Consider the right source of manure or compost for field application

“There are several management considerations to make when deciding where and how to best utilize available manure and compost resources,” says Trevor Wallace, nutrient management specialist with the Alberta government.

Considering the right nutrient source (one of the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship) to use in a specific situation will optimize manure or compost use efficiency.

“If your farm only produces one type of manure, you don’t have the option of selecting different sources for different situations, but you can target the manure source you have to a situation that provides the greatest return from that manure. If you have access to multiple types of manure and compost, you have the opportunity to target the various sources to get the greatest benefit. To decide where best to utilize available sources of manure or compost, you need to know the nutrient contents and characteristics of the various manures or composts, the soil characteristics of the different fields and planned crop requirements.”