Cattle manure and lime amendments to improve crop production of acidic soils in Northern Alberta

Abstract

G. W. 2002. Cattle manure and lime amendments to improve crop production of acidic soils in northern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 227-238. Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. Although soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Fresh cattle manure and agricultural lime were compared for their effects on soil acidity and the production of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse study. Canola and wheat yield, the nutrient content of grain and straw, and selected soil properties were determined on a Gray Luvisol (pH 4.8) from the Peace Region of Alberta. Soil pH increased with lime and manure applications, and canola and wheat yields were higher in limed and manureamended soils than unfertilized, unlimed soils. Macronutrient uptake by canola and wheat was generally improved by liming and manure applications, and micronutrient uptake was related to the effects of lime and manure on soil pH. An economic analysis compared the costs of using cattle manure and lime to increase soil pH to 6.0. The costs of applying lime and fresh cattle manure to increase soil pH were compared, based on the fees for purchasing and applying lime or loading, hauling and applying manure. The nutrient value of manure was calculated based on the quantities of plant-available N, P and K in fresh manure. At distances less than 40 km, it is economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for agricultural lime to increase soil pH of acidic soils. However, good manure management practices should be followed to minimize the risk of nutrient transport and environmental pollution from agricultural land amended with cattle manure.Key words: Agricultural economics, canola production, cattle manure, lime, soil pH, wheat production Whalen, J. K., Chang, C. et Clayton, G. W. 2002. L'amélioration de rendement dans les sols acides au nord de l'Alberta avec du fumier bovin et de la chaux. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 227-238. Il a été établi que les cultures en sols acides peuvent être améliorées en applicant un élément alcanisant, principalement de la chaux agricole, afin d'approcher le seuil de la neutralité. Or, si la chaux demeure assez populaire, il a déjà été suggéré que l'application de fumier peut aussi augmenter le pH du sol. L'expérience présentée dans cet article consistait à comparer l'impact d'un fumier frais de bovin sur le pH, ainsi que les cultures du canola (Brassica napus L.) et du blé (Triticum aestivum L.) à celui de la chaux. Les cultures étaient effectuées en serre sur un Luvisol gris (pH 4.8) de la région de Peace River en Alberta. Le pH du sol a augmenté avec l'application de la chaux et du fumier. Non seulement il est démontré qu'en general, les récoltes de blé et de canola sont plus abondantes sur les sols traités avec de la chaux ou du fumier que sur ceux traités seulement aux engrais chimiques, mais également que les deux traitements permettent une meilleure abs...

Livestock manure improves acid soil productivity under a cold northern Alberta climate

“…(1 every 4 yr. Our results are consistent with those of other studies (Eghball 1999;Whalen et al 2002), which showed that applying cattle manure to acid soils is as effective as lime in increasing soil pH. However, soil pH in the limed and manure-treated plots at both sites in each year (except M160 in spring 2004 at Fort Vermilion) was lower than the targeted values of 6.0 to 6.5.…”

“…Our results are consistent with those of a greenhouse study on acid soils from the Peace River Region, which reported that grain plus straw N, P, and K removals by canola and wheat were higher in manure-amended treatments than in the Control, NP fertilizer and lime treatments (Whalen et al 2002). As with uptake, the concentration of N, P and K in barley and canola straw and grain tended to be greater in manure-amended plots than in the Control, also in agreement with Whalen et al (2002).…”

“…However, soil pH in the limed and manure-treated plots at both sites in each year (except M160 in spring 2004 at Fort Vermilion) was lower than the targeted values of 6.0 to 6.5. These targets were achieved by Whalen et al (2002) using similar soils under laboratory conditions. As Godsey et al (2007) pointed out, the actual lime requirement in the field is generally greater than the amount predicted by the buffer method in the laboratory, particularly when the lime requirement is high (4.5 Mg ha…”

“…Under controlled environmental conditions, Whalen et al (2000Whalen et al ( , 2002 have shown that acid soils from northern Alberta could potentially be amended by cattle feedlot manure. Whalen et al (2002) suggested that a distance B40 km from the source to the point of application makes it economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for lime in northern Alberta.…”

“…Under controlled environmental conditions, Whalen et al (2000Whalen et al ( , 2002 have shown that acid soils from northern Alberta could potentially be amended by cattle feedlot manure. Whalen et al (2002) suggested that a distance B40 km from the source to the point of application makes it economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for lime in northern Alberta. Other studies under controlled laboratory (Naramabuye and Haynes 2006;Murphy 2007;Schefe et al 2008a) or greenhouse conditions (Hue 1992;Tang et al 2007;Schefe et al 2008b) have also demonstrated the liming effects of different manures on acid soils.…”