Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Value of animal manures: changes in perception

  • Chapter
Book cover Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops. Fertilizer or Waste?

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 30))

Abstract

The paper describes the development in the production and appreciation of animal manure in Western Europe, mainly in The Netherlands, during the last 100 years.

In the past, animal manure was highly valued as a source of plant nutrients. Animal manure can still be considered as such, the more so as its intrinsic value has risen due to higher soil fertility levels and the use of mineral additives in animal nutrition. The need for these nutrients has decreased, however, since mineral fertilizers have shown to be adequate substitutes.

In certain regions of Europe the amount of animal manure produced has increased greatly as a consequence of increasing livestock density, which has occurred mainly since 1950. However, the area planted with crops that are most responsive to organic-manure application has not increased proportionally. Therefore the perceived value of the available animal manure supply has decreased further.

In order to prevent detrimental effects on the environment a number of countries have restricted the use of animal manure. This may be a third reason for a less positive view of animal manure compared with earlier days.

It can be concluded that, depending on the degree of intensification, animal manures in Western Europe have turned from a precious resource into a waste product.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Anon (1949) Verslag over de landbouw in Nederland over 1942 t/m 1945. Verslagen en Mededelingen van het Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij en Voedselvoorziening 1, 244 pp. The Hague, The Netherlands: Staatsdrukkerij en Uitgeverijbedrijf

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anon (1954) Verslag over de landbouw in Nederland over 1952. Verslagen en Mededelingen van het Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij en Voedselvoorziening 1, 454 pp. The Hague, The Netherlands: Staatsdrukkerij en Uitgeverijbedrijf

    Google Scholar 

  3. Anon (1976) De produktie van dierlijke mest van 1950–1974. The Hague, The Netherlands: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek

    Google Scholar 

  4. Anon (1984) De produktie van dierlijke mest in 1982. The Hague, The Netherlands: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek

    Google Scholar 

  5. Breeuwsma A, Wosten J H M, Vleeshouwer J J, Slobbe A M van and Bouma J (1986) Derivation of land qualities to assess environmental problems from soil surveys. Soil Science Society of America Journal 50, 186–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Breimer T and Smilde K W (1986) De effecten van organische-mestdoseringen op de zware-metaalgehalten in de bouwvoor van akkerbouwgronden. In Themadag “Organische stof in de akkerbouw”. Themaboekje 7, pp 54–67. Lelystad, The Netherlands: Proefstation voor de Akkerbouw en Groenteteelt in de Vollegrond

    Google Scholar 

  7. Buchner A and Sturm H (1985) Gezielter düngen: intensiv-wirtschaftlich-umweltbezogen. Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany: DLG-Verlag

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cooke G W (1977) The roles of organic manure and soil organic matter in managing soils for higher crop yields. A review of the experimental evidence. Proceedings of the international Seminar ‘Management in intensive agriculture’ (Tokyo), pp 53–64. Tokyo, Japan: The Society of the Science of Soil and Manure

    Google Scholar 

  9. Daalen M van (1985) De ontwikkeling van de intensieve veehouderij. Cahiers Bio-weten-schappen en Maatschappij 10 (3), 14–23

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dijk T A van and Sturm H (1983) Fertiliser value of animal manures on the continent. Proceedings 220. London: The Fertiliser Society

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dilz K, Hag B A ten, Lammers H W and Lande Cremer L C N de la (1984) Fertilization of forage maize in the Netherlands. Netherlands Nitrogen Technical Bulletin 14, 1–25

    Google Scholar 

  12. Draisma M (1958) Cultivation and fertilisation of field crops as practiced in the Netherlands. Verslagen Landbouwkundige Onderzoekingen no. 64.9, 168 pp. The Hague, The Netherlands: Staatsdrukkerij en Uitgeverijbedrijf

    Google Scholar 

  13. Frissel M J (1977) Cycling of nutrients in agricultural ecosystems. Agro-ecosystems 4, 354 pp. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  14. Haan S de (1980) Einfluss von organischer Düngung auf das maximal erreichbare Ertragsniveau in langjährigen Niederländischen Feldversuchen. Landwirtschaftliche Forschung (Kongressband 1979) Sonderheft 36, 389–404

