Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T23:20:30.725Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

EFFECT OF LIQUID CATTLE MANURE ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND CORN GROWTH IN NORTHERN GREECE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2014

TH. MATSI*
Affiliation:
Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece, Tel: 00302310998682, Fax: 00302310998728
A. S. LITHOURGIDIS
Affiliation:
University Farm, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thermi 57001, Greece, Tel: 00302310991768, Fax: 00302310998728
N. BARBAYIANNIS
Affiliation:
Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece, Tel: 00302310998682, Fax: 00302310998728
*
§Corresponding author. Email: thmatsi@agro.auth.gr

Summary

The impact of liquid cattle (Bos taurus L.) manure, applied to soil at common rates and for several years, on certain plant parameters and soil properties has not been studied extensively. The objectives of this study were: a) to assess the effects of manure application on corn (Zea mays L.) yield, macro- and micronutrient concentrations and uptake, in a three-year (2006–2008) field experiment conducted in northern Greece and b) to evaluate the 11-year effect of manure application on soil fertility (particularly on micronutrients avialability) and chemical properties (especially on organic C and total N content). The field experiment of this study had been used in a similar fertilisation experiment since 1996. The treatments, which were applied on the same plots each year over the 11-year period, were: (i) soil incorporation of liquid dairy cattle manure before sowing, at a rate equal to the common N-P inorganic fertilisation for each crop (based on manure's total N and P content); (ii) application of the common inorganic N-P fertilisation for each crop before sowing; (iii) identical to ii, but with split application of the N fertilisers; (iv) no fertilisation (control). Corn dry aboveground biomass yield at the R3 growth stage and grain yield, N, P, K concentrations and macro- and micronutrients uptake increased (p ≤ 0.05) upon manure addition at levels similar to or higher than the inorganic fertilisation treatments. The relative increase in grain yield during the three-year period ranged between 63–75% for manure treatment and 50–75% for both inorganic fertilisation treatments. After 11 years of manure application, organic C, total N, and available NO3-N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B increased (p ≤ 0.05) in the surface soil (0–30 cm). However, no trend of nutrient build up was evident through years (except for Zn). Surprisingly, salinity and available NO3-N in the 60–90 cm soil depth of the manure-treated plots were lower (p ≤ 0.05) than that of the inorganic fertilisation treatments and similar to control. Electrical conductivity was 1.76, 3.05, 2.96 and 1.36 dS m−1, for manure treatment, the two inorganic fertilisation treatments and control, respectively, whereas the respective NO3-N concentrations were 7.7, 44.6, 55.1 and 8.3 mg kg−1. Conclusively, repeated application of liquid cattle manure into the soil, at rates comparable to the common inorganic fertilisation for 11 years, can enhance crop yield and macronutrient concentrations in plant tissues and uptake, at levels similar to the inorganic fertilisation. In addition, it can increase micronutrients plant uptake and maintain soil fertility with respect to both macro- and micronutrients and increase soil organic C and total N, without either causing nutrient build up or increasing soil salinity and NO3 accumulation in the deeper soil layers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antil, R. S., Gerzabek, M. H., Haberhauer, G. and Eder, G. (2005a). Long-term effects of cropped vs. fallow and fertilizer amendments on soil organic matter. I. Organic carbon. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 168:108116.Google Scholar
Antil, R. S., Gerzabek, M. H., Haberhauer, G. and Eder, G. (2005b). Long-term effects of cropped vs. fallow and fertilizer amendments on soil organic matter. II. Nitrogen. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 168:212216.Google Scholar
Beauchamp, E. G. (1986). Availability of nitrogen from three manures to corn in the field. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 66:713720.Google Scholar
Bechini, L. and Marino, P. (2009). Short-term nitrogen fertilizing value of liquid dairy manures is mainly due to ammonium. Soil Science Society of America Journal 73:21592169.Google Scholar
Brady, N. C. and Weil, R. R. (2008). The Nature and Properties of Soils, 14th edn. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Education.Google Scholar
Bremner, J. M. (1996). Nitrogen-total. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods, 10851121 (Ed Sparks, D. L.). SSSA Book Series 5. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Brock, E. H., Ketterings, Q. M. and McBride, M. (2006). Copper and zinc accumulation in poultry and dairy manure-amended fields. Soil Science 171:388399.Google Scholar
Culley, J. L. B., Phillips, P. A., Hore, F. R. and Patni, N. K. (1981). Soil chemical properties and removal of nutrients by corn resulting from different rates and timing of liquid dairy manure applications. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 61:3546.Google Scholar
