United States
Department of Part 651
Agriculture
Agricultural Waste Management
Natural
Resources Field Handbook
Conservation
Service
Chapter 15 Computer Software and
Models
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
Chapter 15 Computer Software and Models Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook
Issued August 2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
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disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental
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1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call (800)
795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
Acknowledgments
Chapter 15 was prepared by the NRCS under the direction of Noller Her-
bert, director, Conservation Engineering Division (CED), Washington, DC.
Revisions to the chapter were provided by Charles Zuller, environmental
engineer, West National Technology Support Center (WNTCS), Portland,
Oregon. It was reviewed by William Boyd, Manure Management Team
Leader, Jeffrey Porter, environmental engineer, Manure Management
Team, and Bill Reck, environmental engineer, ENTSC, Greensboro, North
Carolina; John Davis, natural resources specialist, Ecological Sciences
Division, Washington, DC; Chris Gross, nutrient management specialist,
Water Quality and Quantity Development Team, Beltsville, Maryland; Che-
rie Lafleur, environmental engineer, Central National Technology Support
Team, Fort Worth, Texas; and Harbans Lal, environmental engineer, Water
Quality and Quantity Development Team, WNTCS, Portland, Oregon. It was
finalized under the guidance of Darren Hickman, national environmental
engineer, CED, Washington, DC. The editing and publication formatting
were provided by Lynn Owens, editor, and Suzi Self, editorial assistant,
Fort Worth, Texas.
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010) 15–i
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15–ii (210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
Chapter 15 Computer Software and Models
Contents 651.1500 Introduction 15–1
651.1501 Planning software 15–1
651.1502 Animal waste management design software 15–2
651.1503 Site modeling software 15–2
651.1504 Nutrient management software 15–3
651.1505 Site assessment software 15–4
651.1506 References 15–6
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010) 15–iii
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15–iv (210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
Chapter 15 Computer Software and Models
651.1500 Introduction 651.1501 Planning software
The planning and design of an Agricultural Waste Customer Service Toolkit (CST) is the primary conser-
Management System (AWMS) requires an evaluation of vation planning tool used by the NRCS, conservation
alternative approaches in addressing an environmental districts, and technical service providers (TSP). CST
concern. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is used for conservation planning and design, layout,
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses and evaluation of approved conservation practices.
computer software to speed and enhance this process. With CST, the user can create and check in customer
The software includes several nutrient assessment data to the National Conservation Planning Database
models and a component design program. This chapter (NCPDB) and also check out customer data from the
of the Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook NCPDB. In addition, the customer data is made avail-
(AWMFH) provides a brief description of available able to the Performance Reporting System (PRS).
computer software and reference material.
TSPs have an important role in the conservation plan-
ning process. With proper permissions, TSPs have
access to the CST and NCPDB data via the Conserva-
tion Transaction Plug In Tool. Further information
and guidance on the TSP certification process can be
found at [Link]
Within the CST application resides a front-end ESRI®
ArcGIS®1 interface to geo-reference and digitize farm-
ing/ranching operations, fields, conservation practices,
and other needed features. The ArcGIS application
consists of a table of contents that contains the lay-
ers that may be displayed in the View. A menu bar and
toolbars comprise the graphical user interface. Several
pop-up menus are available using a right-mouse click
to assist in planning.
1 ESRI and ArcGIS are trademarks, registered trademarks, or
service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Com-
munity, or certain other jurisdictions.
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010) 15–1
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651.1502 Animal waste 651.1503 Site modeling
management design software software
Animal Waste Management (AWM) software is a plan- The Soil-Plant-Air-Water (SPAW) Field and Pond
ning and design tool, providing assistance with the Hydrology Model is a software tool developed by the
calculations associated with manure management USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to perform
systems. Using estimated daily production of manure, a one-dimensional water budget on agricultural fields
bedding, and process water, it supports the design of using daily values. It can evaluate AWM designs by
lagoons, storage ponds, storage tanks, and stacking examining in detail how runoff and other inputs affect
facilities. The procedures and calculations used in the resulting pond volumes. While this tool is fairly
AWM are based on information from the AWMFH and complex, it is ideally suited for special studies and
use average monthly precipitation and evaporation evaluations where daily values are preferred over aver-
data. The program also supports the design of anaero- age monthly values. The performance of wastewater
bic and aerobic lagoons with multiple cells and oper- storage systems are modeled by SPAW using a water
ated either alone or in combination with other manure budget in the vertical dimension to simulate runoff,
storage facilities. Options for anaerobic lagoon design infiltration, evapotranspiration, percolation, and the
include the AWMFH procedure and Clyde Barth’s Ra- water content of the soil profile. Including manure
tional Method (Barth 1985). The program also allows and process water inputs along with periodic pump-
the user to print preconfigured design and/or opera- ing data allows the program to estimate the effects of
tion and maintenance reports. Customized reports can management upon a given storage system.
