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Effects of Fertilizer, Pig Manure, and Sewage Sludge on Timothy and Soils
Author(s) -
Warman P. R.
Publication year - 1986
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/jeq1986.00472425001500020001x
Subject(s) - loam , manure , amendment , fertilizer , agronomy , soil water , sewage sludge , nutrient , leaching (pedology) , chemistry , soil fertility , zoology , phosphorus , soil conditioner , environmental science , sewage , biology , environmental engineering , soil science , organic chemistry , political science , law
Research determined the effect of fertilizer, sewage sludge and pig ( Sus scrofa domesticus ) manure on timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) yield, tissue composition, and soil fertility from 1979 to 1982. Field plots in Quebec on sandy loam and clay loam soils compared 0 fertilizer and annual applications (1979–1981) of two rates of fertilizer (F1,F2 = 110‐50‐85, 220‐50‐85 kg ha −1 N‐P 2 O 5 ‐K 2 O), pig manure (PM1,PM2 = 75 150 wet Mg ha −1 ) or aerobically digested sewage sludge (SS1,SS2 = 150 300 wet Mg ha −1 ). The F2, PM2, and SS2 amendments produced similar yields and plant uptake of nutrients all 3 yr. Although nutrient uptake by timothy was generally higher on the clay loam, due to higher soil fertility and less leaching losses, the percent recovery of the applied nutrients (excluding N and Mn) was similar at both sites. Based on the K:(Ca + Mg) content and regardless of the treatment applied, a potential grass tetany problem exists in the timothy grown in the clay loam. No metal contamination was found in the soil or timothy following the application of any amendment. Only four soil chemical properties, of 11 measured, were influenced by the treatments on either soil. The PM2 treatment increased NO − 3 ‐N, Bray P 2 and extractable K; the SS2 treatment increased Bray P 2 and DTPA Cu. The author, therefore, recommends the application of any of these amendments to timothy at either of the two rates.