Corn Yield, Runoff, and Sediment Losses from Manure and Tillage Systems

Abstract

AbstractOne challenge in land application of manure is to maximize its benefit to crops without harming the environment. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of manure addition on corn yield, and sediment losses in snowmelt and rainfall runoff under moldboard plow (MP) and ridge tillage (RT) systems. Corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield and sediment losses in surface runoff after a one‐time spring application of (16.2 dry Mg ha−1) solid beef (Bos taurus) manure on a 12% slope Forman (fine‐loamy, mixed Udic Argiborolls)‐Buse (fine‐loamy, mixed Udorthentic Haploborolls) complex were measured from 1992 through 1994. In 1993, there was no effect of manure on grain yield irrespective of tillage because of high rainfall. Under average rainfall conditions in 1994, grain yield (10.2 Mg ha−1) in the manure RT treatment was 1.0, 0.9, and 0.7 Mg ha−1 greater than that in no‐manure RT, manure MP, and no‐manure MP treatments, respectively. Snowmelt runoff was not affected by manure application and it transported <0.1 Mg sediment ha−1. Manure reduced rainfall runoff by 10 mm in 1993 and 3.2 mm in 1994, which led to reduction in sediment loss of 2.5 and 0.2 Mg ha−1, respectively. The RT system resulted in lower rainfall runoff compared with the MP system for all 3 yr. Onetime manure application reduced rainfall runoff and associated sediment loss in both tillage systems. However, manure application was more effective in minimizing runoff and sediment losses during intense rainfall in the RT than in the MP system.