Journal of NACAA

Sidedressing Emerged Corn with Liquid Swine Manure Using a Drag Hose

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 11, Issue 2 - December 2018

Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott

Abstract

The application of liquid swine finishing manure to farm fields represents a significant expense for livestock producers despite the nitrogen, phosphorus and potash contained in the manure. In addition, the nitrogen in fall-applied livestock manure is subject to being lost to the environment before a crop is planted the following season. In this study liquid swine finishing manure was incorporated into corn at the V1 to V3 stage using a drag hose applicator over four crop seasons. The manure application rate was 6,500 gallons per acre to provide the corn side-dress nitrogen needed for the crop. A six-inch diameter soft drag hose was used with a 12-row rolling coulter design manure application toolbar. In each field, three treatments of commercial 28 percent urea ammonia nitrogen were applied at 70 gallons per acre to match the available nitrogen in the swine manure. The replicated plots were approximately 1,150 feet in length and 12 rows (30 feet) wide in corn fields approximately 40 acres in size. The fields were planted at an angle to accommodate the drag hose used for the manure application. Yield results over four seasons showed a 14.8 bushels per acre yield advantage for the swine finishing manure over the commercial fertilizer. Using swine finishing manure as an incorporated side-dress nitrogen source to emerged corn can reduce the need for purchased nitrogen fertilizer and pay for the cost of the manure application and protect water quality.