1. Using Manure for Row Crop Production Edwin Ritchey Extension Soil Specialist UK-REC

2. “Organic” Amendments Animal Manures Processed Municipal Waste – “be in front of the line” – Louisville Green (5-3-0) Separate solids, anaerobic digesters, dewatered in centrifuges, heat dried in rotary drums – Warren County has a “new” operation on-line – Lime stabilized waste (many are giving away) Composted Products – Decomposition process that reduces the volume and produces a stabilized product Concentrates some nutrients, not others

3. Spreading Poultry Litter

4. Manure and Compost = $$$ Animal Manure is a complete fertilizer Calculate value based on N-P-K But more value than just N-P-K – Ca, Mg, S, B, Mo, Zn, Cu, and “other” Hard to measure “other” – but I am trying!!! – Increased OM, improved structure, improved tilth, and plant available water Must be aware of mineralization rates and loss mechanisms

5. Value of Nutrients in Manure Bulk fertilizer prices per ton (10-12-12) – Urea (46-0-0) $790 (N=$0.86/lb N) – KCl (0-0-60) $597 (K 2 O=$0.54/lb K) – DAP (18-46-0) $649 if only considered N= $1.80/lb N if only considered P= $0.71/lb P 2 O 5 accounting for N in DAP = $0.37/lb P 2 O 5 Must consider what nutrients are needed Value = $62.43/ton adjusted for availability (assuming 55-55-45 and 50, 80, and 100% availability)

6. Value of Nutrients in Manure Bulk fertilizer prices per ton (10-2-13) – Urea (46-0-0) $460 (N=$0.50/lb N) – KCl (0-0-60) $445 (K 2 O=$0.37/lb K) – DAP (18-46-0) $500 if only considered N= $1.39/lb N if only considered P= $0.54/lb P 2 O 5 accounting for N in DAP = $0.35/lb P 2 O 5 Must consider what nutrients are needed Value = $51.51/ton adjusted for availability (assuming 55-55-45 and 50, 80, and 100% availability)

7. Nutrient Variation - N Mineralization (Organic N  NH 4 + ) – Warm, moist, and O 2 Ammonia loss (NH 3 ) – Warm, wet, and windy Nitrification (NH 4 +  NO 3 - ) – NH 4 + present, warm, moist, and O 2 Denitrification (NO 3 -  NO 2 -  NO  N 2 0  N 2 ) – NO 3 -, waterlogged soils, available carbon, and warm Leaching (NO 3 - )

8. Nitrogen Rate Determination IS UK RECOMMENDING ENOUGH N? Based on crop response for: different drainage classes, tillage practice, and crop history Crop needs differ (e.g. corn vs. wheat) Drainage class: well drained soil requires less N than poorly drained soil Not based on yield goals, no difference in most instances (exception-irrigated fields?)

9. Specific Research Results The Use of Organic Soil Amendments for Wheat and Corn Production

10. Considerations Time of poultry houses cleanout – Mainly Spring and Fall Other organic sources – Composts – Between planting and harvest – Processed Municipal Waste – Year round Nutrient availabilities – Varies – Due to type of material, timing, application and storage method, mineralization rates, etc

11. Nitrogen Availability (PL) Crop Management*Availability (%) Cornor Spring Applied Annual Grass 2 days60 5-6 days50 > 7 days<45 Fall Applied No Cover Crop15 Cover Crop50 Wheat Preplant50 Pasture(cool) Spring/Fall80 * Incorporation with tillage or > 0.5 inches of rain (AGR-146)

12. Methods Zanesville Silt Loam (2011) Applied PL, LG, CSM based on Total N – Assumed 100% available – 100, 150, and 200 lbs total N/A for wheat – 100, 200, and 300 lbs total N/A for corn 4 Rates of inorganic N plus non-treated check – 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 lbs N/A for wheat – 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 lbs N/A for corn

14. 2011 Results (LSD = 6.7)

15. Wheat grain yields and N availabilities for the 2011-2012 crop. Production Function: Y= -0.0031X 2 + 0.7662X + 23.091 (R 2 =0.9899) N SourceN-RateYield (bu/A)Eq. Urea-N% N Avail† CF021.9e0- 3045.6c30- 6058.3b60- 9064.5b90- 12072.1a120- CSM10020.3e-3.6≤ 0 15019.5e-4.6≤ 0 20022.4e-0.9≤ 0 PL10029.9d9.2 15031.6d11.77.8 20033.9d15.07.5 LG10033.2d14.0 15043.9c31.120.7 20046.8c36.318.1 † Availabilities are compared to commercial fertilizer N response data. Slight differences in equivalent urea-N and subsequent availabilities are attributed to the variation in the fitted line verses the actual response. 2011 Results (LSD = 6.7)

