Efficient Utilization of Efficient Utilization of Equine ManureEquine Manure

Bryan Smith, Clemson Extension ServiceBryan Smith, Clemson Extension Service

Gary Heusner, University of GeorgiaGary Heusner, University of Georgia

John Chastain, Clemson UniversityJohn Chastain, Clemson University

Manure Production and Manure Production and ManagementManagement

Horse Manure ProductionHorse Manure Production

• Manure – 9.1 tons / 1000 lb / yearManure – 9.1 tons / 1000 lb / year• Bedding – 1.5 to 2.7 tons / 1000 lb / Bedding – 1.5 to 2.7 tons / 1000 lb /

yearyear• Total – 11 to 12 tons / 1000 lb / yearTotal – 11 to 12 tons / 1000 lb / year• Volume – 94 cubic feet / tonVolume – 94 cubic feet / ton

– A typical 6’ pickup bed holds ~60 cubic feetA typical 6’ pickup bed holds ~60 cubic feet

– (Sources: John Chastain, Ph.D.; Hudson, 1994; (Sources: John Chastain, Ph.D.; Hudson, 1994; NRCS; Wheeler, 2006)NRCS; Wheeler, 2006)

Horse Manure NutrientsHorse Manure Nutrients

Fresh ManureFresh Manure(no bedding)(no bedding) With BeddingWith Bedding

MoistureMoisture 78%78% 54%54%

Total NTotal N 11.2 lb/ton11.2 lb/ton 13.5 lb/ton13.5 lb/ton

PP22OO55 4.6 lb/ton4.6 lb/ton 4.5 lb/ton4.5 lb/ton

KK22OO 9.2 lb/ton9.2 lb/ton 13.5 lb/ton13.5 lb/ton

Manure ComparisonManure Comparison

Manure Manure typetype

PANPAN

lb/tonlb/tonPP22OO55

lb/lb/tonton

KK22OO

lb/lb/tonton

FertilizerFertilizer

Equiv.Equiv.

Fresh Fresh HorseHorse

11.211.2(Total N)(Total N)

4.64.6 9.29.2 0.50.5 - 0.2 - 0.4 - 0.2 - 0.4

Horse Horse w/ w/ BeddingBedding

13.513.5(Total N)(Total N)

4.54.5 13.513.5 0.60.6 - 0.2 - 0.6 - 0.2 - 0.6

DairyDairy 1010 88 1414 0.5 - 0.4 - 0.70.5 - 0.4 - 0.7

BroilerBroiler 4545 6969 4646 2.2 - 3.4 - 2.32.2 - 3.4 - 2.3

LayerLayer 3535 6464 3939 1.7 - 3.2 - 2.01.7 - 3.2 - 2.0

Amount of Manure requiredAmount of Manure required

CropCrop N Req’dN Req’dFresh Fresh

ManureManureWith With

BeddingBedding

Bermuda Bermuda PasturePasture

150 lbs/ 150 lbs/ acac

13.4 13.4 ton/acton/ac

11.1 11.1 ton/acton/ac

Fescue Fescue PasturePasture

100 lbs/ac100 lbs/ac 8.9 ton/ac8.9 ton/ac 7.4 ton/ac7.4 ton/ac

Annual Annual RyeRye

120 lbs/ac120 lbs/ac 10.7 10.7 ton/acton/ac

8.9 ton/ac8.9 ton/ac

Not all of this N is available the first year.

How Much N is Available?How Much N is Available?

• According to Wheeler and Zajaczkowski According to Wheeler and Zajaczkowski (1997), Manure with bedding:(1997), Manure with bedding:

PAN = OAPAN = OAff x Organic-N x Organic-N

• Year one: OAYear one: OAff = 0.2 = 0.2

• Year two: OAYear two: OAff = 0.5 = 0.5

• Year three: OAYear three: OAff = 0.25 = 0.25

• Year four: OAYear four: OAff = 0.13 = 0.13

• (Organic-N =~ 0.71 x Total N)(Organic-N =~ 0.71 x Total N)

ExampleExample

• Total N = 13.5 lb/tonTotal N = 13.5 lb/ton• Organic N = 13.5 x 0.71 = 9.6 lb/tonOrganic N = 13.5 x 0.71 = 9.6 lb/ton• If we apply 10 tons per acre one year:If we apply 10 tons per acre one year:• 10 tons x 9.6 lb/ton = 96 lb Org-N/acre10 tons x 9.6 lb/ton = 96 lb Org-N/acre

– Year 1 – 0.2 x 96 = 19 lb N/acreYear 1 – 0.2 x 96 = 19 lb N/acre– Year 2 – 0.5 x 77 = 38.5 lb N/acreYear 2 – 0.5 x 77 = 38.5 lb N/acre– Year 3 – 0.25 x 38.5 = 9.2 lb N/acreYear 3 – 0.25 x 38.5 = 9.2 lb N/acre– Year 4 – 0.13 x 29.3 = 3.8 lb N/acreYear 4 – 0.13 x 29.3 = 3.8 lb N/acre

