Measuring Water-Extractable Phosphorus in Manures to Predict Phosphorus Concentrations in Runoff

Water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) in manures can influence the risk of phosphorus (P) losses in runoff when manures are land applied. We evaluated several manure handling and extraction variables to develop an extraction procedure for WEP that will minimize pre-analysis manure-sample-handling effects on WEP measurements. We also related manure WEP determinations to runoff dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations found in previously conducted field simulated rainfall experiments using the same manures to evaluate WEP as a predictor of P runoff losses. Dairy and poultry manure WEP concentrations increased with manure-to-water extraction ratio and shaking time. Relative to fresh manures, drying and grinding dairy manures before analysis usually decreased WEP concentrations, while WEP in poultry manures was often increased. Pre-analysis handling effects on WEP were minimized at the 1:1000 extraction ratio with a 1-h shaking time. Relationships between manure WEP and runoff DRP concentrations were strongly influenced by season of year and WEP extraction procedure. The best prediction of DRP concentration in spring runoff experiments was with manure WEP concentration at the 1:1000 extraction ratio. With fall runoff studies, DRP concentrations were best predicted with WEP application rate rather than concentration. These seasonal differences can be explained by the greater percentage of rainfall that ran off in the fall compared to the spring. For all studies, runoff DRP concentrations were strongly related (r² = 0.82) to the ratio of runoff to rainfall volumes, confirming that models need to take runoff hydrology into account as well as manure WEP in P-loss risk assessments.     

Evaluating the Influence of Storage Time,Sample‐handling Method,and Filter Paper on the Measurement of Water‐Extractable Phosphorus in Animal Manures

Abstract

Surface‐applied manures create a potential phosphorus (P) runoff hazard, especially when unincorporated. In such cases, the concentration of water‐extractable P in the manure has been correlated to soluble P concentrations in runoff. This study evaluated the influence of holding time, sample‐handling procedure, and filtration method on measurement of the water‐extractable P content of manures in a 3×3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. A two‐way interaction between holding time and sample‐handling procedure occurred for most samples. Six samples had water‐extractable P concentrations that were less than or equal to dried and dried/ground treatments. Only one sample had higher water‐extractable P concentrations for fresh than for dried and dried/ground treatments. When significant differences occurred as a result of the filtration method, results for Whatman No. 40 filters, with a larger pore size than 0.45 µm nitrocellulose membranes, were usually higher. There was no significant difference in the coefficient of variation across sample‐handling procedures, suggesting that efforts to dry and/or grind samples were not needed. These results support the adoption of a standardized protocol for measuring water‐extractable P in manures that represents the appropriate balance between the ease of implementation and the strength of the correlation to P runoff concentrations.     

Dynamics of Soil pH and Electrical Conductivity with the Application of Three Animal Manures

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to determine the dynamics of soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in a soil to which three animal manures [poultry (PM), cattle (CM), and goat (GM) manures] had been applied. The result of this study showed that the manures differed in qualities. Poultry manure had significantly greater EC and dissolved salts compared with the other manures, whereas the pH of cattle and goat manures are significantly greater than that of PM treatment. The liming effect of the manures was only for about 30 days after manure incorporation, and it varied with manure type and incubation period. There was an increase in EC as days of incubation increased. The potential of manure-induced soil salinization is very high in PM and GM. It was concluded that manure quality and use should be synchronized with consideration of their liming potential and reduced salinization effect.     

京郊畜禽粪污氮磷含量特征及影响因素分析

中国规模化养殖废弃物中养分资源数量可观,但缺乏循环利用技术,处置不当易引发环境污染问题。该文通过问卷调研和粪污样品检测,对京郊典型养殖场粪便和废水中的总氮、总磷含量特点进行分析,同时追踪典型规模化猪场废水中总氮、总磷含量变化的影响因素及其季节性变化特征。结果表明:所调研的养殖场中,猪粪、牛粪的总氮质量分数平均值分别为29.1,17.8 g/kg,总磷质量分数平均值分别为15.1,6.8 g/kg,猪粪便的总氮、总磷含量变异程度大于牛粪;猪场和牛场中废水总氮、总磷质量分数的平均值分别为892,540和82.4,53.3 mg/L,猪场废水总氮、总磷含量变异程度明显大于牛场。规模化猪场粪便总氮、总磷含量受到饲料配方的影响较大;受饲料和圈舍用水量的影响,现行饲养工艺及粪污处理方式下粪便对废水中总氮、总磷含量的影响较小;万头以上的规模化猪场废水中总氮、总磷含量存在季节性差异,且随着废水存储时间的推移其无机磷比例增加。这些变化特征可对畜禽粪便和养殖废水的资源化再利用提供了有用的参考。     

Nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff from grassland with buffer strips following application of fertilizers and manures

Abstract. We examined whether nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export was enhanced from grassland receiving inorganic fertilizer and manures typical of intensive livestock production. Buffer strips were included in the study to determine if they could reduce nutrient export. Hillslope plots receiving granular inorganic fertilizer, liquid cattle slurry and solid cattle manure (FYM) were compared using rainfall simulation for 4 storms on consecutive days at 22 mm h^-1 and 35 minutes duration. The plots were hydrologically isolated in a randomized block layout of 4 treatments × 3 replicates and measured 30 × 5m; the upper 20m received either fertilizer, slurry or FYM, while the lower 10 m acted as an unfertilized grass buffer strip. Nitrogen and P export in surface runoff from grassland receiving inorganic fertilizer exceeded that from FYM or slurry treatments; concentrations up to46mgN1-^-1 and 15 mgP1^–1 were recorded.
Sixty eight % and 62% of the N from FYM and slurry respectively, was exported in organic form. Seventy four % (FYM) and 39% (slurry) of the P was in particulate or dissolved organic form. The buffer strip reduced N export in surface runoff by 94% and P export by 98% from inorganic fertilizer plots. A 75% reduction in N export was recorded from the buffer zone below slurry plots but only a 10% reduction in P, with most P remaining in the particulate or dissolved organic fraction. There was no significant difference in N export from the buffer zone between the inorganic fertilizer treatment and the untreated control.     

化学和黏土矿物钝化剂对牛粪秸秆堆肥磷形态转化的影响

盲目施用粪肥导致农田土壤磷素(P)积累和产生的面源污染等环境风险已引起人们的重视。该文通过在牛粪秸秆堆肥过程中,添加质量分数2.5%的化学物质或黏土矿物2类磷素钝化剂,研究其对磷素形态转化的影响。结果显示,和对照相比,添加氧化钙、氧化镁、硫酸亚铁和明矾可明显降低堆肥产品中磷素的活性,水溶性磷(water extract phosphorus,WEP)占总磷(totalphosphorus,TP)百分比分别为:38.0%、60.2%、58.8%、28.9%;添加蛭石和沸石使堆肥产品中WEP占TP百分比分别下降11.7%、17.3%。第35天堆肥样品的Hedley磷分组结果显示,添加氧化钙和氧化镁主要促进了H_2O-Pi向更稳定态的NaHCO_3-Pi、HCl-P(Pi和Po)、残余态-P转化;添加硫酸亚铁和明矾主要促进了H_2O-Pi向更稳定态的NaOH-P(Pi和Po)、残余态-P转化。添加黏土矿物钝化剂均略微促进了不稳定态磷H_2O-Pi和NaHCO_3-Pi向稳定态磷HCl-Pi转化。堆肥结束时添加MgO明显提高了堆体的pH值,其他处理均对pH值影响较小。综合来看硫酸亚铁、明矾、沸石和蛭石依次为较好的磷素钝化材料。     

Measurement of the maximum amount of water-extractable phosphorus in animal manure compost by continuous and sequential water extraction

Measuring the phosphorus (P) solubility in animal manure compost (AMC) is important to estimate both the risk of P loss from agricultural land and the P availability for crops in agriculture that use AMC as fertilizer. Water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) has most often been used to estimate P solubility in AMC. A single water extraction with a high ratio of compost to water is usually used to determine WEP, but in many cases, this may not evaluate the maximum WEP. In this study, we extracted the P included in AMC by using a continuous extraction method with a large amount of water, and tested this approach for 16 AMCs: four cattle manure composts, five swine manure composts, five layer (chicken) manure composts, and two broiler (chicken) litter composts. The P dissolution patterns were fitted to kinetic models, and the maximum WEP (WEP_max) was determined by the coefficient of the non-linear regression equation. The WEP_max values corresponded to the sum of H₂O- and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)-extractable P measured using the modified Hedley sequential extraction method. The result also suggests that the maximum amount of WEP from AMC can be estimated rapidly using a sequential extraction (the Hedley method) that has been widely used to characterize P in manure or AMC. The maximum water-extractable magnesium (Mg) (WEMg_max) was significantly positively correlated with WEP_max (r = 0.854, P < 0.01). This suggests that WEP_max in the AMCs is affected by water-soluble magnesium compounds.     

