Optimization of Liquid Swine Manure Sidedress Rate and Method for Grain Corn

Abstract

Sidedressing may provide a better window of opportunity for land application of liquid swine (Sus scrofa) manure than early spring or fall application. Rates could be fine‐tuned to match crop N demand using the presidedress nitrate test (PSNT) if: (i) the yield response function to sidedress rate is consistent and (ii) yield and PSNT are positively correlated. To optimize application rate and method, we measured corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield response to in‐row injection (INJ) and topdress (TD) of liquid swine manure (LSM) sidedressed at different rates on clay loam (51‐cm rows in 1999) and silt loam (75‐cm rows from 2000–2002). Yields exceeded local long‐term averages with INJ in all but the wettest year, were variable with TD, and were 2 Mg ha−1 greater with INJ than TD at 37.4 m3 LSM ha−1. From the quadratic yield response to sidedress injection rate, optimal rate (to achieve 95% maximum yield) ranged from 38 to 63 m3 ha−1 (plot‐scale data; four 6‐m sections per plot) and 37 to 49 m3 ha−1 (field‐scale data; 0.2‐ha plots). Yields were correlated with the PSNT (r = 0.75 for no LSM sidedress; r = 0.24 for all treatments). Given the consistent yield response to sidedress INJ rate and accurate (correct 88% of the time) PSNT‐based predictions of additional N requirements (from comparisons of N fertilizer recommendation and relative yield), sidedress injection of LSM using the PSNT to fine‐tune rates according to crop N requirements can be considered as a best management practice.

Sidedressed Dairy Manure Effects on Corn Yield and Residual Soil Nitrate

“…Uptake of N followed a similar pattern to that of yield except that PP-Incorp was higher (at P = 0.10). Overall, results show that whole-plant yields from sidedressedincorporated manure equaled those from preplant manure and sidedressed fertilizer N, consistent with results from other research with swine manure (Ball-Coelho et al, 2005;Deen et al, 2008) and dairy cattle manure (Beauchamp, 1983).…”

“…Direct incorporation or injection into a growing corn crop at sidedress time offers another window of time for manure application and can be an effective way to meet corn N needs (Ball-Coelho et al, 2005). Potential benefits of sidedressed manure compared to spring pre-plant application include avoiding delay of corn planting during the short window of time in the spring, allowing use of the presidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) to better adjust manure N rates to crop need, reducing compaction by avoiding manure spreader traffic in spring when soil moisture tends to be high, and reducing N losses by leaching or denitrification by avoiding the spring period when precipitation typically exceeds evapotranspiration (Ball-Coelho et al, 2005;Deen et al, 2008). For these reasons the practice of sidedressing livestock slurry in corn or other crops has become more common in areas such as Quebec (Côté et al, 1999).…”

“…For these reasons the practice of sidedressing livestock slurry in corn or other crops has become more common in areas such as Quebec (Côté et al, 1999). Research in Ontario comparing sidedressing of liquid swine manure with fertilizer N showed that sidedressed manure was an effective method to supply the N needs of corn (Ball-Coelho et al, 2005;Deen et al, 2008) and that N recovery and N use efficiency were greater from injected than surface-applied manure (Ball-Coelho et al, 2006). Concentrations of NO 3 -N reaching tile lines tended to be higher from injected manure than from sidedressed surface application, but application rates adjusted to supply adequate N for the crop did not compromise water quality (Ball-Coelho et al, 2007).…”

On‐Farm Evaluation of Liquid Swine Manure as a Nitrogen Source for Corn Production

“…Liquid swine manure can be a resource for providing essential plant nutrients and building soil nutrient resources, but its management for maximum productivity with minimum environmental impact is often difficult (Karlen et al, 2004). In several field trials, LSM was found to be as efficient as fertilizers for grain crops (Balik and Olfs, 1998; Fleming et al, 1998; McLaughlin et al, 2000; Daudén and Quílez, 2004; Ball Coelho et al, 2005; Carter and Campbell, 2006; Kwaw‐Mensah and Al‐Kaisi, 2006) due to its high nutrient availability, and thus LSM N would substitute for FN in cereal crops (Chantigny et al, 2008; Deen et al, 2008; Sholly et al, 2010; Seidel et al, 2010). Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients to manage for corn because of frequent applications and large crop requirement.…”

Nitrate, Phosphate, and Ammonium Loads at Subsurface Drains: Agroecosystems and Nitrogen Management

“…When appropriately managed, manure can be an excellent local source of nutrients for crops, and cropland application can represent an economical means of disposal (Randall et al, 2000; Gupta et al, 2004; Ball‐Coelho et al, 2005); however, manure‐derived nutrients can move through soils and degrade surface water quality (Israel et al, 2005). Existing reports have demonstrated substantial increases in soil NO 3 − (Stoddard et al, 2005; Olson et al, 2009) and PO 4 3− (Hergert et al, 1981) concentrations as a response to solid cattle manure additions.…”