Winter wheat yield, quality, and nitrogen removal following compost- or manure-fertilized sugarbeet

Authors: Lehrsch, Gary; BROWN, BRADFORD - Retired Non ARS Employee; Lentz, Rodrick; JOHNSON-MAYNARD, JODI - University Of Idaho; Leytem, April

Submitted to: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2016
Publication Date: 2/13/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5634125
Citation: Lehrsch, G.A., Brown, B., Lentz, R.D., Johnson-Maynard, J.L., Leytem, A.B. 2017. Winter wheat yield, quality, and nitrogen removal following compost- or manure-fertilized sugarbeet. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 48(1):124-138.

Interpretive Summary: To efficiently and cost-effectively use nitrogen (N), farmers must know how a second-year crop responds to the N that becomes available in years following a manure application. In an Idaho field study of winter wheat following sugarbeet, we determined the residual (second-year) effects of fall-applied solid dairy manure, either stockpiled or composted, on wheat yield, biomass, biomass N, protein, grain N removal, and agronomic N use efficiency (NUE). First-year treatments at Parma, ID, included a non-N-fertilized control, urea at the recommended rate for sugarbeet (202 kg N/ha), compost (218 and 435 kg estimated available N/ha), and manure (140 and 280 kg available N/ha). Treatments at Kimberly, ID, were a control, urea as recommended for beet (82 kg N/ha), compost (81 and 183 kg available N/ha), and manure (173 and 340 kg available N/ha). Compost and manure were rototilled into a Greenleaf silt loam near Parma, ID, in fall 2002 and 2003 and disked into a Portneuf silt loam near Kimberly, ID, in fall 2002 with sugarbeet planted the following spring. Soon after sugarbeet harvest, wheat was planted in the fall with no N applied. In two of three site-years, second-year wheat yield was greater, relative to the control, where organic N sources but not urea had been applied at recommended rates for sugarbeet, revealing a long-term benefit of compost and manure in reducing future N fertilizer costs. While supplemental N should be applied to the wheat to optimize its yield, producers who take credit for this plant-available N from previous years’ manure applications can reduce their costs for supplemental N, whether organic or conventional.

Technical Abstract: To efficiently use N while protecting water quality, one must know how a second-year crop, without further N fertilization, responds in years following a manure application. In an Idaho field study of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.), we determined the residual (second-year) effects of fall-applied solid dairy manure, either stockpiled or composted, on wheat yield, biomass, biomass N, protein, grain N removal, and agronomic N use efficiency (NUE). Along with a no-N control and urea (82 or 202 kg N/ha), first-year treatments at Site 1 included compost (218 and 435 kg estimated available N/ha) and manure (140 and 280 kg available N/ha) and at Site 2 compost (81 and 183 kg available N/ha) and manure (173 and 340 kg available N/ha). After application, compost and manure were incorporated into two silt loam-textured soils, a Greenleaf (Xeric Calciargid) at Parma in fall 2002 and 2003 and a Portneuf (Durinodic Xeric Haplocalcid) at Kimberly in fall 2002. Second-year wheat yield was greater, relative to the control, where organic N sources but not urea were applied at optimum rates for sugarbeet in two of three site-years, revealing a long-term benefit of compost and manure in reducing future N fertilizer costs. Where N-fertilized, grain yield was similar among urea and organic N sources that applied optimal amounts of plant-available N to the preceding year’s sugarbeet. Where optimal urea but greater organic N rates were applied, grain yield was always greater from manure than urea.