How does manure injection work?

Injection is when the manure is placed below the surface of the soil. It was developed to reduce odors and issues with ammonia gas losses. It is more expensive because it takes longer and requires more tractor horsepower and fuel. Knife injection is when vertical shanks, similar to knives, pull through the soil.

Why would manure be injected into the ground?

Injection allows for manure application to growing crops (grass, alfalfa, cover crops, etc.), and can be compatible with no-till. Injection may preserve more soil organic matter and soil structure as compared to tillage-based incorporation. It may also reduce manure transportation costs (labor and fuel).

How does manure injection differ from surface application?

A new study by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences shows that applying manure to crop fields by means of shallow disk injection into the soil rather than traditional surface broadcast significantly reduces estrogens in surface runoff.

How does manure injection affect the no till system?

In no-till, a critical factor is the amount of residue on the soil surface. Surface application of manure does not reduce residue and the manure itself contributes to residue on the surface, which can have a positive impact on soil erosion.

What are the benefits of no till manure?

No-till is a best management practice (BMP) that offers several benefits to water quality and crop production systems. When manure applications are made to no-till or pasture systems, surface application is the traditional method because incorporation by tillage is not possible.

Which is the best way to inject manure?

1. Disc injectors cut a slit in the ground, inject the manure, and then close the injection slit, causing a minimum of soil disturbance. 2. Chisel injectors cause more soil disturbance as they drag a vertical chisel through the soil and inject manure behind it.

What should the residue cover be for no till manure?

In most cases, the goal is to have at least 30 to 50 percent residue cover on the soil surface when the crop is established. Ammonia volatilization is often the No. 1 concern for the farmer in no-till manure management.