Sampling Dairy Manure and Compost for Nutrient Analysis

Amber Moore, Mario de Haro-Marti and Lide Chen
PNW 673 | Published July 2015, Reviewed 2023

Summary

This guide describes how to obtain a representative sample of stockpiled dairy manure or dairy compost, select a reliable manure or compost testing laboratory, determine which lab analyses are needed (including total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and solids), and estimate nutrient availability. It gives illustrated, step-by-step sampling instructions and equations for converting units from dry weight to as received and vice-versa.

About the authors

Mario de Haro-Marti
Extension educator
University of Idaho Extension
Lide Chen
Waste Management Engineer
University of Idaho Twin Falls Research and Extension Center

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