24 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | December 2023 tal impacts. In Manitoba, livestock manure application between Nov. 10 of one year and April 10 of the following year is prohibited. Such a strict regulation is primarily because that manure placed on top of frozen soils or snow during the winter is particularly vulnerable to loss during spring thaw. Farmers also need to consider factors like soil moisture levels and the likelihood of heavy rainfall after application. Applying manure during wet conditions can lead to nutrient runoff and environmental pollution. Challenge of using swine manure Although swine manure is a valuable on-farm nutrient source, there are challenges and environmental concerns associated with its use in agricultural production. Some of these challenges are: Nutrient variability: The nutrient content of swine manure can vary widely depending on the animal age and diet, housing system, and storage conditions. This variability can make it difficult to predict and control nutrient levels in manure. Transport: The liquid or solid swine manure generally contains low nutrient content per volume or unit weight, which limits the distance which manures can be transported economically. Water quality: Improper application of manure can result in nutrient leaching and runoff to groundwater and surface water bodies, causing pollution problems. Especially, increasing levels of P in a water body leads to the rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants, which can have detrimental effects on water quality and ecosystem health. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: Manure acts as emission source for both methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which has a 100-year global warming potential 28 and 265 times, respectively, compared to carbon dioxide. Methane is mainly produced during the enteric fermentation and manure storage, and N2O is mainly produced during the application stage as a fertilizer. I am an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba and have ongoing research on developing the optimal manure management practices to reduce GHG emissions from the storage and application periods of swine liquid manure. Pathogen contamination: Manure can carry pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can pose health risks to humans and contaminate crops if not properly managed and treated. Safe handling and application practices are crucial to mitigate this risk. BP SWINE RESEARCH XIAOPENG GAO Xiaopeng Gao is an assistant professor in soil fertility and agronomy in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba.
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