There’s no doubt about it - manure management can be a real drag. But as corn silage and fall crops begin to come off the fields, it’s important to apply manure in a timely manner to ensure adequate storage is available during the winter months.
One popular way to apply manure is by utilizing a dragline system. According to Leon Ressler, extension educator in agronomy at Pennsylvania State University, this method has been widely adopted by custom manure haulers over the years and offers a multitude of benefits. Some of these benefits include:
Lower Compaction
Hauling manure is a heavy job. During the spring and fall seasons, wet weather can sometimes force farmers to apply manure at times when soil conditions are not ideal, increasing the risk of soil compaction. Dragline systems, however, allow haulers to lessen their weight considerably.
“One of the major benefits of dragline use is the removal of a heavy manure tanker from the system,” Ressler says. “While many tankers have floatation tires, the weight of that equipment definitely is a compaction risk. Using a dragline for manure application reduces that risk.”
Increased Efficiency
As manure piles up, it can often take multiple trips to the farm before storage locations are emptied. But according to Ressler, dragline systems can help reduce trip frequency and improve road safety.
“Many operators have enough hose to pump manure as far as 3 miles from the manure storage location,” Ressler says. “A large pump at the storage is usually controlled by the operator in the application rig. Being able to pump manure over that distance enables the application unit to keep applying for long periods of time. This eliminates all the time in running a long distance back to the storage to refill the tank after each load. So, the amount of manure that can be applied in a short weather window is increased.”
An additional advantage of not running back to the storage location after each load is road safety. This is especially important in the more congested traffic areas and can eliminate the time lost in slow traffic congestion.
Lower Soil Disturbance
Typically, there are two kinds of application units used with a dragline. One option is a tool bar with multiple splatter plates. This allows for typical surface application. The other application method is manure incorporation, which can allow the hauler to inject manure directly into the soil.
“Many years of surface application can cause a build-up of very high phosphorus levels in the top inch or two of soil,” Ressler says. “This can lead to increased runoff of manure in surface waters. Today’s incorporation equipment enables injection of manure a few inches below the surface with very minimal soil disturbance. This captures most of the conservation benefits of no-till while reducing the environmental concerns caused by the build-up of phosphorus at the soil surface.”
