Nitrogen and phosphorous are two nutrients that are managed to protect surface and ground water quality. Pictured is the spreading of manure to fertilize corn fields prior to planting.

Nitrogen leaching out of the root zone can enter subsurface drains and be transported directly to surface waters or leach to ground water. Nitrate above 10 parts per million in water is a health and environmental risk. Therefore, manure must be incorporated into the soil after it is spread.

Once corn is planted, using contour planting or planted perpendicular to the slope of the fields, a filter strip is planted using pasture grasses to buffer any excess nutrient run-off.

Pictured is harvesting the corn crop.

Shown are filter strips after corn has been harvested.

Pictured is a winter cover crop of rye grass to control erosion and run-off.

Compost from horse farms can be used as a soil amendment providing organic matter and nutrients. Composting manure on small horse farms can be part of an effort to better manage manure and reduce non-point sources of pollution (nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogens) to drainage basins. This diagram provides an overview of the composting process.

Manure can be composted in a pile such as that shown, provided it is turned regularly and precautions are taken to collect leachate from the pile and run-off due to rainfall.

Shown is an example of windrow composting. The Ryders Lane composting facility will be similar to this when it is completed spring 2010.

Compost should be turned on a regular basis to ensure adequate aeration of materials. This picture depicts a windrow compost twister in action.

Depicted in this and the following three pictures are examples of the reduction of waste volume during the composting process. Shown is straw and manure stall waste at the start of the composting process.

Straw and manure stall waste after 90 days of composting.

Temperature should be measured at least weekly. A temperature probe (thermometer with a 3–5 foot stem) should be placed in the center of the pile at different locations. Proper temperatures help reduce pathogens and intestinal parasites present in horse manure.

Struefex (pelleted straw bedding) and manure stall waste after 90 days of composting. Note the difference in reduction from the whole straw bedding shown previously.

A long term goal is to compost manure and use most of it as fertilizer on farm fields and to develop a plan for disposal of the remainder off farm. Rutgers University farms have a history of offering raw manure to the general public and for use on university research facilities. Plans are to market finished manure compost which can be sold in bulk or bagged.

Pictured is the informational sign for the manure storage facility. Proper manure storage is an essential link in a farm’s waste management plan. A good storage area serves as a buffer and reduces risks from surface run-off related to overspreading on farmland.

The former manure storage facility (pictured) was small, did not drain properly and resulted in overflow running down the laneway and contamination of nearby pastures. Amount of manure that could be stored was insufficient for the animal waste volume generated and had to be removed frequently.

The new manure storage facility is large enough to store manure for 17 stalled horses for 24 hours over 45 days.

The new manure storage facility slopes to permit drainage of water run-off from drainage holes in the back of the pit into a vegetative buffer.

The new manure storage facility is located further from the barn, resulting in a vegetative buffer which can be fenced off from animals. This buffer, composed of cool-season grasses to control and filter drainage, is located at the back of the storage area.

Drainage spaces in the back wall, along with the slope of the manure pit itself, permit run-off to proceed through the buffer. This prevents contamination of animal movement lanes and local waterways. Drain holes prevent rainfall from pooling in the pit. The slight slope of the pit floor channels all water through the holes.

Demonstration plots are situated on what was once an organic garden. Pictured is the site of the plots prior to planting.

Prior to plot establishment, a soil sample was collected for analysis by the Rutgers NJAES soil testing laboratory. Fertilizer and lime were applied according to soil test recommendations. Plots were measured (pictured) and three replications of each planting were established.

Pasture grasses were seeded in the fall with a broadcast seeder. Seed was lightly incorporated after planting. A fall seeding was chosen to reduce the amount of weed competition the new seedlings would face during establishment. Pictured are plots at the beginning of germination.

Pasture grasses chosen for inclusion in the demonstration plots were cool-season grasses adaptive to the climatic conditions of New Jersey and the Northeastern United States. Most growth occurs when temperatures are cool. Productivity decreases during hot summer months (pictured) where the variety of grasses is becoming evident.

Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue are commonly grown in New Jersey. Pictured is the completed plot which, if not maintained, will lose the purity of grasses planted. The Ryders Lane demonstration plots need to be reseeded in spring 2010.

Pictured is the informational sign for the rotational grazing system. The plan of action for pasture management is based on an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) approach. Integrated Crop Management establishes a diverse and comprehensive system to manage pastures on a field by field basis.

