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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296291
Title: Soil-Plant Nutrient Interactions on Manure-Enriched Calcareous Soils

Author
item MOORE, A. - University Of Idaho
item HINES, S. - University Of Idaho
item BROWN, B. - University Of Idaho
item FALEN, C. - University Of Idaho
item DE HARO MARTI, M. - University Of Idaho
item CHAHINE, M. - University Of Idaho
item NORELL, R. - University Of Idaho
item Ippolito, James
item PARKINSON, S. - University Of Idaho
item SATTERWHITE, M. - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2013
Publication Date: 11/1/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58081
Citation: Moore, A., Hines, S., Brown, B., Falen, C., De Haro Marti, M., Chahine, M., Norell, R., Ippolito, J.A., Parkinson, S., Satterwhite, M. 2014. Soil-plant nutrient interactions on manure-enriched calcareous soils. Agronomy Journal. 106:73-80.

Interpretive Summary: The goal of the study was to determine the current impact of dairy manure applications on nutrient concentrations in soil and tissue for irrigated corn silage crops grown on 39 fields in Southern Idaho. Soil extractable potassium, zinc, iron, and boron were positively correlated with soil extractable phosphorus, suggesting that increasing manure applications caused accumulations of these nutrients. Significant positive correlations were detected between soil test potassium and tissue potassium, soil test potassium and tissue nitrogen, and soil test boron and tissue nitrogen. A significant negative correlation was detected between soil test iron and tissue manganese.

Technical Abstract: Nutrient accumulations on heavily manured soils can trigger soil and plant nutrient interactions. The goal of the study was to determine the current impact of dairy manure applications on nutrient concentrations in soil and tissue for irrigated corn silage crops grown in Southern Idaho. At harvest, whole plant and soil samples were collected from 39 corn silage fields over a two-year period in the Snake River Plain region of Southern Idaho with varying dairy manure application histories. Soils were sampled to a depth of 12 inches and analyzed for plant-available forms of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium), sulfur, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, and boron; whole plant tops were analyzed for total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil extractable potassium, zinc, iron, and boron were positively correlated with soil extractable phosphorus, suggesting that increasing manure applications caused accumulations of these nutrients. Significant positive correlations were detected between soil test potassium and tissue potassium (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = 0.63), soil test potassium, and tissue nitrogen (rho = 0.59), and soil test boron and tissue nitrogen (rho = 0.53). A significant negative correlation was detected between soil test iron and tissue manganese (rho= -0.59). More controlled studies should be performed to corroborate the relationships and interactions observed in this survey study of cooperator fields.