Jemrest




Home \| Instructions to Authors \|SASE\| Editorial Board \| Articles \| Subscriptions \| Conference \| Conference Program

Abstract

Moncrief, J.F., L.J. Johnston, and M.J. Spiehs. 2009. The effect of swine manure source and method of application on runoff losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. JEMREST 6:00-00

10.4029/2009jemrest6no17

In the fall of 2006, swine manure was collected from an anaerobic, liquid manure pit under a finishing barn and from a straw-bedded hoop barn. Manure was used to fertilize corn, (Zea Maize, L.). Liquid manure was injected. Solid manure was broadcast either before or after fall chisel plowing across the slope. Control plots received commercial fertilizer in the spring. Runoff plots (3m x 21m) were replicated four times on a uniform hill slope (~12% slope). Snowmelt and rainfall runoff were measured with tipping buckets. A composite runoff sample from each plot for each event was analyzed for contaminants. Soil cover with crop and manure residue after spring snowmelt was 13%, 31%, 50%, and 14% for the liquid injected, surface applied incorporated, surface applied unincorporated, and fertilized control, respectively. After spring tillage and planting, soil cover was 8%, 22%, 28%, and 14% for the same treatments respectively. Surface applied solid manure without incorporation resulted in significantly less snowmelt and rainfall runoff due to the presence of straw bedding. Sediment loss was reduced from all plots receiving manure. Ammonium nitrogen and soluble phosphorus losses were highest with solid manure and associated mostly with snowmelt. Total phosphorus loss was generally not affected by manure treatments. This study shows that there is a benefit to manure in reducing sediment loss. Also, the negative water quality impacts of surface applied or partially incorporated solid manure during snowmelt is somewhat offset by the soil cover provided by the straw bedding during rainfall runoff.