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Effects of Varying Salt Levels in Liquid Swine Manure on Soil Composition and Corn Yield
Author(s) -
Sutton A. L.,
Nelson D. W.,
Mayrose V. B.,
Nye J. C.,
Kelly D. T.
Publication year - 1984
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/jeq1984.00472425001300010009x
Subject(s) - loam , manure , agronomy , nutrient , soil water , chemistry , dry matter , fertilizer , composition (language) , zoology , environmental science , biology , soil science , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
A 4‐y field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of liquid swine manure application to silt loam and silly clay loam soils cropped to corn ( Zea mays L.). Manure from growing‐finishing pigs fed 16% crude protein diets with either 0.2 or 0.5% supplemental salt was collected and stored in oxidation ditches or anaerobic pits. Swine manure (2.0–3.3% dry matter) from the four dietary salt by waste treatment combinations was surface‐applied annually to Fox and Raub silt loam and Chalmers silty clay loam soils at rates of 90, 180, and 270 t/ha for 3 y. No manure was applied the fourth year to determine residual nutrient effects. Check and inorganic fertilizer treatments were also studied. Increasing dietary salt levels increased Na levels in manure and Na loading of the soil. The maximum rate of Na loading was 123 kg/ha/y from manure from pigs fed the 0.5% dietary salt level. Soil exchangeable Na, exchangeable K, available P and NO 3 − ‐N concentrations increased each year of manure application, but there was a depletion after the residual year for all except available P. High manure applications did not adversely affect corn yields; however, applications above the 90‐t rate exceeded crop nutrient needs for all soil conditions. The effects of aerobic vs. anaerobic manure handling systems on corn yields, plant composition and soil composition were inconsistent. Corn leaf analyses for N tended to reflect N application rates, but other leaf nutrient concentrations did not consistently reflect nutrient loadings from manure. Application rates of liquid manure used in this study did not lead to soil contamination nor corn plant phytotoxicity problems.