Rates Of Cattle Manure Research Articles

FERTILITY PROPERTIES AND LEAFY VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN SOILS FERTILIZED WITH CATTLE MANURE

ABSTRACT The effect of organic fertilization with cattle manure on fertility properties of soils with different clay contents was evaluated; as well as the influence of cattle manure fertilization on the production of lettuce, and on subsequent arugula and common chicory grown in these soils. The experiment with pot plants was arranged in randomized blocks and analyzed in a 3x6 factorial design with four replications. The treatments consisted of three soil types with different clay contents (166; 362; 565 g kg-1) and six cattle manure rates (0; 10; 20; 40; 80, and 160 t ha-1). Batches of each soil were manured, limed, filled in pots, moistened, and incubated for 30 days. Then, mineral base fertilization was applied and one lettuce seedling per each pot was grown. After lettuce harvest, the residual effect of organic fertilization was assessed in two subsequent crops, first arugula and then common chicory. The application of up to 160 t ha-1 cattle manure reduces soil acidity and increases nutrient contents, particularly of P, K and Zn, in soils with 165 to 565 g kg-1 clay content. Fertilization with cattle manure at rates of up to 160 t ha-1 increases electrical conductivity of soils, without affecting growth and yield of the leafy vegetables. Cattle manuring increases the yield of lettuce, as well as of arugula and common chicory grown afterwards.

Effect of different poultry and cattle manure rates on yield and yield components of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.), cv. Sante.

The present field experiment was carried out at Qaragol research station in Sulaimani governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan region which lies between (45o 37- 18 E east longitude, and 35o 21- N north latitude) and is 552 m above sea level during spring growing season from 25/2/2014 to 3/6/2014 to study the effect of adding different poultry and cattle manure rates on vegetative growth characters and yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum), cv. Sante. Ten-treatments were used in a randomized complete block design, in 30 experimental units with three replications as follow: [(control), (10, 20, 30-ton cattle/ha), (5, 10, 15-ton poultry/ha), and (10 + 5, 20 + 10, and 30 + 15-ton cattle + poultry/ha, respectively)]. Results showed that plants treated with (30-ton cattle/ha) had a significant increase in leaf area/plant and leaf area index (990.973 cm2, and 0.644 m2/m2) after 75 days after planting, plant length (18.850 cm) after 90 days of planting, tuber number/plant (6.050), tuber wt./ tuber (113.080 gm), tuber weight/plot (6.027 kg), and tuber yield (30.437 ton/ha), which was superior significantly to all other treatments respectively. Also, results showed that potassium and nitrogen content in leaves was ranged from (57.600 to 98.867, and 32.247 to 35.000 (gm kg-1), respectively. It can be concluded that the use of cattle manure (30 ton /ha) alone gave better results for almost the treatments in the present study.

Influence of cow manure and row spacing on growth, flowering and seed yield of Centro (Centrosema pubescens Benth.) on ferralitic soils of Benin (West Africa)

Centrosema pubescens (Benth) is identified as a tropical forage legume of considerable promise which can improve pasture in West Africa. A study on the influence of rates of cattle manure in combination with plant row spacing on the growth, phenology and seed yield of Centro (Centrosema pubescens) was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agronomy Science of University of Abomey-Calavi in South Benin. The site is located at latitude 6° 30’ N and longitude 2° 40’ E with elevation of 50 m above sea level. The area is characterized by ferralitic soils with low fertility, rainfall range of 1200 mm with relative humidity from 40 to 95 % and means annual temperature varying between 25 and 26 °C. Field experiments were conducted during 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. Five cattle manure rates (0, 4 tons, 8 tons, 12 tons and 16 tons/ha) and 40 kg P2O5/ha in combination with three plant spacings (40cm x 40cm, 80cm x 80cm, 120cm x 120cm) were evaluated in a 6×3 factorial laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated 4 times. The growth and flowering characteristics measured in the field included number of branches 90 days after sowing, number of leaves 90 days after sowing, plant girth 90 days after sowing, flower initiation, date of first flower appearance, date of 50% flowering, pod ripping time and efficiency of flower for pod production. Seed components evaluated are pod length, pod wide, number of seed/pod, 100 seed-weight and seed weight/pod weight ratio. Seed yield were evaluated each year by harvesting pods from 4 randomly plants per plot. Pods were shelled and seed collected were weighed for seed yield calculation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine degree of variability at 5% probability level. Result obtained from data analysis showed that there was a significant influence of cropping season, row spacing, fertilizer and their three way interaction on seed production. Apart from the control treatment, seed yield was significantly higher in the second and third years (187.3 and 189.0 kg/ha, respectively) than the first (153.8 kg/ha). Influence of row spacing was observed on seed yield and plants established and 80 cm × 80 cm gave significantly more seed per ha (204.5 kg/ha) followed by 120 cm × 120 cm (179.0 kg/ha) and 40 cm × 40 cm (146.6 kg/ha). Seed yield was significantly increased due to application of cattle manure and application of 12 tons cattle manure yielded better than others. Neither row spacing nor fertilizer had significant effect on plant phenology. In contrast, efficiency of flower for seed production was influenced by fertilizer and cropping season. According to these results, it can be concluded that row spacing of 80 cm × 80 cm and 12 tons per ha cattle manure can be recommended to farmers for C. pubescens seed production in the region.

