Solid and Liquid Cattle Manure Application in a Subarctic Soil: Bromegrass and Oat Production and Soil Properties

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in subarctic Alaska from 1999 to 2001 to determine the effect of liquid and solid cattle (Bos taurus) manure application rates on smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) biomass production, nutrient uptake, and soil properties. One‐time manure application of 100 and 200 kg N ha−1 was made in May 1999 in comparison with annual fertilizer application of 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1. In the first year, liquid manure at 100 and 200 kg N ha−1 generated 3036 and 4292 kg ha−1 smooth bromegrass biomass, respectively, statistically (p ≥ 0.05) similar to that of fertilizer application (3654 kg ha−1) at 200 kg N ha−1 but greater (p ≤ 0.05) than control (1572 kg ha−1). Similar results were found with oat. The 200 kg N ha−1 liquid manure application continued to benefit crop growth in the second and third years. Solid manure did not influence biomass production of either crop in most crop/year combinations. Cumulatively, in 3 yr, smooth bromegrass recovered 59% of nitrogen from liquid manure, compared with 37% by oat. Soil Mehlich 3–P accumulation was found in some liquid and solid manure treatments for both crops. High soil exchangeable K was found in 1999 after liquid manure application but declined over time. Our results suggest that 100 kg N ha−1 liquid manure can replace nitrogen fertilizer at a similar rate. Liquid cattle manure was better than solid cattle manure in promoting bromegrass and oat production.