The timing of winter application of dairy manure and its placement within the snowpack affect nutrient loading to snowmelt runoff

Manure offers benefits beyond synthetic fertilizers by increasing soil organic carbon and soil water holding capacity, decreasing soil bulk density, and spurring microbial activity for better nutrient uptake by plants. Despite the benefits, there are some adverse effects to manure applications, most of which are only studied during the growing season. Winter manure applications require more research, especially with the increasingly unstable seasonality of freeze-thaw events and spring snowmelt from climate change. Minnesota does not ban winter manure applications for small farms or larger farms that only apply solid manure, making research on this topic critical. My research looks at 1) Whether the timing of winter manure application affects the nutrient content and loading in snowmelt runoff and 2) Whether the placement of manure within the snowpack influences nutrient dynamics and nutrient loss patterns in snowmelt. Research on this topic can better inform the best management practices of existing water quality and winter manure applications.