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WASTE MANAGEMENT

Swine Manure Application to Nodulating and Nonnodulating Soybean

^a Dep. of Agronomy, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
^b Dep. of Soil, Water, and Climate, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA
^c Southern Research and Outreach Center, Univ. of Minnesota, Waseca, MN 56093 USA
^d Dep. of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. Minnesota Agric. Exp. Stn. Scientific J. Ser. Pap. 001250004 USA

mschmitt{at}soils.umn.edu

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

 
Manure has traditionally been applied to corn (Zea mays L.), but as livestock operations expand, there are not always sufficient corn acres to minimize the environmental impact of the manure load. Our objective was to evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] as a reasonable alternative crop to receive manure applications. Impact of manure applications on soybean was measured by evaluating seed yield, N accumulation, and soil NO₃–N at six locations in southern Minnesota in 1996 and 1997. Whole-plot treatments included a control, five liquid swine (Sus scrofa) manure rates (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 kg N ha^-1), and four NH₄NO₃ rates (84, 168, 252, and 336 kg N ha^-1). Split-plot treatments were two soybean isolines (a segregating row of an Altona x Chippewa with rj1 gene cross), one nodulating and one nonnodulating isoline. Maximum seed yield (2.3 Mg ha^-1) was obtained for the nodulating isoline regardless of manure or fertilizer treatment. Average N accumulation in the nodulating isoline with manure treatment was about 202 kg N ha^-1. This was about 11 kg N ha^-1 greater than the nodulating isoline with fertilizer treatment. There were no adverse agronomic effects of applying manure to soybean. At N applications greater than plant N accumulation, postharvest soil NO₃–N (0–120 cm) ranged from 80 to 158 kg N ha^-1. Manure applied to soybean at available N rates equal to or less than the amount of N accumulated in the crop appeared to be agronomically and environmentally sound.

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

 
AS LIVESTOCK DENSITIES

increase, environmental concerns in manure management play an increasingly important role. The majority of manure in the Upper Midwest is applied for corn production. However, the corn acreage to which manure is applied has not expanded proportionally to livestock operations expansion; thus the risk of overapplication of manure N increases (Schmitt et al., 1996). A possible solution for the perceived risk of ground- and surface water contamination from manure (Schmitt et al., 1998) is to select alternative crops for manure application.

A potential alternative crop for manure application in the Upper Midwest is soybean. Soybean is already grown on numerous acres and is a mainstay crop for many swine producers who use a corn–soybean rotation. In a recent survey of swine producers in Minnesota, only 13% of swine manure is applied to fields in which soybean is the subsequent crop (Schmitt et al., 1996). However, according to Varvel and Peterson (1992), a soybean crop is a net N sink and can serve an environmental purpose by reducing N quantities in the soil, which ultimately reduces the amount of soil nitrate available for leaching. The amount of N removed by soybean ranged between 150 and 200 kg N ha^-1 in Nebraska (Varvel and Peterson, 1992); however, Shibles (1998) stated that the annual demand (whole-crop uptake) for high-yielding soybean can be as great as 385 kg N ha^-1.

The N fertilizer effect on soybean symbiotic N fixation and N uptake has been the focus of numerous studies. There is a direct compensatory effect of reduced symbiotic fixation of atmospheric N when soil nitrate is present (McAuliffe et al., 1958; Weber, 1966; Deibert et al., 1979). However, there is also evidence that N₂ fixation is not completely inhibited in the presence of supplementary soil N (Allos and Bartholomew, 1955; Weber, 1966).

To increase the potential for soil N recycling, growing a nonnodulating soybean isoline would eliminate N₂ fixation and maximize soil N recovery. Numerous researchers have made comparisons of nodulating and nonnodulating soybean isolines. Bhangoo and Albritton (1976) reported similar N uptake between isolines with a N application of 448 kg N ha^-1; however, the nodulating isoline had greater N uptake at rates equal to or less than 224 kg N ha^-1. In comparing N uptake of nodulating and nonnodulating isolines, Deibert et al. (1979) measured greater N uptake for the nodulating isoline at N rates ranging between 0 and 134 kg N ha^-1, and corresponding plant N accumulation ranging between 70 and 233 kg N ha^-1. Harper (1974) cautioned against N comparisons between nodulating and nonnodulating isolines except in instances in which soil N conditions are low. With adequate to high early-season inorganic soil N conditions, overall growth can be reduced and nitrate utilization impaired as a consequence of insufficient soil N to permit optimum growth yet sufficient soil N to reduce nodulation.