English

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L) is an important vegetable crop currently cultivated in many parts of the world. The adoption of management strategies to promote the nutritional status and crop productivity in semiarid regions of Brazil is still poorly studied. Thus, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of raising the level of organic matter in the soil, irrigation and soil mulching in the nutritional status and productivity of okra plant in the semiarid region of Brazil. In this study, the experimental design of randomized blocks in a factorial 5×2×2 was used, with four replications. The treatments were five rates of cattle manure, necessary for raising the levels of organic matter in the pits to 1.8, 2.62, 3.44, 4.26 and 5.08%, two water depths (50 and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration, and soil with and without mulch. The elevation of soil organic matter level until 5.08% in conjunction with the implementation of 100% of Evapotranspiration (ETc) water depth and the use of mulch on the soil favored the greatest absorption of nutrients and increased the productivity of okra plant. Key words: Cattle manure, nutrient absorption, management of water in the soil.

The effects of dairy cattle manure and mineral N fertilizer on irrigated maize and soil N and organic C

This work was aimed at providing a sustainable approach in the use of manure in irrigated maize crop under Mediterranean climatic conditions. To this end, the effect of continuous annual applications of dairy cattle manure, combined or not with mineral N fertilizer, on the following parameters was studied: grain yield, grain and plant N concentration, N uptake by plant, N use efficiency, and soil N and organic carbon. The experiment was conducted in a furrow-irrigated sandy soil under dry Mediterranean conditions during seven years. Three different rates of cattle manure (CM): 0, 30 and 60 Mg ha−1, were applied each year before sowing. These CM rates were combined with four mineral N rates (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha−1) applied at sidedress. On average, the highest grain yields during the 7 years were obtained with the combination of CM at 30 Mg ha−1 and mineral fertilizer and with CM at 60 Mg ha−1 without mineral fertilizer. With CM at 30 Mg ha−1, mineral fertilizer increased yields during most of the growing seasons, meanwhile with CM at 60 Mg ha−1, there was not any significant effect of the joint application of mineral fertilizer on yields. Overall, best results were obtained exceeding maximum rates according to present legislation. The mean apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR) fraction during the 7 seasons was 29% for N exclusively applied as CM. Overall, increased N rates applied as CM resulted in decreased ANRs. However, ANR with CM at 30 and 60 Mg ha−1 increased during the first two seasons. This increased ANR ascribed to mineralization of residual organic N applied in previous seasons explained the increasing yields observed in the treatments along the study. The application of CM during 7 years increased the soil organic carbon in the first 30 cm by 5.7 and 9.9 Mg ha−1 with CM at 30 and 60 Mg ha−1, respectively, when compared to the initial stock. Thus, manure-based fertilization could be an alternative to mineral fertilizer in order to achieve high maize yields while improving soil quality under dry Mediterranean conditions.

