1. Goal and Objectives
Background Research Approach
The main goal of the project is to investigate the systematic effects of different scenarios of beef cattle
housing, manure management and crop production in the Northern Great Plains on nitrogen (N) and
phosphorus (P) losses and use efficiencies. The integrated analysis of beef cattle and crop production
systems will identify strategies for improved N and P cycling. The specific objectives are to:
1. Adapt and evaluate a process‐based model that estimates the fate of N and P for confined beef
cattle housing/manure management methods of the Northern Great Plains region, including
bedded manure pack and deep pit manure storage.
2. Adapt and evaluate a process‐based model that estimates the fate of N and P availability and
losses from land applied solid beef cattle manure (with and without bedding).
3. Evaluate housing, manure management and crop production scenarios for N and P fate and farm
profitability under variable climatic conditions.
Much of the cattle feeding capacity increase in the Northern Great Plains occurs in roofed or enclosed
facilities such as hoop barns, mono‐slope barns, and confinement barns with slatted (or slotted) floors
and under‐floor manure storage. As these housing systems increase in number, variations in manure,
bedding and overall management styles have emerged.
Northern Great Plains producers tend to be both livestock and crop producers – with integration of the
two production systems intertwined in time, money and nutrient cycling. The ongoing integration of
livestock and crop production means that impacts of management decisions and changes need to be
understood and sustainable at multiple levels.
Process-based Nutrient Modeling of Integrated Beef Cattle Finishing and
Crop Production Systems in the Northern Great Plains
USDA Project 2015‐67020‐23453
Land Application Study
A two‐year plot‐scale study of the land application of solid beef cattle manure, with
and without bedding, on corn production and nutrient movement. Similar plots,
treatments and procedures are followed at three sites: Fargo, ND (Lucustrine
deposits), Brookings, SD (Glacial till) and Clay Center, NE (Loess)
Treatments: Manure only, Manure with Bedding, Urea Only, No Fertilizer; treatments
are replicated four times at each site
Measured Variables: Soil, leaf/grain, soil water, ammonia flux, greenhouse gas flux
and weather data are collected multiple times during the growing season.
Timeline: Fall 2015 through Fall 2017
Dr. Erin Cortus Dr. Joe Darrington
Mr. Scott Cortus Mr. Mukesh Mehata
Dr. Mindy Spiehs Dr. Al Rotz Dr. David Parker
Dr. Bryan Woodbury Mr. Al Kruger Mr. Todd Boman
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman Dr. Amitava Chatterjee
Mr. Suresh Niraula
In‐Barn Manure Storage Emission Study
A three‐year barn‐scale study of manure emissions and barn environment
parameters.
Treatments: Deep pit liquid manure storage, Bedded pack solid manure
storage; Storage in barn and multiple pens within two barns for each storage
type will be sampled over two years.
Measured Variables: Environmental conditions (temperature, relative
humidity, airflow), gas concentrations, manure, and weather data will be
collected during summer and winter conditions.
Timeline: Winter 2015 through Fall 2018
Integrated Farm System Model
Evaluation and Application
New and existing data will be used to evaluate and refine the
process‐based Integrated Farm System Model (Rotz et al.
2012). The model will then be used to investigate the
variability of beef cattle housing, manure application and
crop production scenarios for projected climatic conditions.
Datasets: Lab‐scale bedded pack manure characteristics and
emissions, Barn‐scale emission data from mono‐slope
bedded manure pack barns, Land application study data, and
In‐Barn manure storage emission study data
Timeline: Fall 2016 through Fall 2018
Highlights and Outcomes
• Interdisciplinary team incorporates agricultural engineering, soil science, animal science and
laboratory management expertise to generate a wider array of resources, techniques and experiences
when developing experimental methods, and as a check that plant, environmental and animal well‐
being conditions are simultaneously considered throughout the project.
• Process‐based modeling allows transference of research in transformations in beef and corn
production systems for this region to housing systems for other species (dairy barns, swine hoop
barns, open‐lot facilities) and other grain production systems.
• The long‐term outcome from this work will be sustainable livestock production through improved
understanding and efficiency in the transformation and use of nutrients.
Producer cooperation for on‐farm data collection and model evaluation and application is greatly appreciated.
Additional thanks to other students and staff assisting with the project.
Rotz et al. 2012.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=8519