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 as the prime suspect in the recurrence of harmful algal blooms within Lake Erie. Livestock manure represents approximately 25% of the phosphorus applied in the watershed and can be a source of dissolved reactive phosphorus. Ohio State University Extension conducted a three year research project on applying liquid swine manure as a spring top-dress nitrogen source for soft red winter wheat. Field-scale randomized block design replicated plots were conducted on farms. 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 and also more effectively utilize the nutrients in manure and reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Erie.

Author: Glen J. Arnold 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

A fertilizer buggy was used to surface apply urea

A 5000-gallon tanker and Peecon toolbar used to both surface apply and incorporate manure in early April when wheat had broken dormancy

and field conditions were suitable

Randomized field-scale replicated plots indicate that growers can expect similar yields using liquid manure as a top-dress nitrogen source versus purchased urea

Manure was applied at rates to approximate the nitrogen amount in urea treatments

Research Findings: Yields between surface applied swine finishing manure, incorporated swine finishing manure and urea were not statistically different in any of the four fields during this three-year project. Swine manure performed as well as urea when yields were high and when yields were below average. The opportunity to utilize swine finishing manure as a spring fertilizer source for soft red winter wheat will save farmers approximately $70 per acre over purchased urea fertilizer. Applying swine manure to a growing crop will also result in the nitrogen and phosphorus being better utilized by the growing wheat crop resulting in less nutrients escaping the field.

Niese Farm 2007 Niese Farm 2008 Warnimont Farm 2008

Swine Finishing Manure

Niese Farm 2009

Wheat Yield 3-Year Manure vs Urea Summary