Nutrient Availability Animals excrete a large portion of the nutrient elements consumed by them in their feeds. Thus, animal manure are a valuable source of both macro and micronutrients. Organic phosphorus in animal waste is made available for plant growth through the mineralization process. The temperature, wind, and humidity will affect losses. On warm and windy summer days, all of the initial ammonia in manure can be lost within 24-48 hrs.
Nitrates are anions which are very soluble in water and can leach readily through the soil profile.
Manure is a combination of feces and urine. If a dairy waste lagoon receives wastewater only from the milk house or the milking parlor, the lagoon generally exhibits a very dilute supernatant and operates in an aerobic mode. The quantity, quality, and consistency of manure varies with animal type, age, health, feed ration, waste storage, time, climate, and other environmental factors.