Manure Storage for Horse Facilities
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Manure Storage for Horse Facilities
Fact Sheet Equine Facilities Manure Management Practices June 2003
A 1,000 pound horse can generate 0.75 cubic feet of manure each day. (See References Cited).
Equestrians need to provide proper handling and storage of manure, along with a plan for effective
manure utilization, in order to avoid potential environmental/regulatory problems. Manure storage is
a temporary containment of equine waste and provides the horse owner or manager with flexibility in
scheduling the final utilization, recycling or disposal of the waste. Manure storage practices should be
used in combination with other horse keeping management practices contained in a facility’s
conservation plan for maximum protection of water quality. ☼
Why is Proper Storage Necessary?
R ainfall and storm water
runoff that comes into con-
tact with manure, if not properly
If water, typically rainfall, drains
through the pile and the material
becomes saturated, the nutrients
series provides background on
what contaminants can poten-
tially pollute surface and ground-
managed and treated, can carry in the manure can leach or seep water, and how to self-monitor
nutrients, pathogens, salts and out of the manure pile and then the water resources on your own
other constituents to nearby percolate down into the ground. property to see if there are any
streams, negatively impacting “Leachate” is the dark brown liq- problems . Water should be tested
water quality and aquatic life. As uid, sometimes called manure regularly if it is drawn from wells
a general rule, manure storage tea, that can sometimes be seen that tap shallow groundwater
sites should be located 50-100 pooled around manure piles in
sources. Check with your local
feet, depending on site conditions, wet weather. In floodplains and
environmental health department
from any stream or drainage
for further information. ☼
course, and likewise away from
water wells. County or city agen-
cies may have required setback
distances which can be greater
Inside Contents…….
than those which may be required
by state agencies. Local depart-
Proper Storage…………………1
ments of public health or plan-
ning may be a good first place to
start for local information about Location and Site
protecting water quality in water Considerations…………………2
wells and creeks. Manure stored
in or adjacent to a watercourse Planning and
can result in the imposition of Roll off storage container. Design……………………….. 2-3
fines and penalties from regula-
tory agencies. Manure storage areas adjacent to streams, the Plantings Around
facilities should also be located water table may be high. Storing Manure Storage……………….4
outside of floodplains. However, manure in an area with a high
if site restrictions necessitate loca- water table could potentially con- Monitoring and
tion within a floodplain, the stor- taminate groundwater. Manure Maintenance…………………...4
age area should be protected from should be stored away from any
inundation or damage from a stream or well used as a source of References Cited…...………….5
storm or flood event. drinking water. The Water Qual-
ity Monitoring fact sheet in this
1
Location and Site Considerations
P roper location of the stor-
age site should take into
consideration such factors as
The goal is to keep the “clean
water” from becoming contami-
nated.
a base as they are likely to
drain nutrients away from the
manure storage site into the soil
access by equipment or indi- and/or groundwater. Any run-
viduals, site drainage, slope, Manure storage bins or piles off or leachate from the manure
soil and aesthetics. Contact the should be situated on a base of pile should be captured in a
local county planning depart- hard-packed, dry soil, or com- vegetated area, allowed to settle,
ment prior to siting or building pacted soil under a layer of and treated by the vegetation
a manure storage facility to see compacted gravel (or road base before it reaches a waterway or
if any regulations are in effect material) to limit downward other water body. Vegetation,
or if special conditions related percolation of leachate. The especially grass, around the
to construction or siting of a storage site can also have a base manure storage site can act as a
storage facility apply. Contact- of impervious material such as filter strip to effectively capture
ing a local horse or equestrian concrete or an impermeable contaminated runoff and help
organization may also prove liner can be used. The base trap manure particles.
helpful. should slope slightly so that
liquid draining from the pile Planting shrubs and trees
The manure storage area around the storage site can
should be located on a nearly block wind-borne particles
flat surface that is conveniently which may blow from the piles
located and accessible year- when manure is dry. Odors
round. Manure should be generated by the piles may also
stored in a location that is not be contained in the pile area if
subject to incoming flows of dense shrubbery is present
stormwater runoff. If situated downwind of the pile area.
at the base of a slope or hill the Proper location of the storage
runoff should be routed around site should take into considera-
and away from the storage tion such factors as visibility,
area, through use of drainage aesthetics, and compatibility
improvements, such as berms, Manure storage area. with existing ranch or farm
diversions or ditches. If the buildings and neighboring
storage area has a roof, the roof drains to the outside of the bin, residences. ☼
runoff should be drained away and then to a filter strip or
from the area via gutters and other vegetated areas (see plant-
pipelines to a protected outlet ings section). Moist, wet, or
away from the manure pile. loose soils should not be used as
Planning and Design
Manure Storage of bedding will dictate the size sized storage bin or in organ-
and type of storage needed for a ized piles in an appropriate lo-
A n important consideration facility. Plan to empty the ma-
in planning a manure stor- nure from the storage area and
age facility is storage size or properly dispose of or utilize it
cation. A manure storage area
may be entirely enclosed or on
all sides or three sides with con-
capacity. Approximately 144 at least twice a year, or as often crete or other wall material that
square feet (12’ x 12’) of con- as required. contains the waste.