16. 2012 Results (LSD = 15.6)

17. Wheat grain yields and N availabilities for the 2012-2013 crop. Production Function: Y= -0.0016X 2 + 0.4879X + 71.087 (R 2 =0.9987) N SourceN-RateYield (bu/A)Eq. Urea-N% N Avail† CF070.80- 3085.130- 6094.060- 90101.890- 120106.4120- CSM10067.9-6.4≤ 0 15075.49.26.1 20076.511.65.8 PL10096.566.7 15081.623.315.6 20091.750.725.3 LG10091.850.925.4 15092.753.726.9 200108.0140.370.2 † Availabilities are compared to commercial fertilizer N response data. Slight differences in equivalent urea-N and subsequent availabilities are attributed to the variation in the fitted line verses the actual response. 2012 Results (LSD = 15.6)

18. Mean annual temperature (F) and precipitation (in) at UK-REC for the 2011-2012 and 2012 -2013 growing seasons. YearMonthAvg. Temp (F) Avg. Temp Departure† Precipitation (in) Precipitation Departure 2011Oct57-21.35-1.70 2011Nov51+49.12+4.49 2011Dec42+36.13+1.09 2012Jan40+63.01-0.79 2012Feb44+61.73-2.70 2012Mar60+133.27-1.67 2012Apr60+10.62-4.18 2012May71+41.36-3.60 2012Jun742.38-1.47 2012Oct57-22.94-0.11 2012Nov45-22.11-2.52 2012Dec45+64.77-0.27 2013Jan38+46.31+2.51 2013Feb39+13.09-1.34 2013Mar42-54.34-0.60 2013Apr57-25.72+0.92 2013May664.26-0.70 2013Jun747.55+3.70

19. 2013 Corn Results

20. Table 2. Corn grain yields and N availabilities for the 2013 crop. Production Function: Y= -0.0046X 2 + 1.4736X + 110.24 (R 2 =0.9401) N SourceN-RateYield (bu/A)Eq. Urea-N% N Avail† CF0102.00- 50190.750- 100205.5100- 150216.1150- 200225.7200- CSM86127.912.514.4 173145.626.115.1 259 121.27.62.9 PL100156.635.4 200189.067.833.9 300213.2103.034.3 LG100171.749.3 200210.598.049.0 300210.698.232.7

21. What do these results mean? Need more information N availability varies (between and within products) Probably not 50% N availability with wheat and corn when surface applied – Incorporation with tillage??? Are they still a good deal??? – Put a pencil to it and consider other benefits

22. If not Yield then What? Soil Organic Matter Resistance to compaction Residual Nitrogen Infiltration/Structure – infiltrometer Plant Available Water – pressure plate Other Benefits???

23. Poultry Litter Ave. (gypsum) Gypsum noyes no0 + 00 + 3 yes3 + 03 + 3 Ave. (litter) Experimental Design 16 reps. 32 reps.

24. Poultry Litter Ave. (gypsum) Gypsum noyes no118±22129±17124±20 a yes121±27120±30120±28 a Ave. (litter)120±24 a124±24 a 2012 Corn Yield (bu/acre)

25. Poultry Litter Ave. (gypsum) Gypsum noyes no57±660±858±7 a yes56±558±957±7 a Ave. (litter)57±5 b * 59±8 a ** P ≤ 0.10 2012 Soybean Yield (bu/acre)

26. Other Considerations The environment (DOW, EPA, DAQ) – “Though shall not pollute” – Utilize setbacks Neighbors (Good fences make good neighbors) – Good neighbors make good neighbors – Litter was stockpiled and later applied – Producer was told to incorporate or $25,000 fine – 401 KAR 53:101 – mix 1 part “polluted air” with 7 parts of filtered air and if odor is detected then in violation

27. Conclusions More information is needed for KY Organic amendments are a good source of plant nutrients, but… Optimize nutrients present (DAP for N) – Test soil, test manure Availabilities vary between and within sources Be considerate of environment and neighbors

28. Questions?