Furrow irrigation of corn with water and dairy manure slurry

The purpose of this research was to determine the benefits and feasibility of irrigation using both water and a dairy manure slurry on corn silage yields. The influence of soil types and soil properties on corn silage yields were also studied. Corn silage at the West Tennessee Experiment Station, Jackson, Tennessee was irrigated for three growing seasons with water only. Gated aluminum pipe delivered irrigation water to the furrows between corn rows. The corn silage was harvested using a silage chopper, and plot yields were obtained. Corn silage at the Cherokee Dairy Farm, Knoxville, Tennessee was irrigated for three growing seasons using a dairy manure slurry. The manure slurry was delivered to the furrows by gated aluminum pipe. Corn silage was harvested by hand cutting to determine plot yields. In both locations, the value of irrigation was determined by measuring the increase in the corn silage yields compared to non-irrigated plots at each location. Irrigation can increase corn silage yields even in years of near normal rainfall. Irrigation with both water and dairy manure slurry resulted in increased yields. Soil types also influenced corn silage yields on irrigated areas but only to a slight extent when the soil types were similar.