be generated by using design variables imbedded in
the report templates. Since the release of Version 2.4,
AWM has the added capability of evaluating existing
storage structures.
AWM also includes Manure Master, a simplified tool
used to estimate the amount of cropland that will
be needed for the nutrients produced by an animal
feeding operation. Manure Master computes a gross
nutrient balance between the nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium content in the manure and the quantity
of these nutrients used by crops. This balance can be
calculated based upon recommended fertilizer ap-
plication rates when known or upon estimated plant
nutrient content when recommended fertilizer applica-
tion rates are not known. For nitrogen, the balance is
calculated taking into account expected losses from
leaching, denitrification, and volatilization. Manure
Master does not track mass or concentration of nutri-
ents for determining land application rates or for other
utilization components; therefore, Manure Master is
not a sufficient nutrient management tool for produc-
ing a nutrient plan that will comply with the criteria in
NRCS National Conservation Practice Standard (CPS)
Code 590, Nutrient Management.
15–2 (210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
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• Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version
651.1504 Nutrient management 2 (RUSLE2) database that contains crop man-
agement zone, climate, and soils data required
software by RUSLE2 for the farm. The clipping feature
automatically creates a RUSLE2 database for
Manure Management Planner© 2 (MMP) is a the farm’s area that can be used with MMP.
Windows®3-based computer program, developed at
Purdue University, used for development of nutrient The Geospatial Nutrient Tool (GNT), developed by the
management plans CPS Code 590 and Comprehensive NRCS in cooperation with the University of Missouri,
Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) for crop and ani- is the spatial front end for NRCS conservation
mal feeding operations. The user enters information planners and used prior to streaming data to MMP.
about the operation’s fields, crops, storage, animals, Its primary purpose is to enable NRCS planners to
and application equipment. MMP streamlines the allo- download previously accomplished work contained
cation process of both organic and inorganic nutrients in the CST software. GNT operates as a toolbar
(where, when, and how much) on a monthly basis for within the CST application and runs in the ArcGIS 9.x
the length of the plan (1–10 years). This allocation pro- environment. NRCS planners can access a customer’s
cess helps determine if the current operation has suf- folder, produce or modify maps, and push the data
ficient crop acreage, seasonal land availability, manure to MMP to expedite development of an NRCS CNMP
storage capacity, and application equipment to manage document. GNT includes the National Setbacks
the manure produced in an environmentally responsi- Database to provide access to manure setback
ble manner. MMP is also useful for identifying changes
requirements for the states currently supported by
that may be needed for a nonsustainable operation to
MMP. More States will be added as the MMP rollout to
become sustainable and determining what changes
States continues. The tool is used primarily by nutrient
may be needed to keep an operation sustainable if the
management planners. Further information on GNT
operation expands.
is available at [Link]
Further information on MMP is available at http:// W2Q/nutr/[Link].
[Link]/mmp. More information on the
CNMP development process is available in the CNMP Conservation planners can also digitize operations
Field Handbook available at [Link] that have not been digitized yet and also refine field
[Link]/[Link]?hid=25650. features for farming operations that have already been
digitized. Larger fields that are adequate for conserva-
Base data for nutrient management planning is avail- tion planning purposes generally need to be divided
able from various locations and entities. To streamline into subfields for nutrient management planning
this process and make it user friendly, the University purposes. In addition, there is a field setbacks tab that
of Missouri developed a data finder routine available steps the user through various voluntary and regula-
to the public for download. Please note that the need- tory setbacks regarding nutrient (generally manure)
ed data can be pulled from other sources, as long as applications. These setbacks are important when de-
the data are authenticated. termining “spreadable acres” for manure applications,
and developing a farm nutrient balance.