Long-term effects of crop rotation, manure and mineral fertilisation on carbon sequestration and soil fertility

Abstract Carbon sequestration, recently advocated to mitigate climate change, needs a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC), whose study requires long-term experiments. A field trial started in 1967 is still in progress in the Southeast Po valley (Italy). It compares a 9-year rotation (corn–wheat–corn–wheat–corn–wheat–alfalfa–alfalfa–alfalfa), two 2-year successions (corn–wheat and sugarbeet–wheat), continuous corn and continuous wheat. During the first 18 years (up to 1984) wheat crops were always followed by catch crops of silage corn. Within each rotation, three rates of cattle manure have been factorially combined with three mineral NP rates. In 1984 the highest manure application was stopped. Wheat straw and corn stalks have always been removed from the field. Since 1972 up to now every year we have determined the organic C and total N contents in soil samples collected from 0.40-m depth. During the first 18 years (in the presence of the catch crop) SOC exponentially declined, probably as a consequence of the intensification of tillage depth and crop succession with respect to the previous conventional agriculture. The intensification regarded ploughing, which became deeper, the number of cropped species that in most treatments was reduced, and mineral N application, which, on average, increased. The drop was faster in the sugarbeet–wheat succession than in the 9-yr rotation and continuous wheat. After 1985, without the catch crop, SOC linearly increased, faster in the 9-yr rotation and continuous wheat than in sugarbeet–wheat. The results can be ascribed to the amount and C/N ratio of debris remaining in the field after each crop, even after having taken away wheat straw and corn stalks. The debris consisted of sugarbeet tops, with a low C/N ratio, and of roots and basal culms of the two cereal crops with higher C/N ratio. Mineral fertilizers significantly increased SOC, probably for the greater amount of cereal roots and sugarbeet tops in more fertilized plots. The influence of manure was less intense, but its benefits lasted longer than 18 years after its interruption. Soil N content was more related to accumulated organic matter than to mineral N fertilisation. In conclusion the highest C sequestration was obtained with manure addition, with the highest rate of mineral fertilizers, and in the rotation containing the alfalfa ley. The effects of these factors were not additive.

Dry Matter Yields and Forage Quality of Grass Alone and Grass Plus Legume Mixture in Relation to Cattle Manure Rates and Production Methods

Dry Matter Yields and Forage Quality of Grass Alone and Grass Plus Legume Mixture in Relation to Cattle Manure Rates and Production Methods

Corn Response to Long‐Term Applications of Cattle Manure, Swine Effluent, and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilizer

Cattle (Bos taurus) manure and swine (Sus scrofa) effluent are applied to cropland to recycle nutrients, build soil quality, and increase crop productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the long‐term effects of land application of cattle manure and swine effluent using the Kansas Nutrient Utilization Plan on crop yield, yield components, and crop nutrient uptake. The study was conducted for 10 yr (1999 through 2008) near Tribune, KS. There were 10 treatments: three levels of cattle manure and swine effluent (P, N, and 2N), three levels of N fertilizer (N1 = 56, N2 = 112, and N3 = 168 kg N ha−1), and an untreated control. Corn (Zea mays L.) grain and stover yields, yield components, and water use were measured. In all but 2 yr, all treatments significantly increased grain yield compared with the control and the lowest inorganic N rate. Mean corn grain yield over the years from the Cattle N and P, Swine N and P, and inorganic N2 and N3 treatments were about 2X, 1.8X, and 1.9X greater than the untreated control, respectively. Grain nutrient content and water productivity were consistently higher for the cattle manure treatments and the inorganic N2 and N3 treatments. However, grain yield and nutrient uptake did not differ among rates of cattle manure and swine effluent application. We concluded that using the lower application rate based on either N or P from the Kansas Nutrient Utilization Plan was sufficient to achieve optimal crop yield and water productivity.

EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY Of Momordica charantia UNDER DAMIETTA CONDITIONS.

Two field experiments were carried out at a Private Farm near Elzarka city, Damietta Governorate, during the two successive summer growing seasons from march to November 2013 and 2014 to study the effect of organic manure treatments (control, 25 m3/fed, 50 m3/fed) on growth, yield and quality of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. The most important resulted obtained from this investigation can be summarized as follows : Organic fertilization of bitter melon plants with cattle manure at the rate of 50 m3/fed significantly increased growth, yield, and its components, thus the highest values of these characters were resulted from adding the highest rate of cattle manure (50 m3/fed) in both seasons. It can be recommended that organic fertilizing bitter gourd with 25 m3/fed in order to increase bitter melon yield over the control treatment and reduce the environment pollution and production costs under the environmental conditions of Damietta Governorate, Egypt .

Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha−1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha−1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha−1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.

