Soil compactibility which basically depends on soil texture, organic matter and soil water content during farm machinery traf®cking are major factors affecting soil conservation. In a ®eld experiment, cattle farmyard manure was applied to a silty clay loam soil (®ne-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargids, USDA; Calcaric Cambisols, FAO) in Isfahan, Iran. Three rates, 0, 50, 100 Mg haÿ1 (on oven ...

This review analyzes published data on manure management practices used to mitigate methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from animal operations. Reducing excreted nitrogen (N) and degradable organic carbon (C) by diet manipulation to improve the balance of nutrient inputs with production is an effective practice to reduce CH4 and N2O emissions. Most CH4 is produced during manure stor...

This review analyzes published data on manure management practices used to mitigate methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from animal operations. Reducing excreted nitrogen (N) and degradable organic carbon (C) by diet manipulation to improve the balance of nutrient inputs with production is an effective practice to reduce CH4 and N2O emissions. Most CH4 is produced during manure stor...

Due to its recalcitrance against microbial degradation, biochar is very stable in soil compared to other organic matter additions, making its application to soils a suitable approach for the build-up of soil organic carbon (SOC). The net effects of such biochar addition also depend on its interactions with existing organic matter in soils. A study was established to investigate how the status o...

Organic farming has increased to a $4.2 billion industry in the U.S. and continues to expand approximately 20% annually. In Iowa alone, organic acreage for all crops has increased from 13,000 in 1995 to 120,000 in 1998. Organic corn production in 1997 was reported at 9,920 acres. International demand for organic products, particularly from the Japanese and European markets, is also on the rise....