fined storage space, at 3-5 feet Manure Composting
in depth, will hold a year's Piling up manure into stacks
worth of manure and bedding over 8-10 feet high can pose a
from one horse. The number of fire hazard when moisture lev-
horses, the number of days of els are low and air tempera-
T he guidelines and consid-
erations provided above
for developing a manure storage
storage desired (the storage pe- tures are high. Manure should area can also apply to a manure
riod), and the type and amount be contained in an adequately composting area, however a
(Continued on page 3)
2
(Continued from page 2)
composting area requires addi- The type of storage will dictate prevent leaching of nutrients,
tional space for equipment to the degree of control against bacteria and other potential
turn over and move manure odor, flies and potential to leach pollutants from the manure into
piles. Composting on a larger nutrients. For small 1-2 horse the ground or away from the
scale is normally undertaken by facilities, a metal or wood cov- storage site. That is, manure
stacking manure into long rows ered bin slightly elevated above needs to be contained within the
on a concrete or other similar the ground to reduce leaching, storage site. The containment
pad. Smaller amounts of mate- is an effective storage unit. The area should have a wooden,
rial can be composted in a ground under the storage con concrete block or reinforced con-
three-bin system in which mate- tainer may be covered with crete wall on three sides. A con-
rial is moved (and turned and wood chips or planted with crete surface and wall will help
mixed) from to bin to bin. grass to help collect escaping accomplish two key objectives.
manure particles and nutrients. 1) minimize seepage and
Effective manure storage units The bin should be covered to 2) provide a solid surface to
for small 1-5 horse facilities prevent precipitation from aid easy removal of manure
include: reaching the manure and help with a tractor, front end loader
• Plastic garbage cans with control odors. or other piece of suitable equip-
lids ment. Another advantage to
Manure composting bins for a solid walls is a reduction in
small horse facility can be con- dust and odor. Ideally, the area
structed of wood or cinder should be covered with a roof
blocks with space between the structure to prevent precipita-
slats or bricks to allow air cir- tion from reaching the storage
culation and aid decomposition. area. Manure storage areas
A rotating three-bin system al- should be accessible with heavy
lows the first bin to be filled, equipment so that loading and
then the second and finally the unloading of manure is conven-
third bin. By the time the third ient.
bin is being used, the material
in the first bin is ready for use The primary materials used in
Signs can be effective reminders of
in the garden. The bins should constructing structures for ma-
good manure management practices. be covered when the material nure storage should be pres-
has reached the optimal mois- sure-treated and/or rot resis-
• Wood or metal bins ture content - damp, like a tant wood and reinforced con-
• Small, movable dumpsters wrung out sponge. To speed up crete. Metal fasteners should be
the decomposition process, the stainless steel or galvanized to
Some effective storage units first bin, when full, may be reduce corrosion problems.
for larger facilities include: turned over into the second bin These materials are suitable for
• Wooden or concrete storage and watered. The second bin long-term exposure to animal
sheds will then be turned over, wa- waste with minimal deteriora-
• Composting system (see tered and rotated into the third tion. ☼
Manure Composting fact bin when the first bin fills
sheet), and again and requires moving into
• Storage in piles or wind the second bin. The first bin
rows covered in dark plas will always be the bin receiving
tic/breathable tarps to in fresh manure.
crease heating and prevent
leaching due to storm Larger facilities should have a
events. more permanent manure stor-
• Trucking containers (leave age structure. The area sur-
room for two containers so rounding the storage site should
truck has room to leave be graded or sloped to pre-
empty container and pick ventsurface and storm water
up the full one) from running over or through
• Bins covered with manure, potentially ending up Composting bin.
