Project Number: 3602-12000-013-04
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 01, 2013

Objective:
Evaluate the potential use of SPD material as a soil amendment for pasture/forage systems in Wisconsin.

Approach:
A field study will be conducted over a two year period on Wisconsin farms to collect a data set of the changes in soil properties, water quality and plant growth and quality following agronomic additions of SPD material produced from the Dairyland Electric Cooperative Geneva, WI plant. A field site representing locally normal conditions will be chosen for application of four rates from 0-2 MT/ha surface applied SPD. Four replications of each plots will be treated. Soil before and one year following application will be sampled and characterized for nutrient status using standard soil testing techniques in the STAR lab at Wooster, OH. Lysimeters will be installed in the high and low treatments at 60 cm and shallow ground water samples collected and analyzed for trace elements in the same lab. Plant yield will be measured and samples taken during the growing season from each plot for measurement of major nutrient and trace metal contents. Data will be statistically analyzed using standard ANOVA.