LAND DISPOSAL OF MANURE IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC

Abstract

The 1981 Census of Agriculture statistics was used to estimate manure production from livestock activities in Quebec. Only 10 of the subdivisions (1%) were found to have an improved farmland base that was inadequate to meet the total manure stocking rate (TMSR) regulation (i.e. 0.3 ha per animal unit (AU) of production). There were two areas, one near Granby in the Yamaska River basin and another near the outlet of the Chaudiere River, where there was a substantial number of adjoining subdivisions with TMSRs above 2.0 AU∙ha−1. Analysis of soil survey data indicated a greater potential for groundwater contamination in the Chaudiere than in the Yamaska high-density subdivisions. However, about 15% of animal manure production in Quebec was on farms which did not meet the land base requirement. Hog waste constituted about 83% and poultry waste 13% of the manure produced on farms with inadequate improved land. Key words: Water pollution, animal waste, non-point sources, manure applications