• University of Missouri National Data Finder
Web site located at [Link]
TSPs and other private industry individuals currently
[Link]/software/national_data.asp.
The clipped download zip file contains the do not have access to the GNT. However, with the
following base data: landowner’s permission and NRCS authorization, TSPs
can be granted access to NRCS client information
– Aerial photograph of the farm using the Conservation Transaction Plug In Tool and
– Topographic map of the farm use the client data in their own software to make nutri-
– Digitized soil survey layer for the farm ent management and CNMP changes. Changes made
can also be uploaded back to the NRCS CST for NRCS
2 MMP is copyrighted by the Purdue Research Foundation. usage.
3 Microsoft, Encarta, MSN, and Windows are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010) 15–3
Chapter 15 Computer Software and Models Part 651
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The National Setbacks Database was developed by
the University of Missouri in cooperation with the 651.1505 Site assessment
NRCS. The software is Windows®-driven, offered free
of charge, and available at [Link] software
edu/software/[Link]. The site currently provides
access to manure setback requirements by categories The Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package
established by each individual State, e.g., regulatory, (NLEAP) is a field-scale computer model developed
NRCS, and other State-setback options. At present, to provide a rapid and efficient method of determining
setback requirements are furnished for the 34 States potential nitrate leaching associated with agricultural
currently supported by MMP. More States will be practices at a given location. It combines basic infor-
added as the MMP rollout to States continues. The tool mation concerning on-farm management practices,
is used primarily by nutrient management planners. soils, and climate and then translates the results into
projected nitrogen budgets and nitrate leaching below
AFOPro© 4 is a standalone nutrient management plan- the root zone and to groundwater supplies and esti-
ning tool with optional connections to geographic in- mates the potential offsite effects of leaching.
formation systems (GIS) such as ESRI ArcMap™ and
ArcView®, and the NRCS’s AWM (ver. 2.0.2 or higher) The screening procedure uses a simplified annual
engineering software5. The application allows the user water and nitrogen budget and is designed to give
to plan manure and commercial fertilizer allocation only a general estimate of potential leaching of nitrate.
decisions in compliance with CPS Code 590, which The monthly budget analysis calculates leaching with
requires the documentation of form, source, timing, consideration for the seasonal and monthly effects of
method, and placement of nutrients. The design of the precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and
application is open, transparent, and flexible, enabling farm management. The event-by-event analysis pro-
it to be adapted to specific State crop removals, nutri- vides the best estimate of nitrate leaching. Its water
ent risk ratings, and nitrogen accounting requirements. and nitrogen budgets track the impacts of each pre-
Additionally, the application uses modular Phosphorus cipitation, irrigation, fertilization, and tillage event on
Indices (PI), State-specific fertility recommendations potential nitrate leaching. The event-based procedure
and State-specific CNMP templates. is recommended for analysis of potential nitrate leach-
ing to domestic water supply. NLEAP can be operated
The Idaho OnePlan Nutrient Management Planner© 6 alone or in conjunction with a GIS system.
provides data and software to help growers develop a
single conservation farm plan that can be pre-endorsed The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender7
by interested agencies, streamlining and simplifying (APEX) model was developed by USDA Agricultural
the regulatory process for animal feeding operations. Research Service (ARS) and Texas A&M University
Several States use OnePlan for CNMP creation and of- for use in whole farm/small watershed management.
fer training on its use. The model was constructed to evaluate various land
management strategies considering sustainability,
4 AFOPro is intellectually copyrighted by the University of South erosion (wind, sheet, and channel), economics, wa-
Carolina Research Foundation (USCRF# 00354).
5 ESRI, ArcMap, and ArcView are trademarks, registered trade-
ter supply and quality, soil quality, plant competition,
marks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the Euro- weather, and pests. Management capabilities include
pean Community, or certain other jurisdictions. irrigation, drainage, furrow diking, buffer strips, ter-
