Abstract
Many contract swine producers are located in the southeastern U.S. In this region almost all of the swine effluent from swine production is applied to warm-season perennial species such as bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] which is widely grown for summer grazing and hay production. A 3-yr study was conducted to investigate the impact of forage double-cropping on nutrient accumulation and leaching in Mantachie fine loam soil fertilized with swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) lagoon effluent as the source of plant nutrients. Plots of previously established Tifton 44 bermudagrass were overseeded in the fall with one of four winter annuals: berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.); crimson clover (T. incarnatum L.); ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.); or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Four plots of bermudagrass were not overseeded and considered as control. Plots were harvested in spring for cool-season annual hay and in summer for bermudagrass hay. Swine effluent was applied during spring and summer on a need base. Suction lysimeters were installed in selected plots at two depths to monitor nutrient leaching. Surface soil samples were taken to determine baseline nutrient contents, followed by three other sampling dates during the study. Bermudagrass dry matter production (3-yr average = 9.8 Mg ha−1) was not adversely affected by the overseeding treatments. Greatest dry matter production was achieved with bermudagrass overseeded with ryegrass (3-yr average = 11.3 Mg ha−1). Soil pH decreased by almost one unit by the end of the study. While total P (TP) did not change much, Mehlich-3 P (M3-P), K, Cu, and Zn increased significantly, Mg and Mn concentrations decreased by 2002 compared to the baseline levels. Soil P, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn accumulation were greater under bermudagrass/wheat combination. In general, the influence of double cropping on soil nutrient accumulation was not conclusive, however, this practice provides the year-round green forage for grazing and haying. Nutrient concentrations in soil and lysimeter leachate were directly related to the quantity of effluent applied. Results also demonstrated that effluent application must be coordinated with the nutrient requirements of the growing forages in order to minimize accumulation and leaching.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adeli A, Varco JJ (2001) Swine effluent as a source of nitrogen and phosphorus for summer forage grasses. Agron J 93:1174–1181
Adeli A, Varco JJ, Rowe DE (2003) Swine effluent irrigation rate and timing effects on bermudagrass growth, nitrogen and phosphorous utilization, and residual soil nitrogen. J Environ Qual 32:681–686
Bremner JM (1996) Nitrogen-total. In: Sparks DL et al (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 3–Chemical methods. SSSA Book Ser. 5. SSSA and ASA, Madison, WI, pp 1085–1122
Brink GE, Pederson GA, Sistani KR, Fairbrother TE (2001) Uptake of selected nutrients by temperate grasses and legumes. Agron J 93:887–890
Brink GE, Rowe DE, Sistani KR, Adeli A (2003) Bermudagrass cultivar response to swine effluent application. Agron J 95:597–601
Burns JC, Westerman PW, King LD, Cummings GA, Overcash MR, Goode L (1985) Swine lagoon effluent applied to ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass: I Forage yield, quality, and element removal. J Environ Qual 14:9–14
Choudhary M, Baily LD, Grant CA (1996) Review of the use of swine manure in crop production: Effects on yield and composition and on soil and water quality. Waste Manag Res 14:581–595
Daniel TC, Sharpley AN, Lemunyon JL (1998) Agricultural phosphorus and eutrophication: Symposium overview. J Environ Qual 27:251–257
Edwards DR (1996) Recycling livestock manure on pastures. In: Joost RE, Roberts CA (eds) Proc symp nutrient cycling in forage syst, Colombia, MO, 7–8 Mar. Potash and Phosphate Inst and Foundation for Agron Res, Atlanta, GA, pp 45–64
Edwards DR, Daniel TC (1992) Environmental impacts of on-farm poultry waste disposal. A Review Biores Technol 41:9–33
King LD, Westerman PW, Cummings GA, Overcash MR, Burns JC (1985) Swine lagoon effluent applied to ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass: II effects on soil. J Environ Qual 14:14–21
King LD, Burns JC, Westerman PW (1990) Long-term swine effluent applications on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass: II effect on nutrient accumulation in soil. J Environ Qual 23:756–760
Kuo S (1996) Phosphorus. In: Bigham JM (Editor-in-Chief) Methods of soil analysis, part 3, agronomy No. 5. Soil Science Society of America, Inc. ASA. Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp 869–874
McLaughlin MR, Fairbrother TE, Rowe DE (2001) Clover increases phosphorus removal in a bermudagrass hay system irrigated with swine lagoon effluent. In: Proc Int Symp on Animal Prod and Environ. Issues, vol 2. 3–5 Oct. 2001. Research Triangle Park, NC, pp 724–727
McLaughlin MR, Fairbrother TE, Rowe DE (2004) Forage yield and nutrient uptake of warm-season annual grasses in a swine effluent spray field. Agron J 96(6):1516–1522
McLaughlin MR, Sistani KR, Fairbrother TE, Rowe DE (2005) Effect of overseeding cool-season annuals on hay yield and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by Tifton 44 bermudagrass fertilized with swine effluent. Agron J 97:479–486
Mehlich A (1984) Mehlich 3 soil test extractant: A modification of Mehlich 2 extractant. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 15:1409–1416
Mississippi Natural Resources Conservation Service (2000). Waste treatment lagoon. Code 359. Field office tech guide section IV. Mississippi NRCS, Jackson MS
Mulvaney RL (1996) Nitrogen-inorganic forms. In: Bigham JM (ed) methods of soil analysis, part 3, agronomy no. 5. Soil Science Society of America, Inc. ASA. Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp 1123–1131
Read JJ, Sistani KR, Brink GE, Oldham JL (2007) Reduction of high soil test phosphorus by bermudagrass and ryegrass-bermudagrass following the cessation of broiler litter application. Agron J 99:1492–1501
Rowe DE, Fairbrother TE (2003) Harvesting winter forages to extract manure soil nutrients. Agron J 95:1209–1212
Sharpley AN, Smith SJ (1995) Nitrogen and phosphorus forms in soils receiving manure. Soil Sci 159(4):253–258
Sharpley AN, Smith SJ, Bain R (1993) Effect of poultry litter application on nitrogen and phosphorus content of Oklahoma soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57:1131–1137
Shipley PR, Meisinger JJ, Decker AM (1992) Conserving residual corn fertilizer nitrogen with winter cover crops. Agron J 84:869–876
Sims JT (1995) Characteristics of animal waste and waste-amended soils: an overview of the agricultural and environmental issues. In: Steele K (ed) Animal waste and the land-water interface. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 1–14
Sistani KR, Brink GE, Adeli A, Tewolde H, Rowe DE (2004) Year-round soil nutrient dynamics from broiler litter application to three bermudagrass cultivars. Agron J 96:525–530
Statistical Analysis System (1998) SAS for windows, version 7. SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC
Welsh R, Hubbell B (1999) Contract hog production and environmental management in the Southern United States. Agron J 91:883–888
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sistani, K.R., McLaughlin, M.R. & Brink, G.E. Soil nutrient evaluation from swine effluent application to five forage-system practices. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 82, 265–271 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9188-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9188-9