Manure Separation + SDI-E: The Game Changing Strategy for Dairy Manure Management

Manure Separation + SDI-E: The Game-Changing Strategy for Dairy Manure Management 

How dairies are applying more effluent, cutting fertilizer costs, and reducing phosphorus overload. 
Featuring Daniel Olson – Forage Innovations
Recorded with NutraDrip at World Dairy Expo 

Manure isn’t the problem — nutrient balance is. 

Every dairy has manure.
But most dairies can’t use enough of it, because the nutrient profile of raw manure doesn’t match what a corn crop actually needs. 

“The nutrient analysis of dairy manure is not ideal for corn production.”
— Daniel Olson, Forage Innovations 

Corn for silage needs far more nitrogen (N) than phosphorus (P).
But dairy manure contains nearly equal amounts of each. 

That massive gap creates the nutrient bottleneck: 

• Farms hit their phosphorus limit first 

• But the crop still needs more nitrogen 

• Meaning the farm must buy commercial nitrogen fertilizer 

Meanwhile, manure still needs hauled… farther and farther away. 

The Fix: Manure Separation + Effluent Filtration (SDI-E) 

NutraDrip’s manure separation and filtration system removes 50–80% of the phosphorus from dairy manure effluent. 

“When we filter manure, we can cut phosphorus by 50–80%. That allows us to apply a lot more manure and increases the nitrogen going to the crop.”
— Daniel Olson 

What happens when phosphorus is removed? 

• Farms can apply more gallons per acre without exceeding P limits 

• Effluent becomes a near-perfect corn fertilizer (high N, low P) 

• Nitrogen needs are met through manure instead of purchased fertilizer 

• More manure stays close to the dairy 

How much more manure can dairies apply? 

Before separation, many farms max out around: 

~12,000 gallons/acre 

After removing ~70% of phosphorus: 

20,000+ gallons/acre is achievable 

This means: 

• Less commercial nitrogen purchased 

• More effluent delivered to the crop 

• Better nutrient efficiency 

The Hidden Cost Dairy Producers Can’t Ignore: Transportation 

Hauling manure is expensive.
Running tankers or trucks can cost multiple cents per gallon — which adds up fast. 

“When we compare hauling vs. dragline or SDI-E, it can be a $300–$400 per acre difference.”
— Daniel Olson 

With SDI-E (Subsurface Drip Irrigation with Effluent): 

• No tankers. 

• No compaction. 

• No waiting for the ground to dry. 

Effluent can be applied during the growing season, right into the root zone. 

The Result: Lower Input Costs + Higher ROI 

With manure separation, dairies get two products: 

1. Low-phosphorus liquid effluent

• Ideal for Netafim SDI-E, dragline, center pivots, or Rain-360 

• High nitrogen → replaces purchased fertilizer 

• Applied close to the dairy → reduces hauling cost 

2. Stackable solids

• Higher in phosphorus 

• Easier/cheaper to haul farther away 

• Useful on non-corn crops that need phosphorus 

“It makes your application circle a lot smaller.”
— Daniel Olson 

Why dairy producers are switching to SDI-E 

• Apply manure when the crop needs it 

• Reduce fertilizer costs 

• Improve nutrient-use efficiency 

• Reduce odor, runoff, and labor 

• Keep manure in your nutrient cycle, not the lagoon 

Watch the interview with Daniel Olson 

https://youtu.be/U0CO6A4XXHw?si=tOw__TJZexI01PjI 

Work with NutraDrip — the SDI-E experts 

NutraDrip designs full systems that: 

• Separate manure 

• Filter effluent 

• Apply ‘cleaned’ or filtered manure through subsurface drip irrigation 

Reduce hauling. Replace purchased nitrogen.
Get more value from every gallon of manure. 

Talk to an SDI-E specialist.
Learn more: www.nutradrip.com