English

In Malawi, increasing human population and low productivity of cassava (Manihot esculenta [Crantz]), the second most important food crop after maize, necessitate the intensification of agronomic options for cassava production. A study was therefore conducted in 2012-2013 season on a chromic Luvisol at Bunda College (14° 35 S’; 33° 50 E’), Central Malawi, to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilizer (kg ha-1 N : P2O5 : K2O : S at 0 and 46:42:0:8) and cattle manure (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) on cassava growth and yield in a 3 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design replicated four times. The sweet variety Mbundumali with 9-15 months maturity and potential yield of 25 t/ha was used. The study site’s inherent soil chemical characteristics in the 15-30 cm depth were: P = 102 ppm, K = 3.87 meq 100g-1, N = 0.16%, pH = 5.4, organic matter = 1.79 and N = 0.064. From the results, tuber fresh yield was significantly increased by application of both cattle manure (P = 0.043) and inorganic fertilizer (P = 0.001) while there was no significant manure x inorganic fertilizer interaction. Tuber fresh yield was maximum at 27.6 t/ha with application of cattle manure at 5 t ha-1, however increasing the rate of cattle manure to 10 tha-1 did not increase the tuber yield further. Fresh tuber yield increased from 22.8 to 29.2 t ha-1 with inorganic fertilizer application. Yield without fertility amendments was 21 t ha-1, suggesting that appropriate amendments may raise yields above potential. There were also significant effects of inorganic fertilizer on branches per plant, tubers per plant and tuber length, while manure had no effect on these variables.   Key words: Cassava, cattle dung, integrated soil fertility management, cassava growth.

Influence of farm yard manure, poultry manure and forest litter on copper solubility in soil and uptake by Phaseolus vulgaris

AbstractLong term and intensive use of copper‐based fungicides on coffee farms may contaminate soils with copper. The legacy of copper pollution may pose the risk of contaminating food crops cultivated on these soils. A randomized block design field experiment at Kilimanjaro, Tanzania was designed to investigate the effects of different application rates of cattle manure, poultry manure and forest litter on aqua regia, EDTA and CaCl2 extractable copper in soils and copper uptake by bean plants grown on this long‐term copper‐contaminated soil (more than 50 yr of copper application). It was important to examine the potential of the organic amendments in mobilizing or immobilizing copper and assess the risks of contaminating bean crops at a farm, where the application of organic amendments was common practice. At harvest, rhizosphere soils were collected and analysed. The soils were found to have large concentrations of copper, greatly exceeding international standard levels. Poultry manure applied at 40 tons/ha significantly increased CaCl2 extractable copper compared with the control treatment. Organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, EDTA extractable copper, aqua regia extractable copper and copper concentrations in bean seeds or leaves were not significantly changed by the organic matter treatments. The concentration of copper was significantly less in bean seeds than in bean leaves (P < 0.01). The bean plants did not take up excessive quantities of copper, and therefore, the risk of copper contamination of bean crops in this farm appears to be small.

Emisi Gas Rumah Kaca dan Hasil Gabah dari Tiga Varietas Padi pada Lahan Sawah Tadah Hujan Bersurjan

The alternating dry and flooded bedding system (Surjan) optimizes land availability, by integrating food crop culture in the lower bed and annual crops in the upper bed position, of the rainfed rice field. Rainfed rice productivity is generally low, to increase its productivity rice culture should integrate the management of crop, water and nutrients. Rice field is regarded as greenhouse gas sources, especially methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Field experiment was conducted in the rainfed rice field in Pati, Central Java, to determine GHGs emission and grain yield from three rice varieties, applied with cattle manure, planted in the rainfed rice field, using alternating beds system. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replicates and six treatments of the combination of cattle manure application and rice varieties. The rates of cattle manure were 5 and 30 t/ha, while rice varieties were Inpari 1, Inpari 6, Ciherang. Data observed included grain yield, soil pH, fluxes of CO2 and CH4. Combination of Inpari 6 with 5 t/ha cattle manure emitted GHGs higher than combination of Inpari 6 with 30 t/ha cattle manure, while GHGs emission from combination of Ciherang with 5 t/ha cattle manure was lower than combination of Ciherang with 30 t/ha cattle manure. Variety Inpari 1 emitted the lowest GHGs, both from the combination of 5 t/ha and of 30 t/ha. The average grain yield of Inpari 1, Inpari 6, and Ciherang in the rainfed lowland rice each was 6.27, 6.01, and 5.70 t/ha, respectively. The GHGs releases from the rice variety roots depend on the availability of organic matter in the soil that is used as energy source for GHGs forming microbes.

