HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sanford, G. R. Articles by Baldock, J. O. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sanford, G. R. Articles by Baldock, J. O. Agricola Articles by Sanford, G. R. Articles by Baldock, J. O. Related Collections Sustainable Agriculture Crop Rotation Systems Best Management Practices Maize Agricultural Systems Crop Systems Nutrient Management Animal Waste

INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Linking Wisconsin Dairy and Grain Farms via Manure Transfer for Corn Production

^a Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
^b Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts, 52 Boyden Rd., Holden, MA 01520
^c Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, W2493 County Rd. ES, East Troy, WI 53120
^d Agstat, 6394 Grandview Rd., Verona, WI 53593

^* Corresponding author (gsanford{at}wisc.edu).

One relatively under-used manure management strategy employed by dairy farmers is to transport and apply manure onto the fields of nearby grain farmers. While this system offers advantages to both parties, little of the existing research on manure management has been conducted on grain farms. As part of an effort to link grain and livestock farms in southern Wisconsin, 20 on-farm trials were conducted to study the agronomic and environmental effects of including manure in cash-grain rotations. Manure was applied at a rate of approximately 107 m³ ha^–1 as slurry (11,000 gal acre^–1) or 54 Mg ha^–1 (24 ton acre^–1) as a solid. Across-site analysis indicated that the manured treatment increased corn (Zea mays L.) yields significantly (alpha = 0.05), by 0.5 Mg ha^–1 (11.5 vs. 11.0 Mg ha^–1), with 67 kg ha^–1 less purchased fertilizer N during the 3 yr of this study. However, there were environmental concerns: (i) Early fall manure spreading significantly increased fall nitrate (NO₃) levels in the manured plots (175 vs. 87 kg NO₃–N ha^–1); (ii) Following corn harvest, fall NO₃ levels were fairly low and equivalent between treatments with the exception of three sites where manuring resulted in significantly higher NO₃–N; and (iii) Soil tests following corn harvest indicated a significant increase in soil test phosphorus (STP) on the manured plots. These results indicate that dairy manure can reduce fertilizer inputs although there is a risk of NO₃–N leaching and P accumulation. Informal interviews were conducted with farmer-participants following this study to asses current manure use.

Abbreviations: BLUP, best linear unbiased predictors • FC, farmers' check • GDD, growing degree days • M, manure + supplemental fertilizer • PSNT, presidedress soil nitrate test • RCBD, randomized complete block design • RHA, rolling herd average • SFAL, Soil and Forage Analysis Laboratory • SPAL, Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory • STK, soil test potassium • STP, soil test phosphorus

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Received for publication April 21, 2008.