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Corn Silage Yield and Soil Chemical Properties as Affected by Cattle Feedlot Manure
Author(s) -
Mathers A. C.,
Stewart B. A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1974.00472425000300020012x
Subject(s) - manure , agronomy , silage , feedlot , nitrate , dry matter , nitrogen , organic matter , zoology , environmental science , forage , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry
Cattle feedlot manure was applied at rates of 0‐, 22‐, 45‐, 112‐, and 224‐metric tons/ha for 3 successive years to irrigated corn ( Zea mays L.). Additional plots received 448‐ and 896‐tons/ha for 2 years. Nitrate‐nitrogen in the top 180 cm of soil was maintained at about 100 kg/ha by 22 tons/ha manure applied annually. However, manure rates of 45 tons/ha caused a small increase in soil nitrate‐nitrogen and 112‐ and 224‐tons/ha rates increased the nitrate‐nitrogen remaining in the soil after three seasons to over 1,000 kg/ha. The highest concentration of the nitrate was between 30 and 60 cm, but nitrate accumulated to a depth of 360 cm. Organic matter, phosphorus, extractable potassium and sodium, and conductivity of a saturated paste extract increased in the top 30 cm of soil as the manure rate was increased. Applications of 224 tons/ha or more manure reduced corn silage (dry matter) yields. The optimum rate of manure application of corn silage production was 22 tons which supplied an average 300 kg/ha of nitrogen. Higher rates caused nitrate and salt accumulation in the soil and increased nitrate in the forage.