Simulated Yield and Net Return of a Maize Crop Fertilized with Different Sources and Rates of Nitrogen

The goal of this study was to evaluate yield and net return of a maize crop fertilized with different rates of conventional mineral fertilizer and cattle manure. The CSM-CERES-Maize model was used to simulate the nitrogen (N) fertilization management scenarios. Twelve treatments were simulated as follows: T1, T2 and T3 were, rates of 90, 130 and 160 kg ha -1 of N as conventional fertilizer, respectively; T4a, T4b and T4c were 4.5 t ha -1 of air-dried cattle manure, rated at 17.05, 22.73 and 34.09 US$ per ton, respectively; T5a, T5b and T5c were 6.5 t ha -1 of air-dried cattle manure, rated at US$ 17.05, US$ 22.73 and US$ 34.09 per ton, respectively; T6a, T6b and T6c were 8.0 t ha -1 of air-dried cattle manure, rated at US$ 17.05, US$ 22.73 and US$ 34.09 US$ per ton. It was assumed that the air-dried cattle manure has 2% of N. The conventional mineral fertilization with a nitrogen rate of 90 kg ha -1 (T1) resulted in an average yield of 4.812 kg ha -1 and average profitability of US$ 35.56 ha -1 , while higher nitrogen rates caused economic losses. Profitabilities of US$ 120.90 and US$ 183.50 ha-1 were obtained with cattle manure rates of 6,500 and 8,000 kg ha -1 , respectively.

Produção de copo-de-leite em resposta à adubação com NPK e esterco bovino

<p>O copo-de-leite é uma das principais flores de corte cultivadas na região Sul de Minas Gerais e pode ser uma excelente alternativa de produção para a agricultura familiar. No entanto, há poucas informações sobre sua produção no Brasil, principalmente no que se refere à nutrição mineral. Neste sentido, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de diferentes doses de esterco bovino combinadas com doses de adubo mineral, na produção de copo-de-leite. Foram estabelecidos 12 tratamentos, constituídos de quatro doses de NPK 10:10:10 (0, 150, 250 e 350 kg 1000 m-2) combinadas com três doses de esterco bovino (0, 20 e 40 L m-2), distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4 x 3, em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados a altura das plantas, o número, a largura e o comprimento de folhas, o número de inflorescências, o comprimento da haste floral, a largura e o comprimento da espata e o peso da matéria fresca das inflorescências. O melhor resultado foi obtido com a dose de 350 kg 1000 m-2 de NPK 10:10:10, combinada com a dose de 40 L m-2 de esterco. Esse tratamento propiciou maior número de inflorescências em plantas de copo-de-leite.</p>

Effects of cattle manure on selected soil physical properties of smallholder farms on two soils of Murewa, Zimbabwe

AbstractThe effects of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer application on soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were determined on clay and sandy soils of the Murewa smallholder farming area, Zimbabwe. Maize was grown in four fields termed homefields (HFs) and outfields (OFs) because of spatial variability induced by management practices and with the following fertility treatments: control (no fertility amelioration), 5, 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure + 100 kg/ha N applied annually for seven consecutive years. The addition of cattle manure resulted in significant (P < 0.01) increases in SOC, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon in clay soils from at least the 5 t/ha cattle manure rate and was comparable between HFs and OFs on clay soils. Aggregate protected carbon in clay soils was significantly higher from the 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure rates compared to the 5 t/ha cattle manure treatment. In contrast, only SOC was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the addition of cattle manure on the sandy soils, while bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were not significantly changed. Bulk density was also not significantly (P > 0.05) different on the clay soils. A significant and positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.85) was found between SOC and macro‐aggregate stability, while an r2 value of 0.82 was obtained between SOC and aggregate protected carbon on the clay soils. However, no regressions were performed on data from the sandy soils because of the lack of significant changes in soil physical properties. Application of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer significantly increased (P < 0.05) maize grain yield on both soil types. Results show that inorganic N‐fertilizer combined with cattle manure at 5–15 t/ha per yr is necessary to increase maize yields and SOC on sandy soils in Murewa, while at least 15 t/ha per yr cattle manure is required on the clay soils to improve physical properties in addition to maize yields and SOC.

