By John Sawyer, Department of Agronomy
Iowa crop and livestock farmers, as top producers of corn, soybeans, pork, eggs, and other agricultural products – are in an advantageous position economically and environmentally. Not only do livestock producers enjoy the benefits of locally grown crops for the feed that they need, but crop producers also enjoy the benefits of using manure as a nutrient source. To help producers make the most of Iowa’s available manure nutrient resources, Iowa State University Extension recently developed an updated publication, Using Manure Nutrients for Crop Production - PMR 1003.
“The publication will help producers manage manure applications for best use as a nutrient resource and therefore help reduce fertilizer requirements. This can help provide for good crop production and minimize environmental influences,” said John Sawyer, Extension soil fertility and nutrient management specialist and publication co-author. “The publication incorporates new research findings, including updates for estimating manure nutrient crop availability. This includes first-year availability, and when appropriate, subsequent crop-year availability.” Also, the publication has examples for determining the rates need to meet crop fertilization requirements from manure sources.
The publication has in-depth discussion on managing manure nutrients for crop production - especially manure nutrient characteristics, similarity/differences to fertilizer nutrients, manure nutrient processing in soils, and management practices that can affect nutrient supply and success as a nutrient resource for growing crops. This information will be of interest to both crop and livestock producers, as well as agency personnel and crop advisers.
The revised publication can be purchased or downloaded from the ISU Extension online store.
John Sawyer is a professor of agronomy with research and extension responsibilities in soil fertility and nutrient management.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on October 10, 2008. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.