Soil and Water
Soil and Water

Nutrient Mangament

Nutrient Mangament

Nutrient Management Planning

Kentucky Nutrient Management Planning Guidelines (KyNMP)

Nutrients are constantly cycling through farms. Nutrients come onto a farm in the form of feed, commercial fertilizers, manure, or compost, and they leave the farm with harvested crops, sold livestock, and off-site disposal of manure and other waste. Sometimes nutrients are even lost to the air, soil, or water. Nutrient management allows farmers to use nutrients (specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) wisely for optimal economic benefit with minimal impact on the environment.

Approximately 80 percent of nutrients fed to an animal passes through the gut and into its manure. If managed correctly, the nutrients and organic matter in this manure can be recycled to produce crops and save producers money. If managed incorrectly, manure can contribute to nonpoint source pollution that threatens water quality. One practice that reduces the impact of agriculture on natural resources is nutrient management planning, which involves monitoring and recording all aspects of soil fertility, manure sampling, and crop production so that air, soil, and water resources are not compromised.

KY Nutrient Management Planning Guidelines 

Nutrient Management in Kentucky

Tire Tanks for Watering Livestock | video

nutrient pics

Best Management Practices Resources

Extension Publications and Factsheets

Alternative Water Sources: Developing Springs for Livestock Publication

Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Filter Strips Factsheet

Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Grassed Waterways Factsheet

Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Managing Nutrients on the Farm to Protect Water Quality Factsheet

Best Management Practices for Water Quality: Riparian Buffer Factsheet

Composting Horse Muck Publication

Drinking Water Quality Standards for Cattle Publication

Determining Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting Operations in Kentucky: A Training Manual for Loggers Publication

Enhanced Vegetative Strips for Livestock Facilities Publication

Field Guide to Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting in Kentucky Publication

High Traffic Area Pads for Horses Publication

How to Close an Abandoned Well Publication 

Incentives for Fencing Streams Factsheet

Nutrient Management Concepts for Livestock Producers Publication

Kentucky Nutrient Management Planning Guidelines (KyNMP)

Pasture Feeding, Streamside Grazing, and the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan  Publication

Pervious Concrete as a Flooring Material for Horse Handling Areas Publication

Planting a Riparian Zone Publication

Practical BMPs for Watersheds Factsheet

Riparian Buffers: A Livestock Best Management Practice for Protecting Water Quality Publication

Sinkhole Management for Agricultural Producers Publication

Using Dry Lots to Conserve Pastures and Reduce Pollution Potential Publication

Using Weep Berms to Improve Water Quality Publication

Woodland Winter Feeding of Cattle: Water Quality Best Management Practices Publication


Additional Links

Kentucky Division of Conservation: Conservation Districts County Contact Information

Kentucky Division of Conservation: Agriculture Water Quality Act

Kentucky Master Logger Program

UK Field Guide to Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting in Kentucky

UK Kentucky Forest Practice Guidelines for Water Quality Management

Contact Information

Thomas Poe Cooper Building 730 Rose Street Lexington, KY 40546-0073