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Seasonal nitrogen availability from current and past applications of manure

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Abstract

Proper management of manure nitrogen (N) requires the ability to match the rate and extent of manure N availability with crop needs. This includes recognizing the potential importance of N contributions from residual manure N that accumulates with repeated applications. Nitrogen availability relative to barley needs was assessed in plots with 13–16 years continuous histories of contrasting manure-based (solid-bedded beef) and fertilizer-based soil treatments in the Maine Potato Ecosystem Project. Soil and barley samples were collected every 7–14 days during 2003–2005, and once in 2006. Barley dry matter and N content were equivalent between the two systems. In the manure-based system, temporal patterns of N availability were more synchronous with early season crop needs than in the fertilizer-based system, but continued mineralization after harvest was also observed. In 2004–2006, samples were collected from subplots where manure/fertilizer was withheld to estimate the proportion of available N originating from current versus previous manure applications. Apparent N recovery of current years’ applications of manure organic N was 8–11% and less than predicted by a standard decay series model for beef manure (25%), highlighting the need to adjust manure N credits for crops with shorter growing seasons and lower N uptake capacities than corn. The relative contribution of residual manure N to total manure N uptake was greater than predicted from the decay series model, providing support for a residual N effect from repeated manure applications that is not accounted for in standard manure recommendations.

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Abbreviations

DM:

Dry matter

MPEP:

Maine potato ecosystem project

Ni :

Inorganic N

SOC:

Soil organic carbon

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank A. Randall Alford, Francis A. Drummond, M. S. Erich, Eric R. Gallandt, Eleanor Groden, David A. Lambert, Matt Liebman, Michele C. Marra, Jeffrey C. McBurnie, Bacilio Salas and many others for creating and overseeing the Maine Potato Ecosystem Project, Melissa Albert for her technical assistance with this research, and Sue Erich, Michel Cavigelli, and Bryan Dail for reviewing the manuscript. This research was supported in part by USDA-CSREES-IFAFS no. 2001-52101-11308 and the Maine Potato Board.

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Author notes

  1. Timothy S. Griffin

    Present address: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Ellen B. Mallory & Gregory A. Porter

  2. USDA-ARS-New England Plant, Soil and Water Laboratory, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Timothy S. Griffin

Authors
  1. Ellen B. Mallory
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  2. Timothy S. Griffin
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  3. Gregory A. Porter
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Correspondence to Ellen B. Mallory.

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Mallory, E.B., Griffin, T.S. & Porter, G.A. Seasonal nitrogen availability from current and past applications of manure. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 88, 351–360 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-010-9361-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-010-9361-9

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