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hart M L’t (1950) Organische stof en grasland. Landbouwkundig Tijdschrift 62, 532–542

    Google Scholar 

  16. Henkens Ch H (1985) De problematiek van mestoverschotten. Meststoffen 3, 9–15

    Google Scholar 

  17. Heuveln B van (1985) Geschiedenis van de bemesting. Cahiers Bio-wetenschappen en Maatschappij 10 (3), 7–13

    Google Scholar 

  18. Janssen Th W (1985) Ammoniakproblemen in Nederland. Cahiers Bio-wetenschappen en Maatschappij 10 (3), 24–33

    Google Scholar 

  19. Johnston A E (1986) Soil organic matter, effects on soils and crops. Soil Use and Management 2 (3), 97–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Köhnlein J and Vetter H (1965) Die Wirkung des Stalldüngers auf Grünland. Zeitschrift für Acker- und Pflanzenbau 122 (1), 79–93

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kolenbrander G J (1972) Does leaching of fertilizers affect the quality of groundwater at the waterworks? Stikstof, Dutch Nitrogenous Fertilizer Review 15, 8–15

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kolenbrander G J (1981) Limits to the spreading of animal excrement on agricultural land. In Brogan J C, ed. Nitrogen losses and surface run-off, pp 443–468. The Hague, The Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr Junk

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kolenbrander G J (1982) Fertilisers and pollution. Transactions of the 12th international Congress of Soil science ‘Managing soil resources to meet the challenges to mankind’, panel discussion papers 5. Whither soil research, pp. 248–266. New Delhi: The Indian Society of Soil Science

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kolenbrander G J en Lande Cremer L C N de la (1967) Stalmest en gier. Waarde en mogelijkheden. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Veenman en Zonen

    Google Scholar 

  25. Koopmans J (1960) Survey of productivity level. 2. Fertilization of grassland as practised in the Netherlands. Verslagen Landbouwkundige Onderzoekingen no. 66.5, 112 pp. The Hague, The Netherlands: Staatsdrukkerij en Uitgeverijbedrijf

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kundler P (1982) De wichtigsten Aussagen der Dauerversuche zur Erhöhung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit. Tagungsberichte 205, pp 5–16. Berlin: Akademie für Landwirtschaftswissenschaften der DDR

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lande Cremer L C N de la (1978) Bewertung der Wirtschaftsdünger in der Niederlande. Bericht über das internationale Kolloquium “Düngeberatung” (Gumpenstein), pp 113–117. Gumpenstein, Austria: Bundesversuchsanstalt für alpenländischen Landwirtschaft

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lande Cremer L C N de la (1985) Long-term effects of farm slurries application in the Netherlands. In Williams J H, Guidi G and Hermite P 1’, eds. Long term effects of sewage sludge and farm slurries applications. Proceedings CEC-seminar (Pisa), pp 84–90. London: Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  29. Lande Cremer L C N de la (1986) Resteffecten, specifieke effecten, structuureffecten, nevenwerkingen, humus- en organische-stof-werkingen van organische bemestingen. In Themadag “Organische stof in de akkerbouw”. Themaboekje 7, pp 32–43. Lelystad, The Netherlands: Proefstation voor de Akkerbouw en Groenteteelt in de Vollegrond

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lehne I, Raue U, Barth F J and Fischer F (1973) Einfluss gestaffelter N-Gaben in Form von organischen und mineralischen Düngern sowie Beregnung auf Ertragshöhe und Qualität von einjährigen Weidelgras und Zuckerrüben. Archiv für Acker- und Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde 17, 935–947

    Google Scholar 

  31. Linton A H (1979) Report on the Dublin workshop on ‘Animal and human hazards associated with the utilisation of animal effluents’. In Hawkins J C, ed. Engineering problems with effluents from livestock, pp 3–22. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities

