ARS | Publication request: LIMING EFFECTS OF BEEF CATTLEFEEDLOT CATTLE MANURE AND COMPOSTED MANURE

Submitted to: Nebraska Beef Reports
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2001
Publication Date: January 1, 2002
Citation: EGHBALL, B. LIMING EFFECTS OF BEEF CATTLEFEEDLOT CATTLE MANURE AND COMPOSTED MANURE. NEBRASKA BEEF REPORTS. P. 49-51. 2002.

Interpretive Summary: Soil pH can be increased by manure or compost application because cattle rations usually contain limestone (calcium carbonate). From 1992 to 1996 this study evaluated effects of phosphorus and nitrogen-based manure and compost applications (annual and biennial) management strategies on soil pH level. Manure and composted manure contained about 0.9% calcium carbonate resulting in application rates of up to 1540 lb lime per acre in four years. The surface soil (0-6 inch) pH was significantly decreased with ammonium-N fertilizer application as compared to soil in the unfertilized check or to soil receiving manure or compost. Nitrogen-based applications resulted in higher soil pH than P-based, since P-based treatments also received N fertilizer.

Technical Abstract: Soil pH can be increased by manure or compost application because cattle rations usually contain limestone (calcium carbonate). From 1992 to 1996 this study evaluated effects of phosphorus and nitrogen-based manure and compost applications (annual and biennial) management strategies on soil pH level. Manure and composted manure contained about 9 g kg-1 calcium carbonate resulting in application rates of up to 1725 kg lime per hectare in four years. The surface soil (0-15 cm) pH was significantly decreased with ammonium-N fertilizer application as compared to soil in the unfertilized check or to soil receiving manure or compost. Nitrogen-based applications resulted in higher soil pH than P-based, since P-based treatments also received N fertilizer