Residual Effects of Manure and Compost Applications on Corn Production and Soil Properties

Residual effects of manure or compost application can maintain crop yield level for several years after Residual effects of manure or compost application on crop production and soil properties can last for several years. This study was manure or compost application ceases since only a fracconducted to evaluate residual effects of annual or biennial application of the N and other nutrients in manure or compost tions of Nand P-based composted and noncomposted beef cattle become plant available in the first year after application (Bos taurus) feedlot manure, chemical fertilizer, and no-treatment (Motavalli et al., 1989; Eghball et al., 2002). Eghball check on corn (Zea mays L.) production and soil properties. Manure and Power (1999) found that 40% of beef cattle feedlot and compost were applied from 1992 to 1995, and the residual effects manure N and 20% of compost N were plant available were determined from 1997 to 1999. Residual effects of Nand P-based in the first year after application, indicating that about manure and compost applications on corn grain yield and N uptake 60% of manure N and 80% of compost N became plant lasted for at least one growing season while the effects on soil properties were longer lasting. Soil P can contribute to crop P uptake for 4 available in the succeeding years, assuming little or no yr after N-based manure or compost application had ceased. The loss of N due to NO3–N leaching or denitrification. residual effects of manure and compost applications significantly inResidual effects of organic materials on soil properties creased soil electrical conductivity and pH levels and plant-available can contribute to improvement in soil quality for several P and NO3–N concentrations. Four years after the last application, P years after application ceases (Ginting et al., 2003). Inleaching to a soil depth of 45 to 60 cm was observed with N-based creased levels of soil N, P, K, pH, and C levels in the manure or compost application. No residual effects of manure and soil can increase crop yield beyond the application years. compost applications on soil NH4–N were observed. Averaged across Soil pH, organic matter, total N, NO3–N, and P levels years, soil total C concentrations or quantities were not different among were still elevated 4 yr after dairy manure application the treatments, indicating that total C was not a sensitive indicator. Residual effects of Nor P-based manure or compost application ceased (Mugwira, 1979; Lund and Doss, 1980). Eghball increased crop production for one year and influenced soil properties et al. (2003) found that the increased plant-available for several years. P level in soil following N-based manure or compost application can contribute to crop P uptake for up to 10 yr without any additional P addition. Ginting et al. A of manure or composted manure can (2003) did not find increased emission of greenhouse result in increased soil concentrations of nutrients gasses (CO2, CH4, and N2O) as a result of residual maand organic matter (Chang et al., 1991; Eghball, 2002). nure and compost applications that ceased 4 yr earlier. The residual effects of increased nutrients and organic Residual effects of manure application have been rematter in soil following manure or compost application ported for studies where excessive rates of manure had on crop yield and soil properties can last for several been applied (Wallingford et al., 1975; Mugwira, 1979; years (Mugwira, 1979; Wallingford et al., 1975). SignifiLund and Doss, 1980). Nitrogenand P-based manure cant residual effects of dairy manure application rates or compost application provides rates that are agronomthat ranged from 22.5 to 270 Mg dry weight ha 1 (530– ically and environmentally sound. Nitrogen-based ma6400 kg N ha 1) on crop yield increase were observed nure or compost application can increase soil P levels for the higher 180 and 270 Mg ha 1 rates. These high (Eghball and Power, 1999). However, in areas where rates also increased NO3–N leaching into the soil in a the risk of P transport in runoff is not a concern, N-based study conducted in Alabama (Mugwira, 1979). Even the applications can be made. The objective of this study lowest application rate of 22.5 Mg ha 1 would have was to determine the residual effects of Nand P-based provided nearly twice the N-based requirement for the manure and composted manure application strategies millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) used (Binford et al., on corn production and soil properties. 2000). Four years after application, residual effects of one-time application of beef feedlot manure at rates MATERIALS AND METHODS varying from 123 to 590 Mg dry weight ha 1 (1280–6140 kg N ha 1) resulted in a quadratic increase in corn grain Manure or Compost Application yield but also in increased leaching of NO3–N and Na The experiment was initiated in 1992 on a Sharpsburg silty to a depth of at least 1 m (Wallingford et al., 1975). clay loam soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudolls) under rainfed conditions until 1996 at the University of Nebraska B. Eghball and J.E. Gilley, USDA-ARS, 121 Keim Hall, Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583; and D. Ginting, Dep. of Agron. Agricultural Research Center near Mead, NE. The Sharpsburg and Hortic., Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583. Joint series consists of deep, moderately well drained soils formed in contribution of USDA-ARS and Univ. of Nebraska Agric. Res. Div., loess on uplands and high benches. Permeability is moderately Lincoln, NE, as Paper no. 14066. Received 22 Apr. 2003. *Correspondslow in the upper part of the soil profile and moderate in the ing author ([email protected]). lower part. The study area had a Bray and Kurtz no.1 soil test P concentration of 69 mg kg , a pH of 6.2, and a soil Published in Agron. J. 96:442–447 (2004).  American Society of Agronomy 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA Abbreviation: EC, electrical conductivity.