Soil Health Benefit to Composted Manure Application and Insertion of a Sod Component in a Long-term Organic Crop Rotation

Romano, Emily Leslie; Pena‐Yewtukhiw, E. M.; Waterland, Nicole L.; Grove, John H.

doi:10.1097/ss.0000000000000205

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…However, widespread elimination of manure application in areas with intensive animal production, such as the Delmarva Peninsula, could result in serious waste disposal issues (Withers et al, 2015) and burden growers economically by requiring a shift from manure to commercial fertilizers to supply N, K, and other essential plant nutrients. Elimination of manure application could also eliminate the soil health benefits gained by adding organic amendments to soils as part of a soil fertility program (Romano et al, 2017).…”

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Mechanisms of Phosphorus Removal by Phosphorus Sorbing Materials

et al. 2018

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Stormwater filters are a structural best management practice designed to reduce dissolved P losses from runoff. Various industrial byproducts are suitable for use as P sorbing materials (PSMs) for the treatment of drainage water; P sorption by PSMs varies with material physical and chemical properties. Previously, P removal capacity by PSMs was estimated using chemical extractions. We determined the speciation of P when reacted with various PSMs using X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Twelve PSMs were reacted with P solution in the laboratory under batch or flow‐through conditions. In addition, three slag materials were collected from working stormwater filtration structures. Phosphorus K‐edge XANES spectra were collected on each reacted PSM and compared with spectra of 22 known P standards using linear combination fitting in Athena. We found evidence of formation of a variety of Ca‐, Al‐, and/or Fe‐phosphate minerals and sorbed phases on the reacted PSMs, with the exact speciation influenced by the chemical properties of the original unreacted PSMs. We grouped PSMs into three general categories based on the dominant P removal mechanism: (i) Fe‐ and Al‐mediated removal [i.e., adsorption of P to Fe‐ or Al‐(hydro‐)oxide minerals and/or precipitation of Fe‐ or Al‐phosphate minerals]; (ii) Ca‐mediated removal (i.e., precipitation of Ca‐phosphate mineral); and (iii) both mechanisms. We recommend the use of Fe/Al sorbing PSMs for use in stormwater filtration structures where stormwater retention time is limited because reaction of P with Fe or Al generally occurs more quickly than Ca‐P precipitation. Core Ideas P speciation of PSMs was determined using XANES for stormwater filtration media. PSMs remove P via Al/Fe sorption, Ca sorption, or both mechanisms. P speciation facilitates the selection of PSMs for stormwater filtration structures. P speciation is valuable in evaluating potential disposal alternatives of spent PSMs.

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Mechanisms of Phosphorus Removal by Phosphorus Sorbing Materials

et al. 2018

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“…García‐Préchac et al (2004) reviewed results of many years of research on crop rotations that included ley and found that soil quality and crop productivity were higher in rotations involving a ley than in those with only annual crops. Romano et al (2017) reported that both manure application twice in the rotations and diversifying a 4‐yr organic crop rotation with 3 yr ley increased soil organic matter (OM) and wet aggregate stability, and reduced bulk density the year after breaking up the sod. Manure application increased available soil P and K, but incorporation of ley increased soil P and K only where manure was not applied.…”

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External Inputs and Livestock for Organic Hill Land Farming Systems in Appalachia

Basweti

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Goff³

et al. 2018

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Hill land farmers, especially in Appalachia, are usually low external input grassland-based livestock producers with low output per hectare. Most of their land is unsuitable for annual crop production. Very little research has been published on organic crop production incorporated into livestock farming systems on hill land. Our objective was to compare the effects of four such systems on crop production and soil test results. The experiment had two fixed rotations, 4 and 7 yr, with two treatments at two levels. Treatments were low and high external inputs, without and with livestock, using three replications. All treatments had the same four annual crops in the same sequence. The with-livestock treatments had an additional 3 yr grass-legume ley. Sheep (Ovis aries) grazed the withlivestock treatment fields. Initiated in 1999, the experiment was terminated in 2011. Production of all crops and cover crops and soil organic matter (OM) was higher on systems with high external inputs than on systems with low external inputs. Under low external inputs the system with livestock produced more wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and soil OM and available K were higher compared with the system without livestock. We conclude that integrating crops and livestock in a farming system can increase soil quality and crop productivity. Furthermore, Appalachian livestock farmers could increase stocking rate by implementing an integrated crop livestock system irrespective of level of external inputs. A major barrier to such integration is the lack of experience in applying good management practices to livestock, crops, and grassland.Abbreviations: DM, dry matter; OM, organic matter. A ppalachia occupies a large region in the eastern United States and includes all ofWest Virginia and portions of 12 other states. Much of this region consists of hill land characterized by small areas of flat land on ridge tops and along small streams. Two-thirds of the land in WV has slopes greater than 20%, much of which has been eroded (Colyer, 1976) and has topographic characteristics that restrict its agricultural use (Baker et al., 1981). Good soil conservation practices require permanent ground cover, usually grassland or trees. Just a small part of most farms is suitable for annual crops. Average farm size is small (approximately 60 ha) and not amenable to the use of large machinery. Amounts of fertilizer, pesticides, and other external or off-farm inputs used are low. Many farmers produce weaned calves using grassland as the principal source of feed. Stocking rate is frequently based on the amount of hay produced, which is restricted by how much of the farm can be traversed by haying equipment.Crowder (1976) considered low inputs and integration of crops and animals important for hill land farmers. He writes, "Low inputs result in low yields but such a farming system on hill land is sustainable" and "animals are an essential component in the recycling of nutrients."

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