Effects of Gypsum and Fresh Cattle Manure on Physico-chemical Properties of Soil and Yield of Forage Crop in Hwaong Reclaimed Land

Abstract

The effects of application of gypsum and fresh cattle manure on the yield of forage crop were investigated in Hwaong reclaimed land in Korea for 3 years from 2011 to 2013. This study was conducted to develop the practical application method of livestock manure as a fertilization source and a soil physico-chemical ameliorator for the cultivation of forage crop Sorghum×Sudangrass hybrid in newly reclaimed tidal land soil. Treatments with six applications were established with three replications; chemical fertilizer (CF), gypsum (G) 20 Mg ha -1 , G+fresh cattle manure (FCM) 100%, G+FCM 200%, G+FCM 300% and FCM 100% which referred to the application rate equivalent to the recommended amount of phosphate fertilization by soil test. The combined treatments of G+FCM increased soil organic matter, Av.P2O5 and exchangeable Ca 2+ contents while decreased exchangeable Na + and Mg 2+. The soil bulk density, soil hardness and soil aggregate formation were improved by G+FCM treatments. The dry matter yields of Sorghum×Sudangrass hybrid were significantly increased in proportion to the application rate of FCM. The phosphorus use efficiency showed the highest in the application level of G+FCM 100%, which seemed to be the results of reduced nutrient use efficiency by nutrient immobilization, leaching etc. when applied excessive amount of fresh animal manure.