U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service scientists in Clay Center, Nebraska are conducting research that could lead to precision harvesting and precision application of manure to crop fields – while also controlling nutrient losses, gas emissions and odors. The scientists map manure distribution by towing a GPS-equipped conductivity meter over feedlot pans and cropland – estimating the amount and quality of manure on the feedlot surface. This is done by measuring the manure’s ability to conduct electricity.

Salt is an electricity conductor and is present in manure. By using their own program – the Electrical Conductivity Spatial Analysis Program – researchers are able to choose spots on feedlots to sample soils – enabling them to associate high soil conductivity levels with manure solids and chloride in salts found in manure. By using this technology – feedlot operators could recover valuable byproducts from the feedlot surface. More on this research can be found in the May-June 2011 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.