Surface Application Of Manure Research Articles

TREATMENT OF SOLID ANIMAL MANURES : IDENTIFICATION OF LOW NH3 EMISSION PRACTICES

Cattle and pig dung and poultry excreta were used in laboratory experiments to study the effect of different solid manure treatments concerning NH3 losses during storage and after application to soil. Aerobic decomposition (composting) during incubation (storage) resulted in drastically higher NH3 emissions compared with anaerobic decomposition conditions. Application of the aerobically treated materials to soil resulted in low NH3 losses, as NH4-N concentrations were low in these materials. Anaerobically treated materials and non-decomposed poultry excreta gave rise to significant NH3-N emissions as a result of highly increased ammoniacal N concentrations in soil, if applied on the soil surface. Rates of NH3-N volatilization from soil surface-applied manures were closely related to the pH changes taking place on the surface. Maximum pH values attained explained 79% of the variance in the extent of NH3 volatilization. Incorporation of animal dung into soil to 5 cm depth or below reduced ammonia volatilization by 80% compared with surface application.

Forage Yields, Nutrient Uptake, Soil Chemical Changes, and Nitrogen Volatilization from Bermudagrass Treated with Dairy Manure

Application of manure on cropland in association with large confined animal feeding operations, such as large drylot dairies, has raised concern about nutrient contamination of surface and groundwaters. Our objective was to determine the yield and nutrient uptake of 'Coastal' bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) and a bermudagrass sod interseeded with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum emend Thell cv. Wintex) treated with dairy waste, the fate of manure N and P in the soil, and nitrate N in soil solution. Four rates of dairy manure (target rates of 0, 100, 200, and 400 lb N/acre) were surface applied to each system from 1992 to 1995. We measured N and P harvested in forage, changes in extractable N and P concentrations in the soil, nitrate N levels in soil water, and N volatilization from surface-applied manure. Yield increased linearly with increasing manure rate each year. Only 25% of manure N and 20% or less of P were recovered in forage during the 4 yr. Analysis of soil water samples collected at 18 or 36 in. below the soil surface on 54 dates indicated < 3 ppm of nitrate N in plots treated with up to 60 tons/acre of solid dairy manure during 4 yr. The primary adverse effect of manure application to forage crops was a sixfold increase in extractable P in the surface 6 in. of soil at the highest manure rate. Nitrogen losses to the atmosphere from surface-applied dairy waste increased from 20 to a maximum of 35% as moisture content of the manure increased to 40%. Most of the N loss occurred within 6 h of waste application. These data indicate that solid dairy manure from confinement lots should be applied at rates less than 20 tons/acre per year to reduce risks of soil P buildup and nitrate N leaching.

A Manure Management Survey of Minnesota Swine Producers: Summary of Responses

Manure’s impact on the environment is a concern for both livestock producers and the general public. A survey of Minnesota swine producers was conducted to determine current manure handling systems and manure management practices. A questionnaire containing 36 questions was mailed to 699 Minnesota swine producers. Questions focused on manure collection, storage, and application systems, dead pig disposal, and swine housing system. Survey responses indicate: a) most producers market 2,000 pigs per year or fewer; b) most producers handle some manure as a solid; c) the majority of producers are not testing manure, calibrating manure application equipment, or keeping records of manure applications; d) surface application of manure is more common than subsurface injection; e) rendering and burial are the most common means of dead pig disposal.

