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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209890
Title: Evaluating new manure application technologies to balance environmental and agronomic objectives in no-till crop production

Author
item BEEGLE, DOUGLAS - PENN STATE UNIV
item Kleinman, Peter
item Dell, Curtis
item Schmidt, John
item Rotz, Clarence - Al
item ALLEN, ARTHUR - UMES

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/30/2007
Citation: Beegle, D., Kleinman, P.J., Dell, C.J., Schmidt, J.P., Rotz, C.A., Allen, A. 2007. Evaluating new manure application technologies to balance environmental and agronomic objectives in no-till crop production. Soil and Water Conservation Society Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Land application of manure is one of the most challenging issues facing farmers. Changing policies, demographics and management priorities must be balanced. A critical issue is the balance between manure incorporation for optimum nutrient management and use of no-till crop production systems. This project evaluates multiple dimensions of manure application to soils to support the site-specific recommendation of alternative application technologies in no-till crop production. Three novel manure application methods, shallow disk injection, high pressure injection and spike injection (aeration infiltration) were evaluated relative to their agronomic and environmental performance. Field plots were used to assess erosion, phosphorus runoff, nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilization and odor emissions. The Integrated Farming Systems Model was used to project findings to a farm scale. Results from one site in central Pennsylvania reveal that the shallow disk injector provided the most consistent environmental benefits of the new technologies, while the spike injector resulted in the lowest erosion and phosphorus runoff and the high pressure injector had the lowest emissions of ammonia and odor. Ongoing research at a second site on the coastal plain of Maryland will provide insight into the suitability of these technologies under different conditions.