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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97354
Title: TRIPLE-CROP FORAGE PRODUCTION UNDER DAIRY MANURE IRRIGATION.

Author
item NEWTON, G - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item VELLIDIS, G - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item GASCHO, G - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item HUDSON, W - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Hubbard, Robert
item Lowrance, Robert
item Gates, Roger
item Johnson, Alva

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two forage systems producing three different crops of silage and/or hay per year (CBR - temperate corn silage/bermuda hay/rye-clover haylage or CCR - temperate corn silage/tropical corn silage/rye-clover haylage) on the same land are being evaluated. Each of these systems is being fertilized with irrigated dairy manure (about 600 kg of N/ha/y) and commercial fertilizer (based on soil test), in both small plots and under a center pivot system. This project is an attempt to develop and demonstrate a manure utilization system that is capable of utilizing manure from intensive operations; that includes landscape management to utilize or trap nutrients potentially moving from the site as a redundancy; that results in predictable nutrient utilization and movement; that is economically as well as environmentally sound; that considers positive or negative effects of soil dwelling invertebrates; and that produces high quality feedstuffs. The CCR sequence ehas produced 35% greater forage dry matter yields than CBR. Irrigated manure fertilization has produced a greater than 20% forage dry matter yield advantage over commercial fertilizer. Control of nematodes has produced a 2% greater forage dry matter yield compared to untreated plots. Surface and subsurface drainage from manure application areas has shown a five fold reduction in nitrate concentration after passage through an adjacent riparian wetland. Intensive forage production systems are capable of recycling relatively large amounts of manure nutrients per unit of land area while having limited environmental impact.