Influence of Soil Properties and Manure Sources on Phosphorus in Runoff during Simulated Rainfall

Runoff from agricultural fields amended with animal manure or fertilizer is a source of phosphorus (P) pollution to surface waters, which can have harmful effects such as eutrophication. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of soil P status and the P composition of manure sources on P in runoff and characterize the effects of manure sources on mass loss of dissolved reactive P, total dissolved P, and total P in runoff. Soil boxes set at 5% slopes received 7.5 cm h^?1 of simulated rainfall for 30 min. Study soils included a Kenansville loamy sand (loamy siliceous subactive thermic Arenic Hapludults, a Coastal Plain soil) and a Davidson silt loam (kaolinitic thermic Rhodic Kandiudults, a Piedmont soil). Soil test P concentrations ranged from 16 to 283 mg P kg^?1. Sources of P included broiler litter, breeder manure, and breeder manure treated with three rates of aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃) 0, 3.9, and 7.8 kg m^?2, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and an un-amended control. All manure sources were surface applied at 66 kg P ha^?1 without incorporation. Water extractable P represented an average of 10 ± 6% total P in manure. Runoff samples were taken over a 30-min period. Piedmont soil contained greater amounts of clay, aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) concentrations, and higher P sorption capacities that produced significantly lower dissolved reactive P, total dissolved P, and total P losses than the Coastal Plain soil. Runoff P loss did not differ significantly for low and high STP Coastal Plain soils. Water extractable P in manures accounted for all dissolved reactive P lost in runoff with dissolved reactive P correlating strongly with water extractable P concentration (r² = 0.9961). Overall, manures containing the highest water extractable P concentrations contributed to the largest amounts of dissolved reactive P in runoff. Manure treated with 3.9 and 7.8 kg m^?2 of Al₂(SO₄)₃ (alum) decreased dissolved reactive P in runoff by 29%. While this soil box runoff study represents a worst-case scenario for P loss, highly significant effects of soil properties and manure sources were obtained. Management based on these results should help ameliorate harmful effects of P in runoff.     

Correlations between Phosphorus Fractions and Total Leachate Phosphorus from Cattle Manure– and Swine Manure–Amended Soil

Although many studies have examined the effect of different application rates of cattle manure, swine manure, and urea fertilizer on the distribution of phosphorus (P) fractions in soil, few studies have correlated P fractions in soil with inorganic P (P_i) and organic P (P_o) in leachates. As part of a long-term field study, cattle and swine manures were applied to a loamy soil based on a nitrogen (N) content equivalent of 100 (low) and 400 (high) kg total N ha^?1 yr^?1 and were compared to urea fertilizer at 100 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and an unamended control soil. Readily available P_i [resin and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)] was significantly greater in cattle manure– and swine manure–amended soil at a high application rate than in the control. With some exceptions, urea did not significantly affect P fractions in sequentially extracted P pools. Leaching of P_i and P_o was at levels of environmental concern when cattle and swine manures were applied at the high application rate but not at the low application rate. Cattle manure had significantly greater concentrations of P_i and P_o removed by leaching compared to swine manure, most likely because of its narrow N/P ratio and greater amount of P added. Positive correlations were observed between resin P_i and total leachate P_i and between NaHCO₃-P_i and total leachate P_i, indicating the value of these measurements in predicting P mobility. The results suggest that a threshold (40 μg P g^?1 of soil) must be exceeded before a positive correlation occurs.     

Wastewater Chemistry and Fractionation of Bioactive Phosphorus in Dairy Manure

Abstract

Because manure organic phosphorus (P) is environmentally bioactive, a novel in situ enzyme hydrolysis assay was developed to identify water soluble‐ and labile complexed P and mechanisms controlling P solubilization in dairy manure. Water‐extractable P averaged 16% (±14.8%) of total P of 107 manures collected across five northeastern states of the USA. Adding a multidentate ligand solubilized inorganic complexed P (15±8.3%) primarily associated with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). An additional organic fraction (35.9±15.6%) was hydrolyzable by fungal phytases. The assay was more revealing about on‐farm P management than just knowing total P; the water‐extractable P distribution was skewed to the left, and two thirds were <2500 mg kg^?1; bioactive and total P were normally distributed, differing extensively between farms with a range spanning an order of magnitude. The assay's simplicity and robustness over the wide range of manure characteristics may increase routine evaluation of whole‐farm accumulation of environmentally sensitive P forms.     