Doll, E. C. and Lucas, R. E. (1973). Testing soils for potassium, calcium, and magnesium. In Soil Testing and Plant Analysis, 133151 (Eds Walsh, L. M. and Beaton, J. D.). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Evans, S. D., Goodrich, P. R., Munter, R. C. and Smith, R. E. (1977). Effects of solid and liquid beef manure and liquid hog manure on soil characteristics and on growth, yield, and composition of corn. Journal of Environmental Quality 6:361368.Google Scholar
Grignani, C., Zavattaro, L., Sacco, D. and Monaco, S. (2007). Production, nitrogen and carbon balance of maize-based forage systems. European Journal of Agronomy 26:442453.Google Scholar
Heathwaite, A. L., Griffiths, P. and Parkinson, R. J. (1998). Nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff from grassland with buffer strips following application of fertilizers and manures. Soil Use and Management 14:142148.Google Scholar
Japenga, J., Dalenberg, J. W., Wiersma, D., Scheltens, S. D., Hesterberg, D. and Salomons, W. (1992). Effect of liquid animal manure application on the solubilization of heavy metals from soil. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 46:2539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jokela, W. E. (1992). Nitrogen fertilizer and dairy manure effects on corn yield and soil nitrate. Soil Science Society of America Journal 56:148154.Google Scholar
Kaffka, S. R. and Kanneganti, V. R. (1996). Orchardgrass response to different types, rates and application patterns of dairy manure. Field Crops Research 47:4352.Google Scholar
Keren, R. (1996). Boron. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods, 603626 (Ed Sparks, D. L.). SSSA Book Series 5. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Kuo, S. (1996). Phosphorus. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods, 869919 (Ed Sparks, D. L.). SSSA Book Series 5. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Lindsay, W. L. and Norvell, W. A. (1978). Development of a DTPA test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal 42:421428.Google Scholar
Lithourgidis, A. S., Matsi, T., Barbayiannis, N. and Dordas, C. A. (2007). Effect of liquid cattle manure on corn yield, composition and soil properties. Agronomy Journal 99:10411047.Google Scholar
Matsi, T., Lithourgidis, A. S. and Gagianas, A. A. (2003). Effects of injected liquid cattle manure on growth and yield of winter wheat and soil characteristics. Agronomy Journal 95:592596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McBride, M. B. and Spiers, G. (2001). Trace element content of selected fertilizers and dairy manures as determined by ICP-MS. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 23:139156.Google Scholar
Mulvaney, R. L. (1996). Nitrogen-Inorganic forms. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods, 11231184 (Ed Sparks, D. L.). SSSA Book Series 5. Madison WI: Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Nevens, F. and Reheul, D. (2005). Agronomical and environmental evaluation of a long-term experiment with cattle slurry and supplemental inorganic N applications in silage maize. European Journal of Agronomy 22:349361.Google Scholar
Nikoli, Th. and Matsi, Th. (2011). Influence of liquid cattle manure on micronutrients content and uptake by corn and their availability in a calcareous soil. Agronomy Journal 103:113118.Google Scholar
Randall, G. W., Iragavarapu, T. K. and Schmitt, M. A. (2000). Nutrient losses in surface drainage water from dairy manure and urea applied for corn. Journal of Environmental Quality 29:12441252.Google Scholar
Siddique, M. T. and Robinson, J. S. (2003). Phosphorus sorption and availability in soils amended with animal manures and sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:11141121.Google Scholar
Sims, J. T. and Johnson, G. V. (1991). Micronutrient soil tests. In Micronutrients in Agriculture, 427476 (Eds Mortvedt, J. J., et al.). SSSA Book Series 4, 2nd edn. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Sutton, A. L., Nelson, D. W., Kelly, D. T. and Hill, D. L. (1986). Comparison of solid vs. liquid dairy manure applications on corn yield and soil composition. Journal of Environmental Quality 15:370375.Google Scholar
Tarkalson, D. D. and Leytem, A. B. (2009). Phosphorus mobility in soil columns treated with dairy manures and commercial fertilizer. Soil Science 174:7380.Google Scholar
Thomas, G. W. (1982). Exchangeable cations. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties, 159165 (Eds Page, A. L., et al.). Agronomy 9, 2nd edn. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Thomas, G. W. and Peaslee, D. E. (1973). Testing soils for phosphorus. In Soil Testing and Plant Analysis, 115132 (Eds Walsh, L. M. and Beaton, J. D.). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.Google Scholar
Walkley, A. and Black, I. A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 37:2938.Google Scholar
Withers, P. J. A., Clay, S. D. and Breeze, V. G. (2001). Phosphorus transfer in runoff following application of fertilizer, manure, and sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Quality 30:180188.Google Scholar
Wright, A. L., Provin, T. L., Hons, F. M., Zuberer, D. A. and White, R. H. (2005). Dissolved organic carbon in soil from compost-amended bermudagrass turf. Hortscience 40:830835.Google Scholar
Zhang, M., Gavlak, R., Mitchell, A. and Sparrow, S. (2006). Solid and liquid cattle manure application in a subarctic soil: Bromegrass and oat production and soil properties. Agronomy Journal 98:15511558.Google Scholar