Data from: Agro-environmental consequences of shifting from nitrogen- to phosphorus-based manure management of corn.
This experiment was designed to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and related agronomic characteristics of a long-term corn-alfalfa rotational cropping system fertilized with manure (liquid versus semi-composted separated solids) from dairy animals. Different manure-application treatments were sized to fulfill two conditions: (1) an application rate to meet the agronomic soil nitrogen requirement of corn (“N-based” without manure incorporation, more manure), and (2) an application rate to match or to replace the phosphorus removal by silage corn from soils (“P-based” with incorporation, less manure). In addition, treatments tested the effects of liquid vs. composted-solid manure, and the effects of chemical nitrogen fertilizer. The controls consisted of non-manured inorganic N treatments (sidedress applications). These activities were performed during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons as part of the Dairy Coordinated Agricultural Project, or Dairy CAP, as described below. The data from this experiment give insight into the factors controlling GHG emissions from similar cropping systems, and may be used for model calibration and validation after careful evaluation of the flagged data.
The experiment was conducted at Cornell University’s Musgrave Research Farm near in Aurora, NY (https://cuaes.cals.cornell.edu/farms/musgrave-research-farm/). Soils are high-pH glacial tills, approximately 55% Lima silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic oxyaquic hapludalfs) and 45% Kendaia and Lyons soils. Slopes range from 0-8%, and there is imperfect tile drainage. Experimental plots were not irrigated. Weather observations from Musgrave Farm can be found at http://newa.cornell.edu/index.php?page=all-weather-data . Manure for the experiment was collected from Aurora Ridge Farm, a commercial dairy. Effluent from an anaerobic manure digester was separated into liquid and solid components using a screw-press, and then solids were further composted (Gooch and Pronto, 2009).
For all experimental plots, seedbeds were prepared by one-time disking followed by rolling with a culti-mulcher. All manure was surface applied. Liquid manure in the “P-based” treatment was immediately incorporated by chisel plow (20 cm depth) to conserve ammonia nitrogen. Liquid manure in the “N-based” treatment and all solid manures were incorporated by chisel plow seven days after application to allow nitrogen volatilization. Starter fertilizer was applied at 5 cm depth and 5 cm to the side of the seed furrow. In 2014, pesticides for general weed control were applied on June 20 to all plots. Single tank mix included S-metolachlor (CAS No. 87392-12-9, 0.94 kg/ha); atrazine (CAS No. 1912-24-9, 0.63 kg/ha); mesotrione (CAS No. 104206-82-8, 0.09kg/ha); isopropylamine salt of glyphosate (CAS No. 38641-94-0, 1.68 kg/ha). In 2015, pesticides were applied on June 25 to all plots. Single tank mix included S-metolachlor (0.93 kg/ha); atrazine (0.75 kg/ha); mesotrione (0.18 kg/ha); isopropylamine salt of glyphosate (2.12 kg/ha). At harvest, crop residue from 10 cm cutting height was left in all plots.
Gas fluxes from soil (CO2, CH4, N2O) were measured on 32 dates in 2014 and 22 dates in 2015, using vented chambers (Dell et al., 2014) and following standard measurement protocols (Parkin and Venterea, 2010). The gas flux measurement chamber was placed between rows. For plots receiving urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizer (UAN), the measurement chamber was placed on the UAN band after application. Chamber deployment time was 45 minutes with sampling intervals of 15 minutes. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), and the gas flux rates were calculated by linear regression. Soil samples were treated with the Cornell “Morgan extraction” (Morgan, 2941) to measure available nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Soil pH and organic matter were also measured, but no soil physical characteristics are available. Organic matter was measured as loss-on-ignition with exposure to 500 degrees Celsius.
This experiment was part of “Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Dairy Production Systems of the Great Lakes Region,” also known as the Dairy Coordinated Agricultural Project (Dairy CAP), funded by the United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (award number 2013-68002-20525). The main goal of the Dairy CAP is to improve understanding of the magnitudes and controlling factors over GHG emissions from dairy production in the Great Lakes region. Using this knowledge, the Dairy CAP has improved life cycle analysis (LCA) of GHG production by Great Lakes dairy farms, developed farm management tools, and conducted extension, education and outreach activities.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Data from Agro-environmental consequences of shifting from nitrogen- to phosphorus-based manure management of corn..
File Name: Manure_N_vs_P.xlsx
Resource Software Recommended: Microsoft Excel 2013,url: https://products.office.com/en-us/excel
Resource Title: Data dictionary for: Data from: Agro-environmental consequences of shifting from nitrogen- to phosphorus-based manure management of corn..
File Name: Data_dictionary_Manure_N_vs_P.csv
Funding
USDA-NIFA: 2013-68002-20525
History
Data contact name
Barford, CarolData contact email
carol.barford@wisc.eduPublisher
Ag Data CommonsIntended use
The primary purpose of this study was to gain insight into factors controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from soil under a corn-alfalfa rotation receiving manure as fertilizer. In particular, the form of manure (compost vs. liquid) and the amount applied were studied as controlling factors. The observations may be used for parameterization and validation of computer simulation models of GHG emissions from dairy farms, as well as meta-analyses of similar studies of soil GHG fluxes, soil nutrient dynamics and chemistry, and corn yield.Use limitations
Time series of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and soil nutrient contents are notoriously variable over both time and space. Extrapolation and interpolation of these data, and any use of flagged data, must be done with caution.Temporal Extent Start Date
2014-05-01Temporal Extent End Date
2015-11-01Theme
- Not specified
Geographic location - description
1256 Poplar Ridge Rd, Aurora, NY 13026ISO Topic Category
- biota
- climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
- environment
- farming
- geoscientificInformation
- location
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
greenhouse gases; agronomic traits; crop rotation; liquids; dairy animals; application rate; soil; nitrogen; corn; phosphorus; nitrogen fertilizers; growing season; greenhouse gas emissions; models; farms; New York; silt loam soils; Hapludalfs; tile drainage; weather; seedbeds; discing; rolling; liquid manure; plows; ammonium nitrogen; volatilization; starter fertilizers; furrows; pesticides; weed control; metolachlor; atrazine; mesotrione; glyphosate; crop residues; cutting; carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide; urea; ammonium nitrate; nitrate fertilizers; gas chromatography; regression analysis; soil sampling; nitrate nitrogen; potassium; soil pH; pH; organic matter; climate change; milk production; production technology; Great Lakes region; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; life cycle assessment; Great Lakes; dairy farming; farm management; education; outreachPrimary article PubAg Handle
Pending citation
- No
Public Access Level
- Public