• 90.5 lbs of N potentially utilized – about 67% 90.5 lbs of N potentially utilized – about 67% of total N over a 4 year period of total N over a 4 year period (including 20 (including 20 lb ammonium nitrate the first year)lb ammonium nitrate the first year)

Limited N AvailabilityLimited N Availability

• With only 20% of the N available the With only 20% of the N available the first year we need to think of first year we need to think of managementmanagement

• Supplementing with 34-0-0 is the Supplementing with 34-0-0 is the obvious choiceobvious choice

• Manure provides organic matter and Manure provides organic matter and some of the crop N requirementsome of the crop N requirement

Supplementing with FertilizerSupplementing with Fertilizer(Bermuda Pasture, 10 tons/acre manure (Bermuda Pasture, 10 tons/acre manure applied)applied)

YearYearN from N from ManureManure

lbs/acrelbs/acre

N req’d N req’d from Fert.from Fert.

lbs/acrelbs/acre

34-0-0 34-0-0 required required lbs/acrelbs/acre

Year 1Year 1 19 org. +19 org. +20 am.20 am.

111111 326326

Year 2Year 2 38.538.5 111.5111.5 328328

Year 3Year 3 9.29.2 140.8140.8 414414

Year 4Year 4 3.83.8 146.2146.2 430430

Supplementing with FertilizerSupplementing with Fertilizer(Bermuda Pasture)(Bermuda Pasture)

• To provide To provide 150 lb/acre N150 lb/acre N we would need to we would need to apply apply 441 lb/acre of 34-0-0441 lb/acre of 34-0-0 each year each year without manurewithout manure

• Over 4 years, a Over 4 years, a singlesingle 10 ton per acre 10 ton per acre application of horse manure has application of horse manure has savedsaved (90.5 / 0.34 =) (90.5 / 0.34 =) 266 pounds of 34-0-0266 pounds of 34-0-0, or , or about 15%about 15%

• IfIf we can apply 20 tons of manure per acre we can apply 20 tons of manure per acre to the bermuda, we can save 30% on our to the bermuda, we can save 30% on our 34-0-0 costs34-0-0 costs

Nitrogen Available from Nitrogen Available from Multiple Year ApplicationsMultiple Year Applications(10 tons per acre per year, bermuda (10 tons per acre per year, bermuda pasture)pasture)Year 1Year 1 Year 2Year 2 Year 3Year 3 Year 4Year 4 TotalTotal Lb 34-0-Lb 34-0-

00NeededNeeded

19+219+200

------ ------ ------ 3939 326326

38.538.5 19+219+200

------ ------ 77.577.5 213213

9.29.2 38.538.5 19+219+200

------ 86.786.7 186186

3.83.8 9.29.2 38.538.5 19+219+200

90.590.5 175175

Multiple Year CautionsMultiple Year Cautions

• After 4 years the manure would be providing After 4 years the manure would be providing approximately 90 lbs of nitrogen each year approximately 90 lbs of nitrogen each year (saving 266 lb/ac 34-0-0 per year)(saving 266 lb/ac 34-0-0 per year)

• Applying 10 tons of manure per acre for 4 Applying 10 tons of manure per acre for 4 years is quite a bit of organic matteryears is quite a bit of organic matter

• You may find the 10 ton per acre rate for You may find the 10 ton per acre rate for multiple years, even though beneficial from multiple years, even though beneficial from a nitrogen standpoint, is impractical due to a nitrogen standpoint, is impractical due to loading on the pastureloading on the pasture

Other Nutrients AppliedOther Nutrients AppliedFresh Manure (10 tons/acre)Fresh Manure (10 tons/acre)

CropCropPP22OO55

AppliedApplied

lb/acrelb/acre

PP22OO55

Req’dReq’d

lb/acrelb/acre

KK22OO

AppliedApplied

lb/acrelb/acre

KK22OO

Req’dReq’d

lb/acrelb/acre

Bermuda Bermuda PasturePasture

4646 4040(0-80)(0-80)

9292 4040(0-80)(0-80)

Other Nutrients AppliedOther Nutrients AppliedManure with Bedding (10 Manure with Bedding (10 tons/acre)tons/acre)

CropCropPP22OO55

AppliedApplied

lb/acrelb/acre

PP22OO55

Req’dReq’d

lb/acrelb/acre

KK22OO

AppliedApplied

lb/acrelb/acre

KK22OO

Req’dReq’d

lb/acrelb/acre

Bermuda Bermuda PasturePasture

4545 4040(0-80)(0-80)

