Impact of repeated addition of swine manure and cattle manure on Cu and Zn amount and distribution in a Saskatchewan soil

Non-Peer ReviewedIncreasing use of animal manures in Saskatchewan requires information on the fate and distribution of residual manure copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in Saskatchewan soils. To address this issue, the amounts of soil Cu and Zn in various inorganic and organic fractions were investigated in a field crop research plot (Cudworth association soil) with a five year history of annual application of liquid swine manure and solid cattle manure, and in two grassland field research plots (Meota and Oxbow association soils) that had received annual application of liquid swine manure for three years. The annual rates of manure application were based on N contents in the manures, and were equivalent to approximately 0, 100, 200 and 400 kg total N ha-1 yr-1 in the field crop plots, and 0 and 100 kg total N ha-1 yr-1 in grassland plots. In both the field crop and grassland manured plots there were no substantial increases in total Cu and Zn in soils associated with manure application. Some increases in the moderately labile Cu and Zn fractions were observed in treatments with large amounts of animal manures applied every year. The liquid swine manure had less effect on increasing labile Cu and Zn fractions than cattle manure. These results indicate that annual addition of animal manures at rates of approximately 100 kg N ha-1 for 3 to 5 years does not constitute an environmental risk from Cu and Zn loading in these soils

Grain yield and protein content of durum wheat preceded by green manure

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Soil and canary seed yield response over three years to a single application of poultry manure on a heavy clay soil near Regina, SK

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Phosphorus amounts and distribution in soil as influenced by five years of repeated addition of liquid swine manure and solid cattle manure in east-central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedLand application of livestock manure is usually considered for N needs of crops (Gburek et al. 2000). Although the N:P ratio in animal manures and effluent exhibit wide variations due to different sources and stockpiling, the manure N:P ratio is often smaller than the N:P uptake ratio of most crops (Gburek et al. 2000). It is reported that the average N:P ratio in manure from various cattle feedlots was around 2.7 (Watts et al., 1994; Eghball et al., 1997), while N:P grain uptake ratios in winter wheat, corn, and grain sorghum were 4.5, 5.9, and 4.5 respectively (Gilbertson et al., 1979). Thus, accumulation of P in soils may increase the risk of P escape from the soil system before it is used by subsequent crops (Sharpley et al., 1994; Lennox et al., 1997; Schoenau et al., 1999; Sims et al. 2000). A single application of swine manure at either low and high rates in Saskatchewan was found to have no significant impacts on increasing labile P forms in a Black Chernozemic soil (Qian and Scheonau. 2000a). However, after several years of application of animal manures, especially cattle manure, concerns over P loading have been brought to the attention of the livestock industry in Western Canada. Numerous reports show that long-term use of cattle manures and fertilizer P sources alter the amounts and distribution of P in the various pools of soil P, especially at higher P rates (Dormaar and Sommerfeldt, 1986; McKenzie et al., 1992a; Dormaar and Chang, 1995; Zheng et al, 2001). However, few studues have examined the effects of liquid swine manure addition on P distribution in prairie soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of repeated applications of solid cattle manure and liquid swine manure on the amounts and distribution of P among various chemically distinguishable labile and stable P fractions in a Black Chernozemic soil in east-central Saskatchewan

Balancing the availability of nutrients in manured soils

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Post-emergence application of liquid swine manure in east central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedIn early 1997, the Prairie Protein Action Committee was established and one of its objectives was to identify ways to meet the increasing demand for wheat with specific protein quality and quantity (Fowler et al. 1998). The main areas of concern were low protein levels in western Canadian wheat and increased competition on the world market for high protein wheat. To address these concerns, one of the objectives was to identify research needs relating to the production and management of wheat protein. Protein quality can be enhanced by genetic improvement or by N fertility management. Among the main objectives in plant breeding programs are the need to increase yield and protein. However, the two traits have generally been found to be negatively related. This negative relationship may be as a result of dilution of the protein concentration as carbohydrates in the endosperm increase with yield. Thus, genetic improvement may have a small contribution toward enhancement of protein content in wheat. Hucl et al. (1998) found that less than 3% of variations in protein concentration in spring wheat was due to genetic variation, whereas over 80% of the variation was due to environmental effects, which include N fertility. Campbell et al. (1997) noted that in the Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan, 18% of the protein variation was due to N fertility. Within a cultivar, up to 99% of the variability in grain protein could be due to soil N variability (Fowler 1986). Hence, N fertility management is key to improving protein quality in wheat. Livestock manure application as a N source to boost yield and protein of wheat offers an alternative to chemical N fertilizers. There is opportunity to enhance protein levels in cereals and achieve protein premiums by delaying manure application and applying it post-emergent to cereals. Delayed manure application also helps widen the window of application and reduce manure application costs. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of low disturbance, post-emergent liquid swine manure injection on wheat protein and yield in east central Saskatchewan. This paper presents the results of the first two years of this three year study