    Google Scholar 

  32. Meer H G van der, Thompson R B, Snijders P J M and Geurink J H (1987) Utilization of nitrogen from injected and surface-spread cattle slurry applied to grassland (this volume)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Neander E, Beneker G and Uphoff P (1978) Die Ausbringung tierischer Exkremente auf landwirtschaftlich genützten Flächen in der Gemeinschaft. 2. Charakterisierung der Regionen mit intensiver Tierhaltung. A. Bericht. Mitteilungen über Landwirtschaft 48. Brussels: Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften

    Google Scholar 

  34. Prins W H and Snijders P J M (1987) Negative effects of animal manure on grassland due to surface spreading and injection (this volume)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Riemsdijk W H van, Lexmond Th M, Enfield C G and Zee S E A T M van der (1987) Phosphorus and heavy metals: accumulation and consequences (this volume)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Schechtner G, Tunney H, Arnold G H and Keuning J A (1980) Positive and negative effects of cattle manure on grassland with special reference to high rates of application. In Prins W H and Arnold G H, eds. The role of nitrogen in intensive grassland production. Proceedings of the international Symposium of the European Grassland Federation (Wageningen), pp 77–93. Wageningen, The Netherlands: PUDOC

    Google Scholar 

  37. Scheltinga H M J (1970) Bio-industrie. Hoeveelheid, hoedanigheid, variatie en behande-ling der afvalstoffen. H2O 3 (22), 569–575

    Google Scholar 

  38. Schröder J and Dilz K (1987) Cattle slurry and farmyard manure as fertilizers for forage maize (this volume)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Sluijsmans C M J, Dijk T A van, Kolenbrander G J, Lande Cremer L C N de la, Smilde K W and Werkhoven CHE (1978) The spreading of animal excrement on utilized agricultural areas of the Community. 1. Scientific basis for the limitations of quantities and criteria for rules thereon. Information on Agriculture 47. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities

    Google Scholar 

  40. Sluijsmans C M J and Kolenbrander G J (1977) The significance of animal manure as a source of nitrogen in soils. Proceedings of the international Seminar ‘Management in intensive agriculture’ (Tokyo), pp 403–411. Tokyo, Japan: The Society of the Science of Soil and Manure

    Google Scholar 

  41. Snelders HAM (1985) De ontvangst van Liebig’s kunstmest in Nederland. Landbouw-kundig Tijdschrift 62, 532–542

    Google Scholar 

  42. Steenvoorden J H A M, Fonck H and Oosterom H P (1986) Losses of nitrogen from intensive grassland systems by leaching and surface run-off. In Meer H G van der, Ryden J C and Ennik G C, eds. Nitrogen fluxes in intensive grassland systems. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, Volume 23, pp 85–97. The Hague, The Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  43. Vanacker L (1981) Dierlijke mest: afval of grondstof? Ph.D. thesis. Gent, Belgium: Rijksuniversiteit

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wadman W P (1987) Effect of organic manure on crop yield in long-term field experiments. INTECOL-symposium, 4–6 June 1986, Ekenäs. Submitted for publication in the Intecol Bulletin

    Google Scholar 

  45. Wit C T de (1972) Food production: past, present and future. Stikstof, Dutch Nitrogenous Fertilizer Review 15, 68–80

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Soil Fertility, P.O. Box 30003, 9750 RA, Haren, The Netherlands

    W. P. Wadman, C. M. J. Sluijsmans & L. C. N. De La Lande Cremer

Authors
  1. W. P. Wadman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. M. J. Sluijsmans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. C. N. De La Lande Cremer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Agrobiological Research (CABO), Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. G. Van Der Meer  & G. C. Ennik  & 

  2. Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS), Woodthorne, Wolverhampton, UK

    R. J. Unwin

  3. Institute for Soil Fertility (IB), Haren, The Netherlands

    T. A. Van Dijk

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wadman, W.P., Sluijsmans, C.M.J., De La Lande Cremer, L.C.N. (1987). Value of animal manures: changes in perception. In: Van Der Meer, H.G., Unwin, R.J., Van Dijk, T.A., Ennik, G.C. (eds) Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops. Fertilizer or Waste?. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 30. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3659-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3659-1_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8137-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3659-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation