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Effects of Dairy Manure Compost and Supplemental Inorganic Fertilizer on Coastal Bermudagrass
Author(s) -
Helton Thomas J.,
Butler Twain J.,
McFarland Mark L.,
Hons Frank M.,
Mukhtar Saqib,
Muir James P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2007.0305
Subject(s) - compost , cynodon dactylon , manure , agronomy , forage , perennial plant , zoology , fertilizer , chemistry , biology
Management strategies for using raw and composted dairy manures on perennial forages are not well defined. This study compared the effects of raw or composted dairy manure alone, or in combination with supplemental inorganic fertilizers (IFs), on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] yield. Composted manure was split applied with 14.5 Mg ha −1 in 2002 and 2003 for a total of 29 Mg ha −1 (C1), or single applications of raw dairy manure (M) at 54 Mg ha −1 , or composted manure at 29 (C2) or 58 (C3) Mg ha −1 were applied in 2002. These treatments were compared with an IF check (112 kg N ha −1 cutting −1 plus 49 kg P ha −1 yr −1 plus 93 kg K ha −1 cutting −1 ) and an untreated check (UC). Selected compost and manure plots also received supplemental inorganic N at rates of 0, 56, 84, and 112 kg ha −1 cutting −1 , or 112 kg N ha −1 cutting −1 plus inorganic P (49 kg P ha −1 yr −1 ) or K (93 kg K ha −1 cutting −1 ). Maximum yields were obtained with 56 kg N ha −1 cutting −1 in 2002, and with 84 kg N ha −1 cutting −1 in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, supplemental inorganic P increased forage yields with the lower rate of compost (C2), and supplemental inorganic K increased forage yields of C2 and M treatments compared with the compost or M treatments alone