Corn yields and nutrient concentrations in plants, soils, and soil solutions as affected by levels of dairy manure, sewage sludge, and ammonium nitrate

Author

James L. Magness

Date of Award

12-1976

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences

Major Professor

Gary M. Lessman

Committee Members

V. H. Reich, J. I. Sewell

Abstract

Various rates of dairy manure, sewage sludge, and NH₄NO₃ were applied to a Sequoia silt loam and a Whitwell loam for a two year period to determine their relative effects on corn (Zea mays) responses and some chemical properties of the soils, plants, and soil solutions. Application rates of manure and sludge were 0, 9, 18, 36, and 72 metric tons per hectare on a dry matter basis and 0, 112, 224, 448, and 896 kg/ha for NH₄NO₃. The manure and sludge checks along with all of the NH₄NO₃ plots received 90 kg/ha of inorganic P and K. Soil samples were taken prior to the application of the amendments and following the yield measurements. Tissue samples were obtained at the six-leaf stage, ear-leaf stage at silking, and when silage data were collected. Water samples were collected during the winter months. Applications of dairy manure were found to be more beneficial in maintaining the soil pH, and increasing soil P and K than the sewage sludge or NH₄NO₃ treatments. The soil pH was decreased by additions of sewage sludge and NH₄NO₃, with the inorganic N fertilizer producing the most marked decreases. Nitrate-N and NH₄-N concentrations in the plant tissue were generally higher as the result of applying large amounts of NH₄NO₃, although the highest rates of manure occasionally produced similar levels. Dairy manure applications were also responsible for producing the highest P and K concentrations among the various treatments. However, Zn levels were influenced more by sludge applications than either of the other materials. Applications of NH₄NO₃ were more influential in producing the highest NO₃-N levels in the water samples, while dairy manure application resulted in the highest P and C1 concentrations among the different treatments. The most noticeable responses were noted after two years of application. Heavy rates of sludge had essentially no effect on P in the soil solution samples. Applications of dairy manure resulted in the most vigorous plants during the early stages of plant growth, while those plants from the N check and the 896 kg/ha rate of NH₄NO₃ plot had a stunted appearance. When grain and silage yields were taken, the data indicated the same general trends, with the best yields occurring at the higher application rates of manure and the lowest from the N check and the heaviest rate of NH₄NO₃. The cumulative effects of the fertilizer amendments were responsible for the greater differences in the measured responses during the second year of the experiment. In general, the mineral composition of the soil, tissue, and soil solution samples along with the yields was higher during the second year of the experiment.

Recommended Citation

Magness, James L., "Corn yields and nutrient concentrations in plants, soils, and soil solutions as affected by levels of dairy manure, sewage sludge, and ammonium nitrate. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1976.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/8022