Predicting the changes in environmentally and agronomically significant phosphorus forms following the cessation of phosphorus fertilizer applications to grassland

Phosphorus (P) loss from soil can impair surface water quality. Losses from soil are related to soil P concentrations, but agronomic measures such as Olsen P do not in many cases predict the potential for P loss. One possible strategy to decrease P loss is to stop applying P fertilizers. We examined the changes in both agronomic (Olsen P) and environmental [water‐extractable P (WEP) and calcium chloride‐extractable P (CaCl₂‐P)] P tests, and the potential implications following a halt to P fertilizer application to four long‐term grassland field trials on different soil types. Exponential decreases in Olsen P and WEP concentration over time were observed in three of the four trials, but only in one trial for CaCl₂‐P. The rates of decrease in Olsen P (OP) and WEP concentration were best correlated with initial WEP (WEP_i) concentration and the quotient of Olsen P_i/P retention (PR, a measure of Al‐ and Fe‐oxides), respectively. The equation t = 1/(?0.035 × ln OP_i/PR ? 0.0455) × (ln WEP_t ? ln WEP_i) was used to predict the time (t) taken for WEP concentrations at the sites to decrease to 0.02 mg/L (WEP_t), which is proposed as a limit for dissolved reactive phosphorus in overland flow, and the result was 23–44 yr. Results from a similar equation for Olsen P predicted a quicker rate of WEP. A significant decline in dry matter (DM) yield was observed at one trial site. For this site, the rate of decline in DM yield was of a similar magnitude to the rate of decline in WEP concentration. This suggests that halting P fertilizer application to decrease P loss as measured by WEP concentration may decrease farm productivity. An alternative, more financially acceptable, strategy is required, such as a negative P balance while maintaining yields with N fertilizer, but further work is required to assess both the agronomic and environmental implications of this strategy.     

Phosphorus distribution and availability in response to dairy manure applications

Abstract

As livestock operations become larger and concerns about water quality become greater, attention must be paid to the composition of animal manure and its potential impact on the environment. One current concern involves the amount and forms of phosphorus (P) being added to land with manure. The objective of this experiment was to determine the forms and availability of P in soils receiving 4 years of continuous dairy manure applications. Soil samples were collected from lysimeter plots established in 1991 to study the impact of dairy manure applications on surface water and groundwater. Soil P was fractionated into available (NaHCO₃), iron (Fe)‐ and aluminum (Al)‐bound (NaOH), and calcium (Ca)‐bound (HC1) forms. These data were related to manure application rates, soluble P concentrations, and anion exchange membrane (AEM) bound P. Results indicate that the potential to move P by leaching through these loessial soils is very low even at high manure application rates. Large manure additions resulted in increases in all P forms; however, the inorganic pools increased more than the organic pools. The AEM values were a good tool for predicting potential P movement by soil erosion or runoff with membrane bound P being strongly correlated with manure application rate (r²=0.82) and available P (NaHCO₃). Best management practices for manure disposal need to consider the potential for P movement through erosion and runoff, and the AEM technique provides a means for evaluating this potential.     

Effect of Drying on Phosphorus Distribution in Poultry Manure

Abstract

Laboratory drying may alter manure phosphorus (P) distribution. The effects of freeze, air (22°C), and oven (65°C) drying on sequentially fractioned poultry manure P were examined. Higher drying temperatures resulted in lower percentage of dry matter. Increased H₂O‐ and decreased sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)‐extractable P with drying provided evidence that drying increases poultry manure P solubility. Labile fractions were predominantly inorganic P (P_i), whereas sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) fractions had significant amounts of organic P (P_o). Drying altered H₂O‐ and NaHCO₃‐extractable P_i but had no consistent effect on P_o in these fractions. This work suggests that variations due to drying should be taken into consideration when evaluating manures for P availability or when comparing data in which different drying methods have been utilized.     