Crop response to liquid swine effluent and solid cattle manure over four years in east-central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedDue to the advent of relatively cheap chemical N fertilizers, the use of livestock manure as a source of nutrients to crops was downplayed (James, et al., 1996). However, the expansion of the livestock industry, the need to utilize of the manure in an environmentally friendly and economically viable manner, and the desire to minimize the use of chemical N fertilizers have rekindled interest in the use of livestock manure as a fertilizer. Of particular interest is the need to utilize manure from large-scale intensive livestock operations (Chang and Janzen, 1996). This report is part of an on-going study initiated in 1996 to examine the soil and crop response to application of liquid swine manure and solid feedlot cattle manure at different rates and methods of application. Furthermore, the study seeks to evaluate nutrient forms and amounts in the manure and the effect of rate and method of manure application on soil fertility, nutrient utilization and crop yield. This paper puts together and summarizes the results of crop response to annual application of the two types of manure compared to that of urea fertilizer observed over the past four years, 1997 to 2000

Effects of long-term swine manure application on soil and plant nitrogen and crop yield in an east-central Saskatchewan Gray Luvisol soil

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Soil and crop response to injected liquid swine manure on two Gray Luvisols

Non-Peer ReviewedIntensive livestock production is increasing in western Canada, and so is the need to dispose of the manure produced. In the last six years or so, the Saskatchewan Centre for Soil Research at the University of Saskatchewan in conjunction with researchers at Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) have carried out studies in various areas of manure management. The overall aim of these studies is to determine the viability and sustainability of manure application to agricultural land. The impact of livestock manure application to land is influenced by various factors, among them: soil characteristics, climatic conditions, cropping systems, manure handling and application techniques. Thus, manure management is bound to be site-specific. In order to come up with viable site-specific manure management recommendations, studies have to be conducted in various regions representing the diverse agricultural zones of the province. Although there are various aspects of the impact of manure application to agricultural land, both long-term and short-term, the immediate impact of manure application is typically exhibited in enhanced availability of N in the soil, crop yield and plant N concentration. This is more so with swine manure which has a relatively high concentration of inorganic N. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of rate and frequency of swine manure application on crop performance and soil available N in the Gray and Dark Gray soil zones of Saskatchewan

Synchronization of nitrogen availability and plant nitrogen demand : nitrogen and non-nitrogen effects of lentil to subsequent wheat crops

A study was conducted to determine (1) the N contribution of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) and its effect on subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in the Dark Brown and Brown soil zones of Saskatchewan, (2) if synchronization of available N contributes to the rotation benefit, and (3) N fertilizer replacement value of the N effect of lentil on the subsequent wheat crop. Two approaches were used: a landscape-scale study established at Dinsmore in 1994, and a repeated small-plot study established at several locations (Dinsmore, 1993 and 1994; Clavet, Conquest, Eston and Zealandia, 1995). In the landscape-scale study, N2 fixation by lentil ranged from 28 to 46 kg ha-1, with an average of 34 kg ha -1 N and an N balance of -36 kg ha-1. In the small-plot study, N2 fixation ranged from 10 to 112 kg ha -1 with an average of 59 kg ha-1 N and an N balance of -22 kg ha-1. In the landscape-scale study, preseeding available N on the rotation that incorporated lentil was 29 and 61% higher than in the monocropped wheat in the first and second subsequent crops, respectively. The corresponding values for the small-plot study were 59 and 14%, respectively. N availability was well synchronized with the period of maximum N demand by the wheat crop in both rotations. However, both lentil-residue N and wheat-residue N were poorly synchronized with the period of maximum N demand by the wheat. The rotation effect was exhibited in higher grain yield (23% higher in the landscape-scale study, and 21% higher in the small-plot study). Approximately 10 and 70% of the rotation benefit in the landscape-scale and small plot studies, respectively, were attributed to the N effect. Nitrogen fertilizer replacement value ranged from 47 to 89 kg ha-1 N. Therefore, lentil can fix enough N and indirectly contribute to greater available N in subsequent crops than in crops following non-legumes. However, the actual amount of N derived from lentil residue is small. The greater available N is attributed to spared N and enhanced soil N mineralization. Hence, under the conditions of this study, enhancement of available N contributed more to the rotation benefit than synchronization. The high NFRV show that inclusion of lentil in the rotation can enhance available N in the cropping system and potentially reduce fertilizer N application