6 OnePlan is copyrighted by the University of Idaho.
races, waterways, fertilization, manure management,
lagoons, reservoirs, crop rotation and selection, pesti-
cide application, grazing, and tillage. Besides the farm
management functions, APEX can be used in evaluat-
ing the effects of global climate/CO2 changes; design-
ing environmentally safe, and economical landfill sites;
designing biomass production systems for energy; and
other spin-off applications. The model operates on a
7 Blackland Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University
([Link]
15–4 (210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)
Chapter 15 Computer Software and Models Part 651
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daily time step and is capable of simulating hundreds pesticide model is used to estimate pesticide fate
of years if necessary. Farms may be subdivided into considering runoff, leaching, sediment transport and
fields, soil types, landscape positions, or any other de- decay. Because of routing and subdividing there is no
sirable configuration. Currently, APEX is not directly limit on watershed size. However, a practical limit may
integrated with a GIS. be about 965 square miles (2,500 km2) because of the
detailed crop/management system of APEX. APEX has
The individual field simulation component of APEX is its own data bases for weather simulation, soils, crops,
taken from the Erosion/Productivity Impact Calculator tillage, fertilizer, and pesticides.
(EPIC) model, developed by the USDA ARS. The drain-
age area considered by EPIC is generally a field-sized The PI is a site vulnerability assessment tool to help
area, up to 247 acres (100 ha), where weather, soils, determine the relative risk for offsite transport of
and management systems are assumed to be homo- phosphorus and manure. The PI is a useful tool for pri-
geneous. The major components in EPIC are weather oritizing fields for the application of animal manure or
simulation, hydrology, erosion-sedimentation, nutrient other organic by-products that contains phosphorus.
cycling, pesticide fate, plant growth, soil temperature, It may also be used to identify fields on which more
tillage, economics, and plant environment control. careful management of phosphorus may be necessary
Although EPIC operates on a daily time step, the op- by assessing the various landforms and management
tional Green and Ampt infiltration equation simulates practices for potential risk of phosphorus movement
rainfall excess rates at shorter time intervals (0.1 h). to water bodies. The ranking of PI identifies sites
The model offers options for simulating several other where the risk of phosphorus movement may be rela-
processes including five potential evapo-transpiration tively higher than that of other sites. Corrective soil
(PET) equations, six erosion/sediment yield equations, and water conservation practices and management
and two peak runoff rate equations. EPIC can be used techniques can then be used to reduce the potential
to compare management systems and their effects on for movement of phosphorus and reduce the concern
nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides and sediment. The for excessive phosphorus enrichment. Each State may
management components that can be changed are modify the PI, based on local criteria.
crop rotations, tillage operations, irrigation schedul-
ing, drainage, furrow diking, liming, grazing, tree
pruning, thinning, and harvest, manure handling, and
nutrient and pesticide application rates and timing.
The APEX model was developed to extend the EPIC
model capabilities to whole farms and small water-
sheds. In addition to the EPIC functions, APEX has
components for routing water, sediment, nutrients,
and pesticides across complex landscapes and chan-
nel systems to the watershed outlet. APEX also has
groundwater and reservoir components. A watershed
can be subdivided as much as necessary to assure that
each subarea is relatively homogeneous in terms of
soil, land use, management, etc. The routing mecha-
nisms provide for evaluation of interactions between
subareas involving surface runoff, return flow, sedi-
ment deposition and degradation, nutrient transport,
and groundwater flow. Water quality in terms of
nitrogen (ammonium, nitrate, and organic), phospho-
rus (soluble and adsorbed/mineral and organic), and
pesticides concentrations may be estimated for each
subarea and at the watershed outlet. Commercial fer-
tilizer or manure may be applied at any rate and depth
on specified dates or automatically. The GLEAMS
(210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010) 15–5
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651.1506 References
Barth, C.L. 1985. The rational design standard for an-
aerobic livestock waste lagoons. In Agricultural
Waste Utilization and Management. Proceedings
of the Fifth International Symposium on Agricul-
tural Wastes. ASAE. St. Joseph, MI.
Purdue University. Manure Management Planner
(MMP). Agronomy Department. West Lafayette,
IN.
University of Idaho. Idaho OnePlan Nutrient Manage-
ment Planner. Moscow, ID.
University of South Carolina Research Foundation.
AFOPro. Columbia, SC.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service. Soil-Plant-Air-Water (SPAW) model.
Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Animal Waste Manage-
ment. Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Customer Service Toolkit.
Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service. 2010. National Engineer-
ing Handbook, Part 637, Chapter 2, Composting.
Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service. 2010. National Engineer-
ing Handbook, Part 637, Chapter 3, Constructed
Wetlands. Washington, DC.
15–6 (210–VI–AWMFH, Amend. 38, August 2010)