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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406615
Research Project: Contributions of Climate, Soils, Species Diversity, and Management to Sustainable Crop, Grassland, and Livestock Production Systems

Location: Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory

Title: Manureshed cross-site experiment to advance the understanding of manure sources and management practices adopted in the US agriculture systems

Author
item BRANDANI, CAROLINA - Texas Agrilife Research
item Flynn, Kyle
item MEREDITH, GWENDWR - University Of Nebraska
item AUVERMANN, BRENT - Texas Agrilife Research
item Spiegal, Sheri
item Kleinman, Peter

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Prudent manure application can increase nutrient soil availability, support regenerative agriculture, and decrease the reliance on mineral fertilizers. Here, the first Manureshed cross-site experiment aimed to characterize the major sources of manure and agriculture management practices used in the US agricultural systems is described/expored. We interviewed 13 LTAR and partner research sites, which delivered 23 forms filled out detailing descriptions of the manure source, mineral fertilizer, nutrient rates from manure and, or mineral fertilizer, frequency of application, timing, placement, irrigation, tillage, fire, manure processing technologies, dominant agricultural system, georeferenced information, and soil series. Results of these surveys and future directions are presented.

Technical Abstract: Prudent manure application can increase nutrient soil availability, support regenerative agriculture, and decrease the reliance on mineral fertilizers. The first Manureshed cross-site experiment aimed to characterize the major sources of manure and agriculture management practices used in the US agricultural systems. We interviewed 13 LTAR and partner research sites, which delivered 23 forms filled out. Researchers were asked to provide a detailed description of the manure source, mineral fertilizer (N, P, K), nutrient rates from manure and, or mineral fertilizer, frequency of application, timing, placement, irrigation, tillage, fire, manure processing technologies, dominant agricultural system, georeferenced information, and soil series. Most of the research sites were mixed crops (16 sites), followed by crop (6), rangeland (3), and pasture (1). Dairy manure (14 sites) has been the most manure source evaluated by the LTAR and partner sites, followed by beef (6), poultry (5) and human biosolid (1). Among mixed-crop systems there were 11 sites with dairy manure, three sites with poultry manure, and two sites with beef manure. Crop sites were represented by beef (3), poultry (2), and dairy (1). Rangeland sites received beef (1 site) and dairy (2 sites) manure. The pasture site received human biosolid and was established in Florida. Regarding tillage practices, six sites had no till, which were representative of all agricultural systems and all manure sources, except for poultry. Annual conventional tillage with dairy manure were the most evaluated agricultural system. Conservational tillage was the least used practice. Most of the sites (62 %) applied manure in conjunction with mineral fertilizer. The average applied of N, P, and K, respectively, from dairy manure were 371, 123, and 653 kg ha-1 yr-1, from beef manure were 99, 51, and 103 kg ha-1 yr-1, and from poultry manure were 226, 181, and 175 kg ha-1 yr-1.