Agronomic Evaluation of Manure Ashes: Changes in Soil Phosphorus Fractions,Maize (Zea mays) Yield,and Phosphorus Uptake

ABSTRACT

In order to reduce bulkiness and concentrate its nutrients, manures were burnt to ashes, and the effect of manures and their ashes on soil phosphorus fractions and maize performance in laboratory incubation, screenhouse, and field experiments was evaluated. Treatments were control, dried poultry manure (DPM), poultry manure ash, dried cattle manure (DCM), cattle manure ash (CMA), dried goat manure, goat manure ash and NPK 15-15-15, each applied at 120 kg P ha^?1. Periodic data were taken from soil P fractions, maize yield, and P uptake. Results showed that manures and their ashes increased soil P fractions in incubation, screenhouse, and field experiments. Available P and Ca-P increased with application of DPM while CMA only increased labile P, Al-P, and Fe-P at later weeks. Dry matter yield and P uptake increased with the application of manures and ashes while available P was positively correlated with P uptake. The impact of manure ashes was comparable to manures, hence recommended for use as alternatives, thereby getting rid of the problems of manure bulkiness and offensive odors.     

Phosphorus Forms in Overland Flow from Agricultural Soils Representative of Mediterranean Areas

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) losses through overland flow (surface runoff) may contribute to eutrophication of water bodies. The main purpose of this work was to study P forms in overland flow (dissolved and particulate) to identify which can be potentially used by algae. To this end, rainfall on 17 representative soils from Mediterranean areas was simulated, and P forms in overland flow studied by chemical and sink (resin, iron oxide–impregnated paper strip) extraction; sequential chemical fractionation of the suspended sediments was also used to establish “operational pools” with a differential capacity of P release. Total P (TP) in runoff ranged from 0.089 to 0.765 mg L^?1 and was mainly related to suspended sediment (particulate P, 86% of TP on average). Iron oxide strip P, which is taken to be an estimate of algal‐available P, accounted for 34% of TP on average in runoff samples; most of the P extracted by this sink was particulate P (68%). In most cases, FeO strip P was equivalent to dissolved reactive P (DRP) plus P extracted by NaOH and citrate‐bicarbonate in suspended sediment (the more labile P fractions) (Y=X, R²=0.82; P<0.001; n=15). One can thus assume that Fe oxide extracts DRP, adsorbed P on sediments, and P related to highly soluble precipitated Ca phosphates, but it does not extract releasable P through reduction of sorbent surfaces or the organic P that can be mineralized in the bottom of water reservoirs, which must be taken in account to estimate the long‐term algal‐available P in runoff.     

Bacterial Transport from Agricultural Lands Fertilized with Animal Manure

A plot scale study was conducted to determine bacterial transport in runoff from cropland treated with poultry litter and dairy manure applied at phosphorus (P) agronomic rates. Treatments included surface application of dairy manure, surface application of poultry litter, incorporation of dairy manure and control. A rainfall simulator was used to induce runoff 1 and 2 days after manure application. Runoff was analyzed to determine the concentration of indicator bacteria-fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus. Observed edge-of-field bacterial concentrations were 10² to 10⁵ times higher than Virginia’s in-stream bacteria criteria for primary contact recreation waters. No significant treatment effects were observed on edge-of-field bacteria concentration or yield. Results suggest that the manure application based on agronomic P rates may yield significant bacterial loading to downstream waterbodies if rainfall occurs soon after manure application. This research underscores the need for BMPs that reduce runoff volumes and filter pollutants associated with animal manures.     

Optimizing livestock manure applications to reduce nitrate and ammonia pollution:scenario analysis using the MANNER model

Abstract. Measures to reduce ammonia (NH₃) emissions by incorporating livestock manures into the soil may increase the potential for nitrate (NO₃^‐) leaching. The Manure Evaluation Routine (MANNER) model estimates the amount of N available to crops following livestock manure applications after calculating losses due to NH₃ volatilization and NO₃^‐ leaching. The main objective of this study was to use the MANNER model to quantify the impact on NO₃^‐ leaching of introducing measures to reduce NH₃ emissions, following application of livestock manures. The data produced were also used to make preliminary estimates of the likely effect of selected NH₃ abatement techniques on the potential for nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. At typical UK rates of application, the potential for increased NO₃^‐ leaching following either injection of slurry or rapid incorporation of solid manures was greatest for broiler/turkey manure (22–58 kg N ha^–1) and least for straw‐based cattle manure (6–10 kg N ha^–1). The results suggest that in order to avoid substantially increasing the potential for NO₃^‐ leaching as a consequence of NH₃ abatement, livestock manures should not be applied by low NH₃ emission techniques prior to autumn‐sown crops in the UK. Instead, low‐emission applications should be made from October onwards to grassland and where possible, late autumn‐sown combinable crops or to arable land which will be planted in the spring. However, in several areas of England and Wales there is currently insufficient land planted to spring crops on which to incorporate the livestock manures produced in those areas.     

