Glossary: Animal Manure Storage

These terms may help you make more accurate assessments when completing the Animal Manure Storage Fact/Worksheet. They may also help clarify some of the terms used.

Composting Facility: A facility for the biological decomposition and stabilization of manure organic material.

Concrete stave storage: A type of liquid-tight animal manure storage structure. Located on a concrete pad, it consists of concrete panels bound together with cables or bolts and sealed between panels.

Earthen basin or pond: Clay-lined manure storage facility constructed according to specific engineering standards. Not simply an excavation.

Engineering standards: Design and construction standards available at Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NCRS) or Cooperative Extension System (CES) offices. These standards may come from NRCS technical guides, state regulations, or land grant university engineering handbooks.

Filter strip: A gently sloping grass plot used to filter runoff from the livestock lot and some types of solid manure storage systems. Influent waste is distributed uniformly across the high end of the strip and allowed to flow down the slope. Nutrients and suspended material remaining in the runoff water are filtered through the grass, absorbed by the soil, and ultimately taken up by plants. Filter strips must be designed and sized to match the characteristics of the animal lot or storage system.

Glass-lined steel storage: A type of liquid-tight, above-ground animal waste storage structure. Located on a concrete pad, it consists of steel panels bolted together and coated inside and outside with glass to provide corrosion protection.

Manure storage pond: An impoundment made by excavation or earthfill for temporary storage of animal or other agricultural waste.

Manure treatment lagoon: An impoundment made by excavation or earthfill for biological
treatment of animal or other agricultural waste.

Nutrient management plan: A plan to manage the amount, form, placement, and timing of
applications of plant nutrients.

Poured concrete storage (manure tank): A type of liquid-tight animal manure storage structure. Located on a concrete pad, it consists of poured concrete reinforced with steel, and may be above ground or below ground.

Water table depth: Depth to the upper surface of ground water. This depth is sometimes indicated in the county soil survey, but varies from county to county. This information may be available from your well construction report or from hydrogeological reports and ground-water flow maps of your area. Your county Cooperative Extension System agent, NRCS specialist, or a local well driller may also be able to help you gather this information.

There are two types of water tables: (1) the water table typically noted in a well log as an indication of usable water supply; and (2) the seasonal high water table. The seasonal high water table is more important in regard to construction of animal manure storage facilities because it may present facility construction problems.