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

Balancing the availability of nutrients in manured soils

Non-Peer Reviewe

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

Non-Peer Reviewe

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

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

Non-Peer Reviewe

Copper and zinc amounts and distribution in soil as influenced by application of animal manure in east-central Saskatchewan

Increasing use of animal manures in Saskatchewan requires information on the fate and distribution of residual manure Cu and 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 5-yr 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 3 yr. 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 an d 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 than cattle manure on increasing labile Cu and Zn fractions. These results indicate that annual addition of animal manures at rates of approximately 100 kg N ha-1 for 3 to 5 yr does not constitute an environmental risk from Cu and Zn loading in these soils. Key words: Cu fraction, Zn fraction, sequential Cu extraction, sequential Zn extraction, urea, swine manure, cattle manure </jats:p

Nitrogen dynamics in manured Saskatchewan soils

Non-Peer Reviewe

Fertilizer N management and P placement effects on yield, seed protein content and N uptake of flax under varied conditions in Saskatchewan

In the Canadian prairies, producers prefer to seed and apply all fertilizer nutrients in one operation, but placement of fertilizers at high rates in the seed row can reduce crop emergence. Recently, specialized equipment has been developed to minimize or prevent damage to seedlings by maintaining a safe separation between seed and fertilizer. A 3-yr (2000 to 2002) field study was conducted to determine the effect of N formulation (urea and anhydrous ammonia), placement (broadcast, side-band and mid-row band), timing (fall and spring) and rate (0 to 90 or 120 kg N ha-1), and P placement (7–10 kg P ha-1) on plant density, seed and straw yield, seed protein content, and N uptake in seed and straw of flax (Linum ustatissimum L.) under no-till at four sites (Indian Head, Black Chernozem soil – Udic Boroll; Melfort, Dark Gray Luvisol soil – Mollic Cryoboralf; Swift Current, Brown Chernozem soil – Aridic Boroll; and Scott, Dark Brown Chernozem soil – Typic Boroll) in Saskatchewan. There was a significant increase at 10 of 12 site-years for seed yield, at 5 site-years for straw yield, at 12 site-years for seed protein content, at 11 site-years for seed N uptake, and at 8 site-years for straw N uptake with increasing N fertilizer rate, but the responses were generally small to moderate and varied with placement, form and timing of N application, and placement of P fertilizer in a few cases. Side-banded N fertilizer treatments reduced plant emergence at 3 site-years for urea and at 4 site-year for anhydrous ammonia, but the plant densities were considered adequate for optimum yield. Seed and straw yield, seed protein content, and N uptake in seed and straw were generally similar between side-banded and mid-row-banded N fertilizer, and also similar between urea and anhydrous ammonia in most cases.Occasionally, there was a trend of seed yield reduction with seed-placed P compared with side-banded P, side-banded urea was more effective than broadcast urea, and fall banded N less effective than spring side-banded N. In conclusion, there were few differences in the agronomic performance of urea vs. anhydrous ammonia and side-band vs. mid-row band. The findings did suggest that broadcast urea can be less effective than side-banded urea, fall banded N can be inferior to spring banded N, and seed-placed P can reduce seed yield compared with side-banded P. Key words: Anhydrous ammonia, flax, N application timing, N form, N and P placement, N uptake, protein content, urea, yield </jats:p

Effect of fertilizer nitrogen management and phosphorus placement on canola production under varied conditions in Saskatchewan

No-till (NT) requires all fertilizer nutrients to be applied during planting, but high rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) in close proximity to the seed can negatively affect seedling development; therefore, different placement technologies have been developed to place seed and N in a single operation while maintaining an adequate separation between them. We conducted a 3-yr field study (2000 to 2002) at four sites in Saskatchewan. The objective was to determine the effects of N fertilizer form [urea (U) and anhydrous ammonia (AA)], placement [broadcast, side-band (SB) and mid-row band (MRB)], timing (fall vs. spring), rate (0 to 90 or 120 kg N ha-1), and P fertilizer placement on yield, seed protein content and N uptake in canola. The N fertilizer managements had no significant effect on crop emergence. Yield, seed protein concentration and N uptake increased with increasing N fertilizer rate. Seed protein was significantly higher on SB compared with MRB and on U compared with AA. Seed yield and seed and straw N uptake were higher when U was SB compared with broadcast. Plant density was higher when P was placed in SB rather than with the seed, but the reverse was true for seed yield and seed N uptake. Key words: Anhydrous ammonia, N timing, N form, N and P placement, N uptake, yield </jats:p