施加粪肥对潮土有机磷形态转化的影响

施加粪肥是提高土壤肥力的重要措施,为了解粪肥磷在潮土中的化学行为,通过室内培养试验,采用NaOH-EDTA 浸提和 31P 核磁共振技术分析比较了鸡粪、牛粪及施肥后土壤中的磷形态及含量,并研究了施肥对潮土有效磷的影响。结果表明,粪肥磷主要以无机态形式存在,2 种粪肥的有机磷形态及含量有明显不同,肌醇六磷酸在鸡粪中的含量明显高于牛粪。粪肥施加到潮土后丰富了土壤有机磷的形态。随时间延长,潮土中各形态磷发生相互转化,以肌醇六磷酸为主的正磷酸单酯含量明显降低,核酸等正磷酸双酯显著升高。鸡粪处理的土壤有效磷含量逐渐升高,牛粪处理则表现出相反的趋势。施加粪肥后,土壤有效磷呈现不同的变化规律可能是无机磷在土壤中固定或沉淀,有机磷矿化和无机磷被微生物固持这三方面综合作用的结果。     

Efficiency parameters of nitrogen in hog and cattle manure in the second year following application

The efficiency of nitrogen (N) derived from different manures in the years following application must be determined to optimize use of N and reduce impact on the environment. Five N efficiency parameters that were originally developed for commercial inorganic N fertilizers were selected to measure the manure N efficiency in the second year following application of liquid hog and solid cattle manure in semiarid east‐central Saskatchewan, Canada. The manures were applied at two sites (Dixon and Burr) at four rates covering a range from zero to 912 kg N ha^–1 in 1997. A canola (Brassica napus L.) crop was grown in 1997 followed by a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 1998 without fertilization. Tested by the wheat, N utilization efficiency (NUE) was similar between the two manures at either site, but it was higher at Dixon site, where the soil properties were better, than at the Burr site (P < 0.07) with cattle manure. Nitrogen physiological efficiency (NPE) was not affected by either manure source or soil. At the Burr site, N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N recovery rate (NRR) were all higher with the hog than with the cattle manure (P < 0.08 and P < 0.07, respectively), but N harvest index (NHI) was lower with the hog than with the cattle manure (P < 0.04). The similar trends of the NAE, NRR, and NHI between the hog and cattle manure were also found at the Dixon site. However, the differences in NRR between the hog and cattle manure in the second year was rather small in contrast to the large differences in the year of application. Despite that the wheat crop utilized residual hog and cattle manure N equally efficient in producing grain yield, a higher grain N concentration and a higher NHI with the cattle than with the hog manure revealed different N supply dynamics between the two. Possibly due to the low proportion of ammonium (NH₃)‐N in the total N and the high C : N ratio in the cattle manure, mineralization of cattle manure N provided more available N in the later stage of wheat growth than did the hog manure. The N efficiency parameters were useful tools in understanding the impact of residual manure N on wheat production on the Canadian prairies.     

Soil Phosphorus Distribution as Affected by Manure Compost Phosphorus Concentration and Incorporation

Phosphorus (P) from manure can become an environmental pollutant if applied to soil at rates in excess of plant uptake. This research examined the effects of composted beef cattle manures from two feeding regimens on soil P storage and forms. Composted manures were applied in the spring before planting (preplant) with incorporation, in spring after planting (postplant) without incorporation, or in winter without incorporation. Soils were sampled following 1 and 2 years of treatment at depths to 15.0 cm. All P fractions from both composted manures increased over pre-amended levels. High-P composted manure increased total P (TP) and inorganic P (IP) more than low-P composted manure. Total P and IP were greater in soils receiving low-P composted manure postplant than in those receiving manure preplant. Accumulation of TP and IP in uppermost depths was greater in the second year of composted manure application than in the first year. Appropriately managing composted manure requires integrating P concentration, time of application, and incorporation.