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Nitrogen requirements,,, 489.7 acres of farmed properties during th(O�mmer season and 50&65 acres during the winter season: Rotating crops at 450.7 summer/469.65 winter acres and almonds at 39.0 acres,all taking solids and I liquids: Corn silage(35T)-290 lbs. of nitrogen per crop: x 450.7 acres= I30,703 lbs.N Wheat silage- 175 lbs.of nitrogen per crop: x 469.65 acres= 82,189 lbs. N Almonds- 200 lbs.of nitrogen per crop: x 39.0 acres= 7,800 tbs.N Nitrogen required at these fields : 220,692 tbs.N Nitrogen balance: Nitrogen required at fields 220,692 tbs. N Nitrogen from liquids. 192,501 lbs.N Nitrogen shortage from liquids: 28,191 lbs.N Nitrogen from solids: 255,485 lbs.N Nitrogen in solid not required at disposal system: 227,294 Ibs,N Nitrogen Loading Conclusion: • The current farming operation is adequate to consume all the nitrogen contained in the liquids generated at the site. • As indicated in the calculations above,the remaining nitrogen that will be in liquids after storage losses in the flush lagoon and irrigation pond are fewer than the calculated nitrogen demand fi om the proposed farming acreage. f • The nitrogen balancing calculations indicate that the majority of the solids should be processed prior to applications to fields or removed from the site. + Considering that the ability to slow the leaching of nitrates through the soil profile,the application of organic materials to build the water holding capacity and tilth of the soils at the site is necessary.This posses a challenge to the agronomic management of the farms involved with this operation. • Composting of the manure solids will condition the solids prior to application to the farms. • Composting converts an organic waste material into a stable organic product by converting nitrogen from the unstable ammonia form to a more stable organic form. The end result is a product that is safer to use than raw organic material. • Composting can reduce the nitrate content of the solids due to anerobic bacterial activity. Anerobic activity will cause denitrification of nitrate to convert the nitrates to the gaseous form as nitrous j oxide or nitrogen gas during the composting process.This gas then escapes into the atmosphere. Considering that composting is an aerobic activity,anerobic activity can be controlled by simply turning the material to aerate it at the proper time which is the point at which aerobic bacterial activity has consumed all the available oxygen with in the mix. • Manure is more carbonaceous than commercial fertilizer and carbon is a common energy source to bacteria. Consequently,some denitrification will also take place in the soil naturally. • Compost is used primarily as a fertilizer supplement and soil conditioner. Compost improves soil structure and fertility.Nutrients in finished compost will be slowly released over a period of years, thus minimizing the risk of nitrate leaching and high nutrient concentrations in surface runoff. • A balanced liquids/solids application rates are favorable to the agronomical management of the soil because of the soil requiring organic materials to increase tilth,water intake rate,water retention capabilities and consequently,nitrate retention,capability. ®Western Design/David Avila 1999 � 4 16