Tj. Masek et al., Use of precision farming to improve applications of feedlot waste to increase nutrient use efficiency and protect water quality, COMM SOIL S, 32(7-8), 2001, pp. 1355-1369
Spatial variability in crop yields can be caused by many factors, which mak
es it difficult to determine the most limiting factors. Application of anim
al wastes to relatively infertile areas offers the potential to supply need
ed nutrients and improve soil physical properties. The objectives of this s
tudy were to test a manure application strategy to reduce spatial variabili
ty in corn (Zea mays L) yield and to identify the most limiting nutrients i
n relatively low yielding areas in a field. Fresh solid beef feedlot manure
was applied in 1997 to a strip across areas with variable fertility status
. No fertilizer was applied with the manure in 1997. Uniform N fertilizer,
but no manure, was applied in 1998. Leaf tissue samples and chlorophyll met
er readings were collected along the strips during the growing season and f
rom adjacent strips without manure application. Grain yield was determined
at plant maturity. In 1997, chlorophyll meter readings indicated season lon
g N deficiency (< 95% sufficiency index) in no-manure plots with sufficienc
y indices of 93, 88, 85, and 88% for the V10, V17, R2, and R3 growth stages
, respectively. Only an early season N deficiency was detected in a few of
the no-manure plots in 1998. Leaf tissue analyses indicated N and P were gr
owth limiting factors in 1997, with leaf N concentrations of 25, 26, and 27
mg g(-1) for non-manure plots and 30, 33, and 31 irig g(-1) for manure plo
ts at V12, R1, and R3 growth stages, respectively. Leaf P concentrations we
re 2.0, 2.0, and 1.9 mg g(-1) for no-manure plots versus 2.5, 2.7, and 2.3
mg g(-1) for manure plots, respectively. In 1998, neither N or P were ident
ified as limiting factors. Grain yields in 1997 were 10.2 and 12.2 Mg ha(-1
), which increased to 11.9 and 12.8 Mg ha(-1) in 1998 for no-manure and man
ure plots, respectively.