Short-Term Legacy Effects of Feedlot Manure Amendments on Irrigated Barley Yield and Soil Macronutrient Supply.
Miller, J., Beasley, B. W., Bremer, E., Drury, C. F., Larney, F. J., Hao, X., & Chanasyk, D. . 2019.
Abstract
Limited research exists on short-term legacy effects of land application of different feedlot
manures on barley yield and soil macronutrient (NO3-N, PO4-P, K, SO4-S) supply. In a study
conducted in southern Alberta, feedlot manures with straw (ST) or wood-chip (WD) bedding
were either stockpiled or composted and applied annually to a clay loam soil at 13, 39, and 77
Mg ha-1 dry wt. for 17 yr. Control treatments without any amendments or with inorganic fertilizer
were included. In the second and third year (2016-2017) after discontinuing manure
applications in 2014, barley silage yield and soil nutrient supply measured in situ with Plant Root
Simulator (PRS®) probes were determined. No significant (P > 0.05) treatment effects occurred
on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) yield. Significant treatment effects occurred on soil nutrient
supply but these depended on date and interaction with other treatment factors. Manure rate
generally increased soil nutrient supply. Soil NO3-N and PO4-P supply were 40 to 59% lower for
composted manure with ST than the other three manure type-bedding treatments ; and were 26
to 53% greater for stockpiled than composted manure. This indicated variable manure type
effects at different dates. At the two highest rates, soil K supply was 60 to 106% greater for ST
than WD bedding, and the reverse trend occurred where SO4-S supply was 40 to 174% greater
for WD than ST bedding. Overall, short-term legacy effects of feedlot manure type and bedding
were more persistent on soil macronutrient supply than barley silage yield.
Key Words
feedlot manure type, bedding material, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur
