Potomac Interagency Water Quality Office Fact
Sheet
129 Main Street, Moorefield, West Virginia 26836
Phone: (304)538-7581
Andy Walker, West Virginia Soil Conservation
Agency
Ken Haid, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Tom Basden, West Virginia University Extension Service July 1995
Correct litter application rates are important for maintaining desirable forage and crop yields. Over application of litter or other composted materials my adversely affect yields and can cause an increase in undesirable weed species. Misapplication also may contribute to imbalances in soil nutrients and will negatively impact quality of surface and groundwater.
Conventional box spreaders typically are designed for use with cattle and diary manures at application rates of 8 to 10 tons per acre. Their effectiveness is reduced when poultry litter is applied at recommended agronomic rates of 1 to 4 tons per acre.
This box spreader modification will enable farmers to reduce application rates significantly on crop and grassland at a reasonably low cost. Spreader calibration is necessary to determine actual application rate for a particular spreader after the modification is installed. Litter nutrient analysis is recommended so that producers can more closely match application rates to their specific crop of forage needs.
The modification will allow most spreaders to reduce litter application rates by 60-70 percent and also will provide additional spreader capacity. This modification can be removed easily wen a producer wants to apply other livestock manures. When treated lumber is used for a 200-bushel capacity box spreader, materials will cost about $135. Although using chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated lumber is not required, it would be the most desirable for constructing a modification that will last longer.
The Potomac Interagency Water Quality Office wished to credit Loring Barr, broiler producer and cattleman from Rig, W.Va., who initially designed the modification. Thanks are extended to Art Selders and staff of West Virginia University Extension Service for their assistance in preparing the design drawing. Thanks also go to the Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District for financial assistance in the construction and installation of modifications for farm demonstrations within the district.
Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, handicap, religion, age or national origin. Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, West Virginia University and the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperating. Rachel B. Tompkins, Director, Morgantown, West Virginia. Published in Furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
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