Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article I - Land Resources › Chapter 83 - STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › Subchapter D - NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT › NUTRIENT APPLICATION › Section 83.291 - Determination of available nutrients

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) The plan must address each type of
						  nutrient source generated or planned to be used on the agricultural operation,
						  including: manure, biosolids, compost, commercial fertilizers and other
						  nutrient sources. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the only nutrient elements of
						  concern to be addressed by BMPs in the plan.
(b) The plan must list potassium crop needs,
						  and potassium application rates, from all nutrient sources, to ensure that
						  adequate soil fertility levels are addressed to meet crop production
						  goals.
(c) The amount and nutrient
						  content of each manure group generated on the agricultural operation shall be
						  documented in the plan as follows:
(1) List
						  the average number of animals for each manure group, on the agricultural
						  operation.
(2) List the amount of
						  manure generated and when it is available for land application on the
						  agricultural operation or for other planned uses.
(i) If actual manure production records are
						  available for the operation, these records shall be used for determining the
						  manure produced on the operation.
(ii) If actual records of manure production
						  do not exist for the operation, the amount of manure produced shall be
						  calculated based on the average number of animal units on the agricultural
						  operation, and the storage capacity of manure storage facilities, if present.
						  The plan must include the calculations or variables used for determining the
						  amount of manure produced on the operation.
(3) Test the nutrient content of manure as
						  follows:
(i) Analytical manure testing
						  results shall be used in the development of the plan. These manure tests must
						  include an analysis of the percent solids, total nitrogen (as N), ammonium
						  nitrogen (as NH4-N), total phosphate (as
						  P2O5) and total potash (as
						  K2O), for each manure group generated on the operation,
						  and these analytical results shall be recorded in the plan.
(ii) These manure analyses shall be performed
						  using manure sampling and chemical analysis methods which accurately represent
						  the contents of the manure. Methods described in the
Pennsylvania
						  Agronomy Guide
may be used to meet this requirement. Other methods
						  shall be approved by the Commission.
(iii) For newly proposed operations, and for
						  manure groups on existing operations where sampling and analysis are not
						  possible prior to initial plan development, the following applies:
(A) The plan must use either standard book
						  values, or analytical results from a similar facility as approved by the
						  Commission or delegated conservation district.
(B) Standard book values contained in the
Pennsylvania Agronomy Guide
may be used to meet this
						  requirement. Other values shall be approved by the Commission.
(C) A similar facility is one that uses
						  similar animal housing, animal groups, feeding practices and wastewater
						  management.
(D) The nutrient
						  content of the manure, as determined in clauses (A)-(C), shall be recorded in
						  the plan.
(E) Samples and chemical
						  analysis of the manure generated on the operation shall be obtained within 1
						  year of implementation of the approved plan, and the requirements of §
																83.371 (relating to plan
						  amendments) shall be followed as applicable.
(iv) The nutrient content of manure deposited
						  on pastures by grazing animals shall be determined using the methods contained
						  in subparagraph (vi).
(v) After
						  approval of the initial plan, manure tests are required to be taken annually
						  for each manure group generated on the operation.
(vi) The testing described in this subsection
						  will not be required for manure groups associated with less than five AEUs of
						  livestock or poultry at an operation. For these small quantity manure groups,
						  the nutrient content of the manure may be determined using standard book values
						  which represent the contents of the manure for the operation. Standard book
						  values contained in the
Pennsylvania Agronomy Guide
may be
						  used to meet this requirement. Other values shall be approved by the Commission
						  or delegated conservation district.
(vii) Testing of manure groups may be
						  consolidated when two or more manure groups on the same operation are produced
						  by the same animal type and are managed in a similar
						  manner.