Crop Performance and Soil Properties of Sites Previously Used for Production of Beef Cattle Manure Compost

Authors

Daniel Ginting, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bahman Eghball, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Daniel T. Walters, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Charles A. Francis, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Casey Wilson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1-1-2004

Citation

2004 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Comments

Copyright © 2003, Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. Used by permission

Abstract

This study was established on sites that had three or seven years of compost production history. Corn, wheat, barley, sorghum and alfalfa were planted in 2001. In the first year, wheat, barley and sorghum performed better than corn in the windrow areas while alfalfa did not even establish because of excessive salt in the soil. Soil electrical conductivity, K and Na in the 0-6 inch depth under windrows were high and caused soil crusting and poor germination and crop yields. Growing salt tolerant crops, such as barley, can rehabilitate sites used for composting and the process can be accelerated by appropriate field cultural practices.