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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167445
Title: SITE-SPECIFIC MANURE APPLICATION FOR SOIL IMPROVEMENT AND CORN PRODUCTION.

Author
item Eghball, Bahman
item Bauer, Christopher
item GINTING, D - UNIV OF NE/LINCOLN

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Eghball, B., Ginting, D. and Bauer, C. A. Site-specific manure application for soil improvement and corn production. P. 95. In program and abstracts of Sustainable Land Application Conference, Jan. 4-8, Lake Buena Vista, FL. Univ. of Florida, 2004.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The organic matter in manure can enhance physical and chemical properties of soils, especially infertile and degraded soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate manure application for improving corn yield and soil properties of the less productive areas within a field. The treatments included applications of site-specific (SSM) and uniform (UM) beef cattle feedlot manure, uniform commercial fertilizer, and a no treatment check. Field strips 12.2 m wide and 680 m long were used in five years (1998-2002) under a center pivot irrigation system. Soil emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O were measured biweekly in 1999 and 2000. For the SSM treatment, manure was applied to areas within the field where organic C was < 14 g kg-1. Site-specific manure application resulted in greater corn grain yield than UM, fertilizer, and check treatments. Fertilizer and UM resulted in similar corn yield. Site-specific manure application significantly reduced spatial variability of soil organic C and available P. Carbon sequestration was much greater for manure than fertilizer application. Emissions of CO2, CH4 from soil indicated positive soil C balance in the soil for manure but a negative balance for the fertilizer treatment. N2O emission from soil was about two times higher for the N fertilizer (NH3) than manure even though manure N application rate was almost twice that for the fertilizer treatment. Site-specific manure application is an excellent method of improving less productive soils or sites within a field, increase crop productivity, and reduce soil spatial variability.