begins to cool down.
• Turning the compost pile can jumpstart Mesophilic bacteria, reheating the pile.
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Stage 4 of the Compost Process
• Compost temperature drops to ambient air
temperature.
• “Curing” stage, where chemical reactions
continue to occur that make nutrients in the
compost stable and suitable for plant use.
• This stage can last up to a year.
• Pile can be colonized with actinomycetes,
protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, fungi, and
numerous species of invertebrates.
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Compost Management
• Time
• Temperature
• Turning
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Summary of Compost Process
• Microbial breakdown of organic matter.
• Reduction in particle size.
• C:N ratio decreases due to carbon
loss.
• pH rises above neutral.
• Volume reduction of 50-60%.
• Weight reduction of 40-80%.
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• Static Pile
• Aerated Pile
– Active
– Passive
• Vermicomposting
• In-vessel
• Windrows
– Covered
– Uncovered
• Transfer Bays
– Covered
– Uncovered
Composting Methods
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Static Pile
• Leaving raw manure in
a pile for a long period
of time does not yield
compost
• Static piles generally
have odors and flies
• More likely to have
complaints
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Aerated Pile – Active or Passive
• Can be a pile or
windrow
• Active Aeration
– Use blower to force air
through pile
• Passive Aeration
– Natural airflow through
vented pipe keeps pile
aerobic
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Aerated Pile – Active or Passive
• Covered piles are easier
to control
– Can use a tarp – should
be held above pile
– Can also use peat moss
(6” thick) over pile
– Commercial compost
covers also available
• These allow the pile to
breath but help to control
moisture
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Composting Method -Aerated Pile Windrow
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Vermicomposting
• Use red worms to “work” manure into compost
• Requires 1 pound of worms per square foot of
windrow surface area
• Yields very high quality compost
• Worms can be sold also
• Must maintain a temperature of 50 deg. F
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Turned Windrow
• Can turn by hand – small amounts
• Front loader best option for small farms
• Large turners available
• Covered windrows yield the best compost
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Transfer Bays
• Manure or other material is
added to 1 bay then
moved (turned) to other
bays
• 4 – 6 bays are needed
• When manure reaches last
bay it should be finished
compost
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When is Compost Ready to Use?
• Compost is ready for use when:
– It smells earthy - not sour, putrid or like
ammonia
– It no longer heats up after being turned
or watered
– It looks like dark soil
– It’s crumbly, and doesn’t have
identifiable items, i.e. manure, wood
shavings, leaves, etc.
– The pH is usually around 7.5, and it will
have a C:N ratio ranging from 10:1 to
20:1.
– It has a moisture content like a damp
sponge.
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Soil Amendment – Compost
• Composting livestock manure reduces many of
the drawbacks associated with raw manure use.
• The quality of compost depends on the
feedstocks used to make it.
• The value of compost lies in it’s biology.
• Composting will not eliminate heavy metals.
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Compost handling and application
• Application rates are
determined based on
crop yields, compost
analysis, and soil test
results.
• Calibrate spreader
before applying
compost. Spreaders with vertical discharge
beaters easily apply heavy and
dense amendments like compost.
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Compost handling and application
• Minimize the
potential of re-
contaminating
compost through
barriers, containment
or coverage.
Composting site under roof at the
Michigan State University Swine
Teaching and Research Center.
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Food safety considerations
• There is no time interval recommended between
compost application and crop harvest due to the
reduction in pathogens by the high temperature
phase of composting.
• If there are any doubts about the compost, treat
it like raw manure.
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Food Safety Considerations cont.• Compost must maintain a
temperature of between 131 and 170°F for:
• 3 days (enclosed system) or;
• 15 days (windrow system),
• during which period the composting materials must be turned a minimum of five times.
• The compost pile should then be cured for 45 days.
• Finished and curing compost piles should be covered in order to prevent recontamination.
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In-vessel
composter
on a pullet
farm
(enclosed
system)
Turning a
windrow of
dairy
manure
compost
(windrow
system)
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Pathogen kill during the composting process
• Pathogen kill is a function of temperature and time.
• Common pathogens killed in this phase are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtillus, and Clostridium botulinum. Compost thermometer reading 144
degrees Fahrenheit.
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Food safety considerations cont.
• Tools and equipment should be cleaned and
sanitized if going between composting and
produce use.
• Develop SOP’s
• Direct foot and animal traffic around storage
area
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Recordkeeping• Recordkeeping is an
important component a food safety program. Document the following:
• Type of soil amendment being applied
• Composting method and microbial testing (if applicable)
• Fields receiving application
• Date of application
• Rate (quantity applied per acre)
• Method of application
• What crops will be planted
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Compost made from crabs from
the Chesapeake Bay.
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Recordkeeping for Food Safety
• Time, temperature, turnings, and any other
processing step(s)
• Third party documentation that composting was
completed in a scientifically valid process.
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Key points
• Biosolids and compost increase soil organic matter and are sources of plant nutrients.
• Class A & B biosolids can be used on fruits and vegetables according to EPA and State laws.
• Compost must be managed to kill pathogens.
• Time intervals do not apply to compost that meets temperature and time standards. If there are doubts, treat it like raw manure.
• There is demand for compost in Michigan!
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Contact information