Stored manure can be easily sampled and tested to determine its nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels. When sampling manure, be sure to obtain as representative a sample as possible. With manure tests and a knowledge of the amount of manure applied per acre, a farmer can determine whether additional commercial fertilizer is needed to meet crop production goals. Waste storage also reduces the need to apply it to land during winter months when many forage crops are dormant. It conserves nutrients contained in the manure and minimizes manure nutrient leaching and runoff.
Storage is also valuable during extended periods of bad weather which make application impractical.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission rules prohibit irrigation with wastewater when the ground is frozen or saturated. A glossary at the end of this publication will clarify terminology. Evaluation table Livestock wastes can be stored either in solid, semi-solid, or liquid states. Solid waste facilities use walls and slabs for stacking heavily-bedded manure. Semi-solid waste facilities use pumps or scrapers to move manure into containment areas, and may separate solids from liquids.