Despite evidence suggesting an almost linear reduction in the amount of N₂ fixation with increasing soil inorganic N content, this response appears to depend on the time of N application (early vs. late in the soybean growing season). This suggests an opportunity to maximize the potential for increased N accumulation from the soil, and hence removal, for soybean receiving any N source. Allos and Bartholomew (1955) reported enhanced N accumulation when early-season N was supplied to soybean, whereas George and Singleton (1992) demonstrated that total N accumulation was increased with both early- and late-season N applications. Wesley et al. (1998) demonstrated an 11.8% increase in seed yield at six of eight site-years when N was applied at the R3 growth stage. Improving N uptake of soybean with either an early- or late-season N application is not well defined, but the potential to manage this opportunity appears to exist.

Research work with manure applied for soybean production in the Upper Midwest is limited. Schmitt (1985) and DeJong (1995) reported on general agronomic production issues. Other researchers (Garcia and Blancaver, 1983; Tomines, 1986; Sunarlim and Gunawan, 1993) reported on agronomic growth effects as a result of manure applications, and many of the responses were not attributed to manure N because adequate inorganic soil N existed prior to the manure application. In addition to the non-N mineral nutrition supplied by manure, increased plant health associated with the additional nutrients increases the amount and duration of symbiotic N₂ fixation (Gates and Muller, 1979; Tsai et al., 1993). Although manure has not traditionally been applied to soybean, the potential for favorable agronomic response exists.

However, a primary issue of manure applied for soybean in the USA is the premise of N disposal rather than efficient nutrient utilization. Swine production facilities that have insufficient corn acres for environmentally safe manure (i.e., excess N) application must consider economical alternatives for manure application. Because soybean is a common crop in rotation with corn in the Upper Midwest, applying manure to soybean should be considered. Growing a nonnodulating soybean isoline may increase the removal of inorganic soil N; however, misapplication of manure that results in insufficient available N during the growing season will adversely effect N nutrition and yield. Conversely, an agronomic concern associated with applying manure to nodulating soybean is stimulated early-season growth and N uptake, with the consequence of decreased N₂ fixation during reproductive growth stages and reduced yield. Environmentally and economically sound decisions for manure management for soybean should be based on agronomic principles.

Nitrogen recycling is a major environmental issue, and applying manure to soybean should not be based simply on agronomic growth and yield parameters. This investigation was initiated to determine soybean seed yield, plant N accumulation at the R6 growth stage, and soil NO₃–N response to increasing manure N and fertilizer N rates for nodulating and nonnodulating soybean isolines.

	Methodology

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

 
Six locations were established either in 1996 or 1997 in southern Minnesota. The soil series and texture for each site are listed in Table 1 . Criteria used in selecting each plot area included: (i) entire plot area would be on one soil series; (ii) previous crop was corn; (iii) nearby access to finishing swine manure; (iv) no manure applied to the field within the previous 2 yr; and (v) soil test P and K levels were sufficient for optimum soybean production (Rehm et al., 1995).

Fertilizer application rates were 84, 168, 252, and 336 kg N ha^-1. The fertilizer was applied preplant in the spring as ammonium nitrate before the initial spring tillage pass. A control plot without manure or fertilizer N was also included in the main plot layout for a total of 10 whole-plot treatments.

Each manure–fertilizer main plot was split into two isoline subplots. Each subplot measured 3 m wide by 7.6 m long. The main plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatment effects were considered significant at the 5% probability level using an F-test in PROC GLM (SAS Inst., 1988). Single-degree-of-freedom contrasts were used to evaluate the linear and quadratic manure and fertilizer effects and to compare manure and fertilizer treatments for each isoline. PROC REG (SAS Inst., 1988) was used for regression analyses.

Nodulating and nonnodulating isolines from a segregating row of an Altona x Chippewa (with rj1 gene) cross were used at all sites. All plots were planted mid- to late May (Table 1) at optimum planting densities using 76-cm rows.

Aboveground plant samples were collected during the first week of September (before leaf drop began) to estimate maximum N uptake of the plants (R6 growth stage or full seed; Iowa State Univ., 1985). Within each four-row plot, two 76-cm lengths of row were collected from the middle rows. These samples were weighed, dried, ground, and then analyzed for total Kjeldahl N (Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982).

Soil samples were collected after harvest to determine residual soil nitrate-N. Within each plot, two 120-cm soil cores (5 cm i.d.) were collected, one directly over a soybean row and the other halfway between rows, using a hydraulic soil probe. These samples were combined, dried, ground, and analyzed for nitrate-N (Keeney and Nelson, 1982). Soil samples were not collected from the two lowest manure rate treatments. A soil bulk density of 1.33 g cm³ was assumed for converting soil N concentration (mg kg^-1) to soil N content (kg ha^-1).

An average manure analysis was used for the manure treatments when the data were combined across sites. Available N applied at the lowest manure rate ranged from 80 to 128 kg N ha^-1.