Tillage and Nitrogen Source Effects on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Forage Maize

Manure has not been evaluated as an N source for maize (Zea mays L.) production underidge tillage (RT). A 2‐yr field study was conducted on a Kendaia‐Lima silt loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic Aeric Haplaquept) to evaluate growth, yield, and quality of forage maize under moldboard plow (MP) and RT with fertilizer N (MPF and RTF) or with manure and supplemental fertilizer N (MPM and RTM, respectively). Soil water pressure and leaf carbon exchange rates (CER) were measured frequently; and plant N concentration, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter (DM) accumulation were sured at the six‐leaf stage (V6), silking (R1), and harvest. The treatment generally had lower CER from V5 to V8, lower whole‐plant N concentrations at V6 in 1989 (24.7 g kg−1) and 1990 (28.2 g kg−1), and lower LAI and DM accumulation at V6 (0.39 and 37 gm−2) and R1 (3.27 and 844 gm−2, respectively) in 1989. In contrast, RTM compared to MPF and RTF had similar CER, whole‐plant N concentrations, LAI and DM accumulation on most measurement dates. The MPM treatment compared to MPF, RTF, and RTM had lower DM yields (13.6, 16.3, 15.7, and 14.9 Mg ha−1) and whole‐plant N concentrations (7.8, 8.5, 8.5, and 8.4 g kg−1) in 1989, and lower DM yields (13.7, 15.3, 15.0, and 15.9 Mg ha−1, respectively) in 1990. Surface application of manure before planting with supplemental fertilizer N at V5 was a viable N management system for forage maize under RT.

Use of mineral amendments to reduce ammonia losses from dairy-cattle and chicken-manure slurries

Two laboratory experiments evaluated the use of mineral amendments to reduce NH 3 volatilization from dairy-and poultry-manure slurries during storage or when applied to soil. Fresh manure was amended at a 1% and a 3% rate with superphosphate (SP), rock phosphate (RP), and gypsum (GP) and stored for 30 days. Anaerobically stored manure was amended with Na-bentonite (BT), CaCl 2(CC), gypsum (GP), rock phosphate (RP), superphosphate (SP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) at a 2% rate and surface-applied to Pugwash sandy loam (Humo-Ferric Podzol). The loss of NH 3 was measured over a seven-day period. The NH 3 volatilization was evaluated by two methods: direct measurement of volatilized NH 3 through capture in acid traps, and chemical analysis of initial and final nitrogen contents of manure and/or soil. During storage, NH 3 volatilization was reduced by SP and GP in dairy manure, but none of the amendments effectively reduced volatilization from poultry manure. Ammonia volatilization from surface-applied manure was reduced by TSP, SP, CC, and GP treatments to dairy manure and by CC and SP treatments to poultry manure. The reduction in NH 3 volatilization was apparently due to the decrease in pH of the manure caused by the amendments.

Título en español

En 1981 y 1982 se realizó un experimento en la Subestación de Corozal para determinar los efectos del estiércol de vaca en los rendimientos de forraje verde, forraje seco y proteína bruta de la yerba estrella (Cynodon nlemfuensis var. nlenfuensis) y en la composición del suelo. El estiércol contenía 65%, 1.6%, .10% y .34% de materia seca, nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio, respectivamente. Se aplicó a la yerba estrella en cantidades de 2,800, 5,600, 11 ,200, 16,800, 22,400 y 31 ,360 kg/ha y año y se segó cada 45 días. Los tratamientos se suplementaron con abono comercial N-P-K, hasta alcanzar 504, 73 y 336 kg/ha y año de nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio, respectivamente. Se incluyeron además 2 tratamientos testigo, uno con 3,360 kg/ha y año de un abono 15-5-10, como abono corriente y otro sin abono y sin estiércol. En los 720 días del estudio, la cantidad máxima de estiércol, sin abonamiento nitrogenado suplementario aumentó significativamente los rendimientos de forraje seco y proteína bruta sobre el testigo sin abonar. Los tratamientos de estiércol de 2,800 a 22,400 kg/ha y año produjeron rendimientos de forraje seco similares al tratamiento corriente. El estiércol aumentó los contenidos en fósforo y potasio, pero no en calcio y magnesio. También aumentó el fósforo disponible y el potasio cambiable del suelo al compararlos con el tratamiento sin abono. Sin embargo, en futuros estudios a nivel de la finca, es necesario comparar los costos extraordinarios que se incurren en términos de labores necesarias para acarrear y aplicar grandes cantidades de estiércol en comparación con aplicar un abono comercial.