BMPs to Reduce Nutrient Loads in Delaware's Inland Bays

Recent research has shown the Inland Bays watershed has an excess of poultry manure for the cropland available. Agriculture is the largest land use in the Inland Bays and the largest source of nitrogen input into the Bays. Conservation tillage is one of the most widely used BMPs in the Inland Bays. Since erosion losses and direct surface runoff by overland flow are low in the Inland Bays watershed, nutrient management type BMPs need to be emphasized. Some of the important nutrient management BMPs include setting realistic yield goals, only applying enough nutrients to meet the crops needs, timing of application, manure analysis and calibration of manure spreaders. Alternative uses of poultry manure besides applying it to cropland must be found. Some of the potential alternative uses include using it as a fuel, as a feed for beef cattle, and using it in the horticulture industry after composting. If poultry manure was pelletized it would make it easier to handle and provide greater opportunities for alternative uses. Besides making an added value product out of the poultry manure other methods to reduce phosphorus transport include alteration of the feed to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the manure and adding alum.