Seed yield was determined at physiological maturity by harvesting the center two rows of the entire plot with a combine. Seed yield was expressed as relative yield, determined by dividing the yield of each plot by the average of the highest-yielding N fertilizer treatment at each site. The relative yield could then be combined for all sites.

	Results and discussion

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

 
Seed Yield
Maximum seed yield was obtained for the nodulating isoline at all manure and commercial fertilizer N rates (Fig. 1 , Table 2) . However, yield from the nonnodulating isoline increased quadratically from about 60% of maximum yield to maximum yield as N rates increased from zero to about 250 kg N ha^-1, respectively (Fig. 1). This result indicates that there was insufficient soil N for obtaining maximum seed yield for the nonnodulating isoline. There was also insufficient soil N for the nodulating isoline, but because seed yield for the nodulating isoline was near 100% at N rates less than about 250 kg N ha^-1, N₂ fixation must have compensated for the insufficient N supply from either soil N or applied N. These results indicate that applying manure to a nodulating soybean variety offers a producer the insurance that maximum yield will likely occur regardless of whether or not sufficient N was applied to meet the N demands of the crop. An application that is not uniform will not be a detriment to soybean since N₂ fixation will compensate for the N demand in areas of the field receiving less manure than is required to meet N demands.

View larger version (23K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1 Relative yield of nodulating and nonnodulating isolines as a function of applied N (as fertilizer or manure). Relative yield was determined for each plot as yield divided by average yield from greatest-yielding fertilizer treatment for each site. Applied N as manure was determined as 65% of total N (Schmitt, 1995)

Average seed yield for the six site-years was 2.3 Mg ha^-1, while maximum yield at each site varied from about 1.9 to 2.9 Mg ha^-1. Although this yield was less than yields commonly obtained by producers in the Upper Midwest, this isoline represents genetic potential of varieties commonly grown during the 1970s, and the yield is consistent with this potential. Rainfall during the growing season was sufficient for optimum growth for every site-year.

The nonnodulating isoline receiving manure reached a maximum seed yield at a slightly greater N rate compared with the N rate corresponding to maximum yield for the nonnodulating isoline receiving fertilizer. This apparent discrepancy is a feature of our assumption that 65% of total N in the manure is available during the first growing season (Schmitt, 1995). This is only an estimate, and the data suggests that 50% availability may be more reasonable. If 50% of total N was considered plant available, the seed yield responses to applied manure and fertilizer for the nonnodulating isoline would have been nearly identical.

Plant Nitrogen Accumulation
Trends in N accumulation in the aboveground biomass at the R6 growth stage were similar to seed yield responses for both isolines (Fig. 2 , Table 2). However, average N accumulation in the nodulating isoline was greater (Table 2) for the manure treatments (202 kg N ha^-1) than the fertilizer treatments (191 kg N ha^-1). This additional N accumulation for those plants receiving manure reflected slight increases in both N concentration and total biomass at R6, although the individual responses of N concentration and total biomass were not statistically significant. Because N accumulation was similar regardless of N application rate, the additional N accumulation with the manure treatment compared with the fertilizer N treatments appeared to be a consequence of some factor other than N mineral nutrition (Fig. 2). These results support similar work reported by Gates and Muller (1979) and Tsai et al. (1993), in which the duration and amount of N₂ fixation was increased with a manure application.

View larger version (24K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2 Total plant N accumulation at R6 growth stage of nodulating and nonnodulating isolines as a function of applied N (as fertilizer or manure). Applied N as manure was determined as 65% of total N (Schmitt, 1995)

Maximum N accumulation in the aboveground biomass for the nonnodulating isoline occurred with about 300 kg N ha^-1. Total N accumulation with the zero N treatment was less than half the amount of N accumulated in the nodulating isoline (95 compared with 195 kg ha^-1; Fig. 2). With increasing N rates, regardless of the N source, N in the nonnodulating isoline increased quadratically from less than 100 to about 200 kg N ha^-1 (Fig. 2). Nitrogen accumulated in the nonnodulating isoline, with zero N applied, represented N available only from the soil. Plant N accumulation for any other treatment was less than the sum of 100 kg N ha^-1 (observed for the zero N treatment) and the applied N for the specific treatment. The nonnodulating isoline receiving any N treatment greater than zero must have had either less soil N mineralized, or some amount of unused N greater than zero—e.g., lower N use efficiency. This represents N that could potentially be an environmental risk. Similarly, the nodulating isoline may pose a greater environmental risk because it has the potential for N₂ fixation, and any N applied as manure could possibly increase the quantity of nitrate available for leaching.

