Clemson Extension has scheduled tours of two sites where swine lagoon effluent and poultry litter are being applied as fertilizer to pine trees, according to John Chastain, Extension agricultural engineer. To get there from Interstate 95, exit at S.C. Highway 261. Drive into Manning, take a left on U.S. Highway 301 north and follow the signs. Speakers will discuss irrigation specifications and alternatives for pine stands, the nutrient content of effluent, application rates, how to monitor groundwater quality and the importance of soil sampling. One major topic to be covered will be the potential for improved tree growth.
Broiler litter is used there to fertilize pines.
Speakers will talk about spreader types and their calibration, the nutrient content of broiler litter and fertilization schedules. 301-S.C. 15 intersection in Summerton. Follow the signs to county road 373 south, where you will turn left toward St. Paul's church. Signs will direct you to the site. The research and demonstration sites are sponsored by Clemson University under an Agricultural Productivity and Profitability Grant, Clemson Extension, the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Environmental Protection Agency.