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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #133960
Title: SITE-SPECIFIC MANURE APPLICATION EFFECTS ON CORN YIELD AND NITROGEN STATUS

Author
item Eghball, Bahman
item Bauer, Christopher
item SHAPIRO, C - UNIV OF NEBRASKA
item Schepers, James

Submitted to: Water Environment Federation
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2001
Publication Date: 12/20/2001
Citation: EGHBALL, B., BAUER, C.J., SHAPIRO, C.A., SCHEPERS, J.S. SITE-SPECIFIC MANURE APPLICATION EFFECTS ON CORN YIELD AND NITROGEN STATUS. WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION. P. 1-17. 2001.

Interpretive Summary: The organic matter in manure can enhance the physical and chemical properties of soils, especially infertile soils, as these soils typically contain low levels of organic matter and nutrients, and have low water holding capabilities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of manure application for improving crop yield and N status in less productive areas within a field. The treatments included applications of site-specific manure (SSM), uniform manure (UM), uniform commercial fertilizer, and a no treatment check. Field strips 40 ft wide (16 corn rows) and 2200 ft long were used in two years (1997 and 1998). For the SSM treatment, manure was applied to areas within the field where organic matter was less than 2.5%. A uniform application of manure was made in December 1997 to both the UM and SSM strips since almost all the field had organic matter was < 2.5%. In 1998 and 1999, chlorophyll meter readings and leaf tissue samples were collected from all treatments, and aerial photographs were taken several times during the growing season. In both years, the UM and SSM treatments produced significantly greater grain yields than the commercial fertilizer treatment (an average difference of 18 bu ac-1). The UM and SSM treatments also resulted in higher levels of N uptake than the commercial fertilizer treatment for both years. Site-specific manure application is a good method of improving less productive soils or sites within a field.

Technical Abstract: The organic matter in manure can enhance the physical and chemical properties of infertile soils, as these soils typically contain low levels of organic matter and nutrients, and have low water holding capabilities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of manure application for improving crop yield and N status in less productive areas within a field. The treatments included applications of site-specific manure (SSM), uniform manure (UM), uniform commercial fertilizer, and a no treatment check. Field strips 12.2 m wide (16 corn rows) and 680 m long were used in two years (1997 and 1998). Geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were also used in this study to geo-reference the field and to compare aerial photography reflectance bands to corn grain yield and chlorophyll meter readings. For the SSM treatment, manure was applied to areas within the field where organic C was < 14 g kg-1. A uniform application of manure was made in December 1997 to both the UM and SSM strips since almost all the field had organic C < 14 g kg-1. In 1998 and 1999, chlorophyll meter readings and leaf tissue samples were collected from all treatments, and aerial photographs were taken several times during the growing season. In both years, the UM and SSM treatments produced significantly greater grain yields than the commercial fertilizer treatment (an average difference of 1159 kg ha-1). The UM and SSM treatments also resulted in higher levels of N uptake than the commercial fertilizer treatment for both years. Site-specific manure application is a good method of improving less productive soils or sites within a field.