Nitrogen unused by the soybean plant, representing applied N minus accumulated N in the aboveground biomass at R6, is depicted in Fig. 3 . Values less than zero indicate that the N source for plant accumulation was either soil N or N₂ fixation, because there was less N applied than accumulated in the plant. For the nodulating isoline, unused N ranged from -190 kg N ha^-1 to 400 kg N ha^-1 between the 0 and 525 kg N ha^-1 treatments. Unused N near zero would be ideal from an agronomic and environmental perspective. Zero unused N represents the maximum amount of N applied as manure that is used by the soybean and at minimal risk for loss to the environment. This figure is presented to illustrate that N applied in excess of plant accumulation (positive unused N, or above the zero line) is N that has the potential to be lost to the environment. The statistical significance of these data is represented by the N accumulation data (Fig. 2). Because unused N is a function of N accumulation and applied N, a statistical evaluation of unused N (Fig. 3) is not warranted. Nitrogen rates slightly above the zero line would correspond to relatively small environmental risks, but as the unused N increases, the risks increase.

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3 Unused N (N applied minus total N accumulation at R6) from nodulating and nonnodulating isolines as a function of applied N (as fertilizer or manure). Applied N as manure was determined as 65% of total N (Schmitt, 1995)

View larger version (20K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4 Postharvest soil NO3–N (0–120 cm) from nodulating and nonnodulating isolines as a function of applied N (as fertilizer or manure). Data from Goodhue was omitted because selected plots were sampled for postharvest soil NO3–N, and manure N rates for the selected plots at Goodhue did not coincide with similar manure N rates at the other sites. Applied N as manure was determined as 65% of total N (Schmitt, 1995). The line represents a regression through the mean data of all treatments

	Summary

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
We thank Andy Scobbie, Phil Schaus, and Jeff Vetsch for their assistance with this project. Appreciation is also given to National Research Initiative's Water Resources Assessment and Protection Grants Program, Award no. 95-37102-2176, for primary financial support. Additional support was provided through a grant from the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

Received for publication June 15, 1999.

	REFERENCES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Methodology Results and discussion Summary REFERENCES

 

• Allos H.F., Bartholomew W.V. Effect of available nitrogen on symbiotic fixation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 1955;19:182-184.
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• Deibert E.J., Bijeriego M., Olson R.A. Utilization of ¹⁵N fertilizer by nodulating and non-nodulating soybean isolines. Agron. J. 1979;71:717-723.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• DeJong J. Liquid swine manure and nitrogen fertilizer effects on soybean yield, soil profile nitrogen, and mineralization rates. Ames: Iowa State Univ, 1995 M.S. thesis..
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• Gates C.T., Muller W.J. Nodule and plant development in the soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.: Growth response to nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Aust. J. Bot. 1979;27:203-215.
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• Iowa State University of Science and Technology. 1985. How a soybean develops. Special Rep. 53. Iowa State Univ. Coop. Ext. Serv., Ames.
• Keeney D.R., Nelson D.W. Nitrogen—inorganic forms. In: Page A.L., et al. , ed. Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, 2nd ed Madison, WI: ASA and SSSA, 1982:643-698 Agron. Monogr. 9..
• McAuliffe C., Chamblee D.S., Uribe-Arango H., Woodhouse W.W., Jr. Influence of inorganic nitrogen on nitrogen fixation by legumes as revealed by N¹⁵. Agron. J. 1958;50:334-337.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Rehm, G.W., M.A. Schmitt, and R. Munter. 1995. Fertilizer recommendations for agronomic crops in Minnesota. Publ. B4-6220-E. Univ. of Minn. Ext. Serv., St. Paul, MN.
• SAS Institute. SAS/STAT user's guide. Release 6.03 ed. Cary, NC: SAS Inst, 1988.
• Schmitt M.A. Effect of liquid manure on corn and soybean growth, nitrogen uptake and yields. Urbana: Univ. of Illinois, 1985 Ph.D. diss..
• Schmitt M.A. Manure management in Minnesota. St. Paul, MN: Publ. FO-3553. Univ. of Minn. Ext. Serv, 1995.
• Schmitt, M.A., G.W. Randall, M.P. Russelle, and J.A. Lory. 1998. Progressive manure management to minimize negative environmental impact of nitrogen. In 1998 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
• Schmitt M.A., Schmidt D.R., Jacobson L.D. A manure management survey of Minnesota swine producers: Effect of farm size on manure application. Appl. Eng. Agric. 1996;12(5):595-599.
• Shibles, R.M. 1998. Soybean nitrogen acquisition and utilization. p. 5–11. In Proc. 28th North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conf., St. Louis, MO. 11–12 Nov. 1998. Potash & Phosphate Inst., Brookings, SD.
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