Spatially explicit methodology for coordinated manure management in shared watersheds.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Water Resource Management

Background:

• Consolidated livestock production can negatively impact water quality.
• Agricultural phosphorus (P) loss from manure is a significant environmental concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a methodology for optimizing manure management to minimize P loss during winter application.
• To balance environmental goals (reducing P loss) with economic goals (minimizing transport costs).

Main Methods:

• Compiled spatial and non-spatial data on livestock, crops, soil, terrain, and hydrography.
• Classified fields by P-loss risk based on slope, soil type, and proximity to water.
• Developed an optimization model to determine optimal manure storage location, size, and transport strategy.

Main Results:

• The model identified optimal strategies for manure management considering environmental and economic factors.
• Analyzed scenarios for storage capacity, capital investment, and future production increases.
• Demonstrated the methodology in two Wisconsin HUC-10 subwatersheds.

Conclusions:

• The proposed optimization model provides a framework for sustainable livestock manure management.
• Informed decisions on manure storage and transportation can mitigate P loss and reduce costs.
• The methodology is adaptable to various management and production scenarios.