tarps/other cover in drainages, streams or other
surface waters. The surface of
3
Plantings Around Manure Storage Areas
I f the manure storage area is
subject to storm events result-
ing in runoff, a filter strip should
Drainage is an important consid-
eration when selecting a site for
planting to screen a manure stor-
coffeeberry may reach the height
of small trees- yet keep their lower
branches which is helpful in their
be planted or maintained adja- age facility. Will the plantings be maintaining effectiveness as a
cent to or around the perimeter of located where drainage from the screen. Evergreen plants that are
the facility to help collect manure manure piles or roof will collect? densely foliaged from top to bot-
particles carried by runoff. The Some native shrubs are sensitive tom may work best for screening
filter strip should be sized accord- to poorly drained soils. If the purposes. A row of shrubs can be
ing to both the area of the storage plantings will be situated on planted in front of a row of trees if
site and the maximum amount of slightly higher ground away from there is sufficient space for more
water anticipated from storm any flow path, there will be a complete screening and visual
events. Equestrians may wish to greater likelihood of native plants interest. For odor control, a
consult with their local Resource thriving. Providing irrigation wider planting may be necessary,
Conservation District prior to de- will be necessary for the first two and should consider wind shifts,
signing a filter strip. Dense years until plants become estab- direction, and intensity. Nursery
stands of grass work most effec- lished. The amount and charac- staff can provide appropriate
tively in filter strips to catch someteristics of runoff from the storage planting instructions given the
of the manure particles and or- area- whether liquid draining type of soils, drainage and irriga-
ganic material, and also utilize from the manure pile that will tion system. Alternatively, con-
nutrients carried by runoff from end up in the plantings or clean tact your local RCD for a list of
the manure pile. water from the roof of a storage native plant providers in your
facility - will make a difference in area. ☼
Shrubs and trees planted around the level of nutrients that are be-
the storage area that screen it ing provided to the plants.
from view may also help utilize
nutrients from runoff, block dust Native plants should be selected
blowing from the pile, and absorb that are appropriate for the soils,
odors. Using native vegetation climate, moisture regime, and
is recommended as it is generally exposure (amount of sun/shade)
more adaptable to growing in re- where they will be planted. Ask
mote locations with little mainte- for help at a local plant nursery
nance after plants are estab- that can recommend the most
lished. Native plants also pro- suitable plants that will serve the
vide habitat and will attract wild intended purposes, such as
birds and beneficial insects if they screening the manure storage
produce wildlife- friendly fruits, area, utilizing nutrients in the
seeds, nuts, berries, pollen and filter strip, or reducing the odors
nectar. The trees and shrubs leaving the pile. Don’t forget to
around a storage area not only consider the height and breadth
Trees and shrubs screen storage
benefit the environment, but will of trees when they reach maturity.
area from roadside view.
also improve the aesthetics of the Some varieties of native shrubs
site. such as toyon, ceanothus, and
Monitoring and Maintenance
V isual observation should
be made during the rainy
season to check whether any
runoff and prevent it from
reaching the pile. Piles can be
covered with tarps to prevent
worn or damaged equipment.
“Aged” manure should be prop-
leachate is leaving the manure them from becoming saturated. erly recycled or disposed accord-
pile and determine where the The moisture level of the ma- ing to local regulations. Records
liquid is going. If stormwater nure should be like that of a should be kept regarding the
and precipitation are reaching “wrung-out sponge”. amount of manure being stored
the storage pile, resulting in and used. Photos may be taken
nutrient-laden runoff leaving Improvements should be for each season of the year as a
the site, then efforts should be planned to create more storage means of documentation. ☼
made to divert the stormwater capacity if needed or replace
4
References Cited & Resources
The volume of manure produced daily has been estimated by various writers and researchers. The figures used
in this report do not include bedding. The figure used in this fact sheet corresponds with the figure use in the
Horse Keeping: A Guide to Land Management for Clean Water which was produced as part of a previous
319 grant by the CBARCD and other RCDs. The reference for the .75 cubic feet per day per 1000 lb. horse is:
Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook, 1985, Midwest Plan Service-18, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
• “Stable and Horse Management in Malibu Creek Watershed”, Santa Monica Resource Conservation District,
1997.
• “Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook”, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1992.
• “Good Neighbor Guide for Horse-Keeping: Manure Management”, New Hampshire Department of Environ-
mental Services.
• “Manure Management”, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, 1994.
• “NRCS Field Office Technical Guide”, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2000.
• Horse Keeping; a Guide to Land Management for Clean Water , Council of Bay Area RCDs, 2000
Fact Sheets developed by the Council of Bay Area RCDs (CBARCD) and available from your local RCD office:
Managing Manure: The Role of Riparian Buffers.
Equine Facility Site Assessment Checklist Available from the San Mateo County RCD
Composting Horse Manure, CBARCD, June, 2000
Horse Manure Management, CABRCD, June, 2000
Portable Backyard Garden, CBARCD, March, 1999
Photographic Monitoring, CBARCD, June, 2000
• RCD Websites: 1) Marin RCD and Southern Sonoma RCD - www.sonomamarinrcd.org
2) Alameda RCD - www.baysavers.org
3) San Mateo RCD - www.sanmateorcd.org ☼
The “Equine Facilities Assistance Program” is a grant funded project of the Council of Bay Area Resource
Conservation Districts, and the Alameda, Marin, San Mateo and Southern Sonoma RCD’s. The manure
management fact sheet series was produced with the assistance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS).
Funding for this project has been provided to the Council of Bay Area RCD’s in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
pursuant to Assistance Agreement No. C9-989697-00-0 and any amendments thereto which has been awarded to the State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB) for the implementation of California’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. The contents of this document do not
necessarily reflect the views and policies of the USEPA or the SWRCB, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute en-
5You can also read
