Michael A. Schmitt, Professor, Department of Soil, Water and Climate mschmitt@soils.umn.edu
Michael P. Russelle, Professor, Department of Soil, Water and
Climate
Jeffrey S. Strock, Assistant Professor, SW Research and Outreach
Center
Bruce D. Montgomery
On-going, started in 1999
Areas of southwest Minnesota contain unique geology and soils that put groundwater quality at risk. Water tables are unusually shallow (10-30 ft) and the soil textures are quite permeable. Issues such as fall nutrient management and N rates will be evaluated in terms of nutrient retention in rooting zone of the crop and crop yields and N use efficiency will be measured to evaluate fertilizer efficiency. Our primary objective is to conduct research to evaluate existing Best Management Practices for nitrogen fertilizer and manure management specific for soils, geologic conditions and cropping systems in groundwater sensitive areas. The project site was located in September and in early October the first set of manure treatments were applied. These treatments included a series of manure rates applied using either broadcast or sweep-injected methods. This identical set of treatments was also applied again in late October. Thus, the objectives of application date and rate differences can be calculated in an effort to evaluate current manure crediting procedures. Background soil samples were collected for baseline information and sufficient manure samples were collected for nutrient appraisal. Soil sampling will then occur through the growing season of 2000; at which time plant N uptake and yields will be measured. Another set of plots will be established in the fall of 2000 and soils samples will be collected and analyzed for N through the summer of 2001. Data will be compiled and summarized at the end of the project.
State of Minnesota Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
Michael A. Schmitt, Professor, Department of Soil, Water and Climate mschmitt@soils.umn.edu
Gyles W. Randall, Professor, Southern Research and Outreach
Center
Neil C. Hansen, Assistant Professor, WC Research and Outreach
Center
Jeffrey S. Strock, Assistant Professor, SW Research and Outreach
Center
On-going, started in 1998
Due to the native soil P status of many calcareous soils and the limited distribution of many livestock enterprises' manure, soil test P is low for many fields in western Minnesota. Knowledge of potential manure and fertilizer management strategies on crop P usage and soil test P should be conducted to understand future implications. The objectives of this project are to enhance the long-term sustainability of crop and livestock production by measuring: 1) crop P use efficiency; 2) soil test P changes; and 3) corn/soybean production differences when comparing manure and fertilizer placement in a long-term rotation study. This study was initiated at the Elwell Farm at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in southwest Minnesota. The soil test for P is categorized as "low" at this site and a corn-soybean rotation will be used. The fertilizer/manure treatments will be applied in the fall preceding the corn phase of the study. Two tillage systems are being evaluated&endash;a conservation tillage (chisel plow) and a no-till system. Treatments include a control and two rates of P (medium and high) from either 0-44-0 or finishing swine manure using two placement configurations&endash;surface broadcast and knife-injection/deep banding. Variables such as stover/herbage and grain/seed yield will be measured each year as well as P concentrations of each component. Soil P will also be measured from soil samples collected each fall.
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