Changes in Vertisol properties as affected by organic amendments application rates

AbstractThere is considerable global interest in using recycled organic materials because of perceived benefits to soil health and environment. However, information on the effects of organic waste products and their optimal application rates on the quality of heavy clay soils such as Vertisols is sparse. An incubation experiment was therefore conducted using five organic amendments at various rates to identify their optimal application rates, which could improve the quality of the Vertisol. Cotton gin trash, cattle manure, biosolids (dry weight basis 7.5–120 t/ha), chicken manure (dry weight basis 2.25–36 t/ha) and a liquefied vermicast (60–960 L/ha, volumetric basis) changed the soil chemical, physical and microbiological properties compared with a control where no amendments were applied, viz. higher light fraction of organic matter, nutrient content (N and P) and soil microbial activity. Higher application of chicken manure resulted in an increase in dry‐sieved mean weight diameter. Increasing rates of cattle manure increased exchangeable Na concentration and ESP. Although vermicast itself did not contribute a significant amount of N into the soil, when applied at higher rates (60–960 L/ha), its application resulted in increased concentration of NO3‐N in soil by amounts ranging from 43 to 429%. Optimal application rates for cattle manure and cotton gin trash were 30 t/ha, whereas for biosolids and chicken manure, the optimum rate was 60–18 t/ha, respectively.

Correlations between Phosphorus Fractions and Total Leachate Phosphorus from Cattle Manure– and Swine Manure–Amended Soil

Although many studies have examined the effect of different application rates of cattle manure, swine manure, and urea fertilizer on the distribution of phosphorus (P) fractions in soil, few studies have correlated P fractions in soil with inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) in leachates. As part of a long-term field study, cattle and swine manures were applied to a loamy soil based on a nitrogen (N) content equivalent of 100 (low) and 400 (high) kg total N ha−1 yr−1 and were compared to urea fertilizer at 100 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and an unamended control soil. Readily available Pi [resin and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)] was significantly greater in cattle manure– and swine manure–amended soil at a high application rate than in the control. With some exceptions, urea did not significantly affect P fractions in sequentially extracted P pools. Leaching of Pi and Po was at levels of environmental concern when cattle and swine manures were applied at the high application rate but not at the low application rate. Cattle manure had significantly greater concentrations of Pi and Po removed by leaching compared to swine manure, most likely because of its narrow N/P ratio and greater amount of P added. Positive correlations were observed between resin Pi and total leachate Pi and between NaHCO3-Pi and total leachate Pi, indicating the value of these measurements in predicting P mobility. The results suggest that a threshold (40 μg P g−1 of soil) must be exceeded before a positive correlation occurs.

Phosphorus accumulation and leaching in two irrigated soils with incremental rates of cattle manure

The risk of P leaching increases on land that receives manure at rates sufficient to meet crop N requirements, but calcareous subsoils may minimize P loss due to P adsorption. An 8-yr field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different rates of manure on the accumulation and leaching of soil P in a coarse-textured (CT) soil and a medium-textured (MT) soil under typical irrigation management in southern Alberta. Treatments included a non-manured control and four rates of cattle (Bos taurus) manure (20, 40, 60, and 120 Mg ha-1 yr-1, wet-weight basis). In manured treatments, P addition ranged from about 80 to 450 kg P ha-1 yr-1, while P removal by annual cereal silage crops ranged from 15 to 22 kg P ha-1 yr-1. High soil test P (STP) concentrations occurred to a depth of 0.6 m at the CT site and 0.3 m at the MT site. Increase in STP concentration to 0.6 m was equivalent to 43% of net P input, and increase in total soil P was equivalent to 78% of net P input. Non-recovery of net P input suggests that P loss by leaching occurred at these sites and that leaching was more prevalent at the CT site. These calcareous soils have considerable potential to hold surplus P, but may still allow P leaching.Key words: Manure, phosphorus dynamics, soil test phosphorus, phosphorus leaching, soil texture

Produção de biomassa e teor do óleo essencial de cidrão em função da adubação orgânica

Objetivou-se com a realização deste trabalho avaliar a influência da adubação orgânica na produção de massa e no teor do óleo essencial de Aloysia triphylla (L'Hérit) Britton. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e foram aplicadas cinco doses de esterco bovino curtido: 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 kg m-2, com quatro vasos por repetição, dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Após 198 dias de cultivo, foi realizada a secagem em estufa e extração por hidrodestilação do óleo essencial a partir de folhas secas, em Clevenger modificado. As plantas de A. triphylla crescidas com 12 kg m-2 de esterco bovino tiveram maior rendimento de massa. Maior teor de óleo essencial foi verificado nas plantas crescidas com 9 kg m-2 de esterco bovino.