1. Author: Glen J. Arnold Wheat Yield 3-Year Manure vs Urea Summary
Associate Professor,
Field Specialist, Manure Nutrient Management Systems
Ohio State University Extension
7868 CR 140 Suite B, Findlay OH 45840
arnold.2@osu.edu Phone: 419-422-3851
Niese Farm 2007 Niese Farm 2008 Warnimont Farm 2008 Niese Farm 2009
A 5000-gallon tanker and Peecon toolbar used to Swine Finishing Manure
both surface apply and incorporate manure in
early April when wheat had broken dormancy
and field conditions were suitable
Abstract:
The Maumee River watershed
contributes 3% of the water but
more than 40% of the nutrients
entering Lake Erie. Data from the
Ohio Tributary Loading Program
has identified increasing levels
of dissolved reactive phosphorus
Manure was applied at rates as the prime suspect in the
to approximate the nitrogen recurrence of harmful algal blooms within Lake Erie.
Research Findings:
amount in urea treatments Livestock manure represents approximately 25% of the Yields between surface applied swine finishing manure, incorporated swine finishing manure
phosphorus applied in the watershed and can be a source of and urea were not statistically different in any of the four fields during this three-year project.
dissolved reactive phosphorus. Ohio State University Swine manure performed as well as urea when yields were high and when yields were below
Extension conducted a three year research project on average. The opportunity to utilize swine finishing manure as a spring fertilizer source for soft
applying liquid swine manure as a spring top-dress nitrogen red winter wheat will save farmers approximately $70 per acre over purchased urea fertilizer.
source for soft red winter wheat. Field-scale randomized Applying swine manure to a growing crop will also result in the nitrogen and phosphorus being
block design replicated plots were conducted on farms. better utilized by the growing wheat crop resulting in less nutrients escaping the field.
Liquid swine manure was surface applied and incorporated
on all plots and compared to urea (46-0-0) fertilizer for
wheat yield. Manure applications were made using a
standard 5,000 gallon manure tanker in early April after the
wheat had broken dormancy and field conditions were
deemed suitable. A Peecon toolbar was used to both surface
apply and incorporate the manure. Urea was surface applied
using a fertilizer buggy. Manure was applied at rates to
approximate the nitrogen amount in the urea treatments.
There was no statistical yield difference between using
livestock manure or purchased urea fertilizer as the top-
dress nitrogen source. The potential to use liquid manure as
a top-dress nitrogen source for growing wheat opens a new
window of opportunity to apply manure to farming fields
A fertilizer buggy was used to and also more effectively utilize the nutrients in manure and Randomized field-scale replicated plots indicate that growers can expect similar yields
surface apply urea reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Erie. using liquid manure as a top-dress nitrogen source versus purchased urea