Safe Use of Manure and Effluent - A Technical Users Manual

Summary

Manure or "muck" is one of the world's oldest and most reliable commodities. It can be used to prevent land degradation and improve rural property returns and values. Effluent or waste water is a valuable source of water and nutrient. At times it requires careful management if it contains appreciable levels of 'salt'. Many farmers and graziers overlook the potential benefits of application of manure and effluent to their crops and pastures because the use and convenience of inorganic fertilisers has become common place. The manual covers the following topics:

Introduction
Characteristics of Manure
Characteristics of Effluent
The Soil-Plant and Soil Nutrient Management
Soils Just Ain't Soils
Effect of Manure on the Soil
Effects of Waste Water Application
Management Practices
Profiting from Manure and Effluent Use Important Notes, Hints and Tips
Beef cattle feedlot manure has a sustained release of nutrient and has a greater soil conditioning value than other manures.
Raw manure is variable in quality and price, ranging from $3 - $20 per tonne (wet).
Less salt in rati​​ons and drinking water means less salt in manure.
Composted manure is a higher quality product and value adds to the product with prices being $10 - $30 per tonne (wet). It has a stable C:N ratio and more P, K and S than raw manure.
Any soil with structural problems, whether it is clay or a sandy loam, will have improved water capture and retention with manure applications.
Increasing organic matter content in soil through the application of feedlot manures increases infiltration and water holding capacity and thus increases the proportion of rainfall that is captured by the soil-plant system.
Well structured clay soil are more resilient against soil structure decline caused by salinity and sodicity through effluent applications, however once an imbalance has occurred they will take the longest and incur the greatest cost to remediate.
Clean irrigation water should be used to supplement effluent irrigation.
A balance between manure nutrient and moisture content is essential in maximising your investment.