135135 4040(0-80)(0-80)

Complications – C:N RatioComplications – C:N Ratio

• Horse manure has a high C:N ratioHorse manure has a high C:N ratio– Fresh manure – C:N ratio = 19Fresh manure – C:N ratio = 19– Bedded Manure – C:N ratio = 20 to 50Bedded Manure – C:N ratio = 20 to 50

• High C:N ratios (above 12) will High C:N ratios (above 12) will immobilize nitrogenimmobilize nitrogen into organic into organic forms – unavailable to the plantsforms – unavailable to the plants

• Fresh horse manure makes N Fresh horse manure makes N unavailableunavailable to the crop to the crop

Crop StuntingCrop Stunting

• Soil microbes use soil N to break Soil microbes use soil N to break down the bedding carbondown the bedding carbon

• This results in crop stunting or This results in crop stunting or reduced yieldreduced yield

• Adding 10 lbs of 34-0-0 per ton helps Adding 10 lbs of 34-0-0 per ton helps alleviate the problem, before or after alleviate the problem, before or after spreadingspreading

Composting Horse ManureComposting Horse Manure

CompostingComposting

• Most horse manure has the optimum Most horse manure has the optimum C:N ratio for composting (25-30)C:N ratio for composting (25-30)

• May need to add nitrogen in some May need to add nitrogen in some casescases

• May need to add a bulking agent for May need to add a bulking agent for void spaces for aerationvoid spaces for aeration

Why Compost?Why Compost?

• Provides a stable, low-odor productProvides a stable, low-odor product

• Does not tie up N in the soilDoes not tie up N in the soil

• Rich in organic matterRich in organic matter

• Composting kills pathogens and Composting kills pathogens and weed seedsweed seeds

• Composting kills parasite eggsComposting kills parasite eggs

Compost DisadvantagesCompost Disadvantages

• Only about 12% of the Organic-N is Only about 12% of the Organic-N is mineralized for plant usemineralized for plant use

• PP22OO55 is 25% to 40% available (instead is 25% to 40% available (instead of 80% to 100% available in fresh of 80% to 100% available in fresh manure)manure)

• May need some facilityMay need some facility

• Needs turning & labor for high qualityNeeds turning & labor for high quality

• Market?Market?

Courtesy Dr. Gary Heusner, University of Georgia

No. of No. of stallsstalls

No. of No. of binsbins

Length Length of bins of bins (feet)(feet)

No. of No. of postsposts

No. & No. & length of length of

fence rollsfence rolls

1 to 31 to 3 11 1818 88 One 50’ One 50’ rollroll

3 to 53 to 5 11 3030 1212 One 75’ One 75’ rollroll

66 22 1818 1616 Two 50’ Two 50’ rollsrolls

7 to 87 to 8 22 3030 2424 Two 75’ Two 75’ rollsrolls

99 33 1818 2424 Three 50’ Three 50’ rollsrolls

Courtesy Dr. Gary Heusner, University of Georgia

ReferencesReferences

• Chastain, J.P. 2007. “Equine Waste Chastain, J.P. 2007. “Equine Waste Management Issues and Opportunities” Management Issues and Opportunities” presentation. Clemson University.presentation. Clemson University.

• Heusner, G.L. 2007. “Managing Mount (Horse) Heusner, G.L. 2007. “Managing Mount (Horse) Manure” presentation. University of Georgia.Manure” presentation. University of Georgia.

• Hudson, L. 1994. Horses – Manure Hudson, L. 1994. Horses – Manure Management (LL 53). Clemson University Management (LL 53). Clemson University ExtensionExtension

• James, R.E. 2003. Horse Manure Management” James, R.E. 2003. Horse Manure Management” The Nitrogen Enhancement System (AGF-212-The Nitrogen Enhancement System (AGF-212-03), Ohio State University Extension.03), Ohio State University Extension.

ReferencesReferences

• Composting Horse Manure, North Carolina Composting Horse Manure, North Carolina State University Extension.State University Extension.

• NRCS, AWNFH. Chapter 4.NRCS, AWNFH. Chapter 4.

• Wheeler, E.F, and J.S. Zajaczkowski. 1997. Wheeler, E.F, and J.S. Zajaczkowski. 1997. Horse Stable Manure Management (G-97). Horse Stable Manure Management (G-97). Penn State University Extension.Penn State University Extension.

• Wheeler, E.F. 2006. Horse Stable Riding Wheeler, E.F. 2006. Horse Stable Riding Arena Design. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Arena Design. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Victoria, Australia.Victoria, Australia.

Bryan SmithClemson Extension Service219 West Laurens Street

Laurens, SC 29360

(864) 984-2514 ext 112

wsmth@clemson.edu

http://www.clemson.edu/camm

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