An ICM program designed to maintain productive pastures includes site-specific soil tests (pictured) to determine nutrient levels permitting customized fertilization plans.

Productive pastures result from the judicious use of herbicides and fertilizer; the application of which is based on soil tests. Pictured is the spreading of lime to adjust soil pH.

Pictured is diamond mesh fencing around pasture perimeters. Diamond mesh is the preferred fence because the mesh is small enough to prevent hooves from getting through, thus preventing injury. Fencing can be purchased in different heights and placed just above the ground to prevent outside intruders (e.g. children, dogs, etc.) from entering the pasture.

Around the perimeter and within the interior fencing, new gates have been installed. Gates have been chosen because: bottom mesh prevents hooves from getting through, thus preventing injury; the mesh and bars permit more stability and prevents standing on lower bars; and gates come in multiple sizes that can be tailored to farm needs.

Stress lots were designed as heavy-use areas, where hay feeders, shelter, and water are located (pictured). In extreme weather conditions horses can be maintained in stress lots to permit pasture recovery. Fields are monitored and rotated depending on weather conditions and pasture footing. Stocking density is adjusted as necessary.

The Ryders Lane rotational system utilizes a variety of fencing types to show horse farm owners what is available and the pros and cons of each. Four strands of narrow white electrical tape is pictured.

The rotational lane is used to help rotate horses through two of the rotational fields.

Another type of rotational grazing fencing available is four strands of ‘hot coat’ horse-friendly wire pictured.

Trenches were dug to the edge of the building at each down spout as shown. After the elevations of the trenches were checked, a base of stone was deposited on the bottom of the trench and pervious PVC pipe was laid on top of the stone. Down spouts were connected to the pervious PVC pipe in the trench.

Trenches were excavated with a back hoe by Equine Science Center staff.

Drainage system slope routes clean water out of the paddock and away from any horse waste.

The underdrain/infiltration trench keeps the paddock dry and is invisible.

Pictured is the informational sign detailing plans for storm water drainage in the back paddock. Stormwater management is a growing concern for equine facilities. Regulators are concerned that stormwater run-off carries nutrients and pathogens from these facilities to local streams and lakes.

Clean water runs through the paddock mixing with manure, carrying pollutants off site. Plans have been made to address this concern using methods described for the front paddock.

The lack of an effective management system for rooftop run-off may result in muddy paddocks. This poses a negative health implication for horses.

A rain garden is a shallow landscaped depression that is designed to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater run-off. This system uses native vegetation and planting media that is designed to infiltrate, thereby eliminating any threat of water pooling for more than two days.

The rain garden was designed to permit rain water from small storms to infiltrate the ground. Pictured is the construction of the rain garden in progress.

For the Ryders Lane farm, a 10 foot wide by 50 foot long rain garden was constructed and is shown completed. Laboratory experiments indicate that rain gardens are effective in removing nutrients, sediment, and pathogens.

System includes an underdrain that connects to the rooftop infiltration trench system (detailed previously). Pictured is the rain garden several weeks after planting.

Native shrubs and grasses were planted in this mix including inkberry holly, winterberry holly, Virginia sweetspire, Arrowwood viburnum, Soft rush and Switchgrass.

Several studies have shown that biofiltration swales along with weirs can significantly improve the quality of run-off. Swales are effective at increasing infiltration rates. Swales are designed with tall long-rooted native grasses to encourage infiltration. Infiltration rates increase with time of run-off exposure to the swale. Longer swale exposure results in an increased infiltration rate of run-off.

Equine facilities can be considered a source of non-point source pollution. As run-off travels over the surface of an equine facility, it collects soil, nutrients, and bacteria from the surface. Eventually, run-off is discharged from the site and may lead to a waterway. If not treated before it is discharged, run-off may discharge into a pond thereby threatening the health of the waterway.

Pictured is the start of bioswale construction in regards to the installation of a weir and culvert system.

After swales were re-graded, soil was seeded and erosion control matting was placed on side slopes to prevent erosion before vegetation developed.

After regrading, fabric was added, area was seeded, and allowed to grow before reintroducing animals.

Water running through the bioswale is monitored.

Pictured is the completed bioswale with diamond mesh fencing to prevent animal access to the vegetative buffer.