Written collaboratively by Azar Movaghatian, Sushant Mehan, John McMaine, Pavan Kulkarni, Anthony Bly, Robert Thaler, Sara Bauder, John Maursetter and Peter Sexton.
Swine manure has long been a reliable nutrient source for corn and other crops across South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains. When managed well, it supplies nitrogen, improves soil structure, and reduces fertilizer costs. When managed poorly, it can become a major source of nitrate loss to groundwater and surface waters.
This fact sheet explains how nitrate leaching occurs, why swine manure increases risk under certain conditions, and what producers can do to keep nitrogen where crops can use it.
