Nitrogen mineralization and availability in manure composts from Québec biological farms

. 2007. Nitrogen dynamics in soil amended with composted cattle manure. Can. J. Soil Sci. 87: 43-50. The amount and pattern of plant-available nitrogen (N) release from composts are variable and not well-defined. We used a 425-d canola (Brassica napus L.) bioassay to follow the release of N from eight composted cattle manures applied to soil at 20 g kg -1 . Two stockpiled manures, one inorganic fertilizer and an unamended control were also included for comparison. Eight consecutive 30-d growth cycles were conducted in a controlled environment chamber (20°C) and plant N uptake was measured. Total N uptake was greatest from the N fertilizer and least from the wood-chip bedded manure. Addition of compost increased N uptake by 27-99% compared with that in the control. Nitrogen uptake from compost was directly proportional to its inorganic N content (r 2 = 0.98; P < 0.0001) showing that the initial inorganic N content of compost, analyzed prior to its application can be used to predict plant available N. In seven of the eight composts studied, less than 5% of organic N was mineralized over 425 d, suggesting that little of the organic N in compost becomes available in the year of application. Compost is a valuable organic amendment, but co-application of N fertilizer is recommended to supply adequate N and optimize the benefits of compost for crop growth. L'analyse comparative incluait deux fumiers gardés en tas, un engrais inorganique et un sol non amendé comme témoin. Les auteurs ont poursuivi huit cycles de croissance de 30 jours consécutifs dans un phytotron à milieu contrôlé (20°C) afin de mesurer la quantité de N absorbée par les plantes. Les plantes tirent la plus grande quantité de N de l'engrais azoté et la plus faible du fumier venant de la litière de copeaux de bois. L'addition de compost accroît l'absorption de N de 27 à 99 % comparativement aux résultats obtenus avec le sol témoin. La quantité d'azote tirée du compost est directement proportionnelle à sa teneur en N minéral (r 2 = 0,98; P < 0,0001), signe que la teneur initiale du compost en N minéral, dosée avant application pourrait servir à prévoir la quantité de N disponible. Moins de 5 % du N organique été minéralisé au cours des 425 jours de l'étude pour sept des huit composts examinés, ce qui laisse croire que la quantité de N organique présente dans les composts et utilisable par la plante est relativement faible l'année de l'application. Bien que le compost soit un amendement organique utile, les auteurs recommandent que son application s'accompagne d'un engrais N pour que la culture reçoive suffisamment de N et que les bienfaits du compost soient optimisés.

Section: Nitrogen Dynamic Releasesupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Mots Clésmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen dynamics in soil amended with composted cattle manure

Helgason¹,

Larney²,

Janzen³

et al. 2007

“…Good indicators of potential N mineralization include soluble organic carbon and insoluble organic carbon (Hadas and Portnoy 1994), C:N ratio of manure (Qian and Schoenau 2002a), and Walkley-Black N (Douglas and Magdoff 1991). N'Dayegamiye et al (1997) found that most of the manures and composts studied had high N mineralization rates until labile forms of N from microbial products were exhausted, followed by a period of slow mineralization of more stable N forms. Nutrient release may be synchronous with crop needs resulting in more efficient N utilization (Ma et al 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nutrient release from manures and composts can be quite variable ranging from 10 to 40% of total N (N tot ) (Castellanos and Pratt 1981;Hadas and Portnoy 1994;N'Dayegamiye et al 1997;Qian and Schoenau 2002a). Good indicators of potential N mineralization include soluble organic carbon and insoluble organic carbon (Hadas and Portnoy 1994), C:N ratio of manure (Qian and Schoenau 2002a), and Walkley-Black N (Douglas and Magdoff 1991).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient supply from organic amendments applied to unvegetated soil, lettuce and orchardgrass

Hammermeister¹,

Astatkie²,

Jeliazkova³

et al. 2006

. Nutrient supply from organic amendments applied to unvegetated soil, lettuce and orchardgrass. Can. J. Soil Sci. 86: 21-33. Organic sources of nutrients are increasingly being used in horticultural and certified organic production. The nutrient-supplying potentials of poultry manure compost (PM), feather meal (FM), alfalfa meal (AA) and vermicastings (VC) and an unamended control were measured in a growth room experiment. The amendments were applied at rates equivalent to 200, 400 and 800 kg total N ha -1 to a soil of low fertility. Nitrogen supply rates and concentrations were measured over 6 mo in unvegetated pots using PRS™ probes and KCl extraction, respectively. Biomass of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and N uptake of orchardgrass were measured. Repeated measures analysis revealed significant amendment × rate × time interaction effects for N supply rate and concentration. Of total N applied, available N was 50 to 70% in the FM and PM treatments, 10 to 40% in the AA treatments, and 10% in the VC treatments. High rates of FM and PM were toxic to lettuce but produced good orchardgrass yields. VC was safe for lettuce but low N availability limited long-term orchardgrass growth. Higher application rates did not result in corresponding increases in nutrient supply. Consideration should be given to balancing the ratio of available nutrients in amendments with plant requirements. toxique pour la laitue, mais assure un bon rendement de dactyle pelotonné. Le FV est inoffensif pour la laitue, mais la faible quantité de N réduit la croissance à long terme du dactyle. Un taux d'application supérieur n'entraîne pas de hausse correspondante de l'apport de nutriments. On devrait songer à équilibrer la quantité d'éléments nutritifs disponible avec les besoins de la plante.

“…It has been demonstrated that the amount of N mineralized is related to manure type, material composition, degree of maturity, application rate and soil type (Castellanos and Pratt 1981;Leclerc et al 1986;Hébert et al 1991;N'Dayegamiye et al 1997;. The intensity of composting management had only a positive impact when materials were welldecomposed (Shi et al 1999).…”

Section: Mots Clés: Compostage Fumier De Ferme Composition Du Solmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of on-farm and industrial composts to soil pH and enrichment in available nutrients and metals

Gagnon¹

2004

Gagnon, B. 2004. Contribution of on-farm and industrial composts to soil pH and enrichment in available nutrients and metals. Can. J. Soil Sci. 84: 439-445. Soil composition following addition of on-farm manure composts should be investigated for better utilization of these products in the field. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the contribution of several on-farm and industrial composts to soil pH and its enrichment in available major nutrients and metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn). Materials were mixed at a rate of 200 mg N kg -1 with an Arago sandy loam (Humo-Ferric Podzol), and incubated in glass jars at 35 o C for 13 wk. Composts from poultry litter (PL), vegetable residue (VR), wood shavings and dairy manure were among those that provided the highest levels of available N and P at the end of incubation. The vegetable residue compost also substantially increased the levels of Mehlich-3 Ca and Mg, but it was a poor source of K. Most dairy manure composts (DM) contributed to increase the soil exchangeable K. The industrial yard trimming compost (YT) largely increased soil pH and available N and Ca, but it was a very poor source of P and K. The spent mushroom compost (MU) also increased soil pH and Mehlich-3 Ca. In contrast to the major nutrients, on-farm composts had a limited impact on soil pH and on the available metal contents. This study indicates that the enrichment in major nutrients and metals of this acidic sandy loam and the relative contribution of the studied elements were mainly related to composted material sources and their degree of decomposition.