Enhancing Phosphorus Recovery from Scraped Liquid Dairy Manure Using Process Effluent
Channel: Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Community
Date: 2015-05-14

The full proceedings paper is at: www.extension.org/72840

Our long term goal is to develop a robust phosphorus (P) recovery technology suitable for use on dairy farms of all sizes through an integrated research and extension program for manure nutrient recovery. Enrichment of water bodies by P in agricultural runoff has been and remains the focus of water quality protection. Animal feeding operations (AFOs), regardless of size, especially in sensitive ecosystems and the Chesapeake Bay (Bay) in particular, have been identified as major contributors to water and air pollution. These operations are facing extra scrutiny by state and federal regulation agencies with regards to nutrient management. Although nutrient management plans have not been required for most dairy farms in Virginia, this status is changing rapidly. Nutrient reductions in unregulated small dairies has been identified as part of the strategy to clean up the Bay. Our project focuses manure P management on dairy farms and will particularly benefit dairy farms in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where excess P in manure is a huge challenge. The dairies in these localities are predominantly small and are key drivers of local economies. About 1,928 (averaging 60 milking cows per farm) and 321 (averaging 80 cows per farms) facilities are located in Lancaster county and central Shenandoah Valley, respectively (USDA NASS, 2014). If implemented on farms, our project will help remove the excess P and allow the continued use of manure as a fertilizer in areas that may be restricted by the P-based manure application regulations. Also, it will help prevent over application of P, which is a typical result of applying manure to meet crop N needs.