Manure and Compost Application for Corn Production: Yield and Economics

Abstract

Manure application for corn production has proven to be a cost-effective way to increase yield and improve soil physical and chemical characteristics. This research was conducted to compare the effects of raw beef cattle manure and composted manure application on corn yield and soil properties. The research was conducted over two growing seasons. The four treatments included a low rate compost (8,967 kg/ha), high rate compost (17,934 kg/ha), raw manure scraped from the feedyard surface (14,234 kg/ha) and inorganic fertilizer consisting of anhydrous ammonia and monoammonium phosphate. Supplemental N was added to the compost and manure treatments such that each treatment received 269 kg/ha N, assuming that 50% of the manure or compost N was available during the first year. Soil samples were collected prior to the experiment and at the completion of each growing season, and were analyzed for nutrients and other parameters. Corn yield was determined by handpicking a small area and by harvesting the whole plot with a combine. Whole plot corn yields average 11,860 kg/ha in year 1 and 7,100 kg/ha in year 2, with no statistically significant differences in yields among the four treatments for either year 1 (P=0.87) or year 2 (P=0.63). Differences in soil chemical characteristics were minimal after year 1, but in year 2 the high rate compost treatment had the highest nutrient concentrations with a P concentration 2.6 times higher than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. After year 2, soil P, K, Zn, and organic matter concentrations were higher in the compost and manure treatments than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Total fertilizer costs ranged from $110.95/ha for manure to $272.36/ha for the high rate compost application. Only the manure treatment had a yield per unit fertilizer cost higher than the inorganic fertilizer. Long term buildup of phosphorus may be an environmental concern with compost application. This research showed that equal corn yield was obtained when compost or manure were used as fertilizer, and that manure was more economical than inorganic fertilizers.