“Fertilizer Strategies to Conserve Energy on the

Farm” Southern Maryland Crops

ConferenceWaldorf, MD

December 8, 2006

R. David MyersExtension Educator Photo courtesy of Heather

Hutchinson

Why do we fertilize?

Photo courtesy of Edwin Remsberg

Fertilizer Options?Cost Analysis for No-Till Corn

Manure

Sludge

Commercial Fertilizer

Nutrient Managementhttp://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/waterqual/themes/nutrient_management/manmh2006.htm

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Recommendations

Based on pre-plant soil tests and yield goal

The lower the soil test value, the higher the nutrient recommendation

Nitrogen Recommendations

Nitrogen recommendations are based on crop and yield goals.

Potash Recommendation (lb/acre) as a function of soil fertility level (FIV-K) for corn grain (yield goal -

150 bu/ac)160

135

11095

80

50 4535 30

20

00

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Optimum (51-100)

Excessive (>100)Low (0-

25)

Medium (26-50)

# K2O/A

FIV-K

Agricultural Nutrient Management Program

Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic & Ammonium Nitrogen Components in a Typical

Dairy Manure (assumes incorporation the same day as application)

Unavailableammonium nitrogen

Available ammoniumnitrogen

Available organicnitrogen

Unavailable organicnitrogen

2.4 lb

3 lb

6 lb

0.6 lb

Average Manure Analysis 1989-1997

Available Stockpile Lagoon Nutrient lbs/ton lbs/1000gal N 3.0 0.24 P 7.0 1.34 K 16.0 5.02 Ca 8.0 1.13 Mg 3.0 0.69 S 1.5 0.05 Mn 0.08 0.004 Zn 0.05 0.002 Cu 0.02 0.003

USNAD, Gambrills MD: No-Tillage System

16 Essential Plant Nutrients

MacronutrientsNon-Mineral: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

Primary - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium

Secondary - Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur

Mineral:

MicronutrientsIron, Manganese, Boron, Molybdenum,Copper, Zinc, Chlorine

Manure type

Total N* Total P2O5* Total K2O*Available N Broadcast

Available N Incorporated Immediately

Poultry solid w/out litter (53)

54 57 42 42 57

Poultry deep pit (5)

50 50 27 27 50

Poultry solid w/ litter (761)

72 58 43 43 58

*All nutrient values are reported in pounds per ton. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of samples. Available nitrogen estimated based on application to a spring or fall crop. Available N Broadcast: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 50% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available Available N Incorporated Immediately: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 90% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available

                                                                                              

          

Poultry Litter as a Fertilizer and Soil AmendmentAuthors: G. L. Mullins, Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Science and E. S. Bendfeldt, Associate Extension Agent, Agricultural and Natural Resources; R.A. Clark, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural

Resources, Virginia Tech Publication Number 424-034, Posted January 2002

http://www.synagro.com/

Biosolids Average Plant Available Nutrients:

lbs/tonN 34.0P 19.1K 6.0

How can you be sure sludge is safe?http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/permit/sludge_app.pdf

Sewage Sludge Heavy Metal Tolerance Guidelines

Sewage Sludge Stabilization MD LawSludge stabilization is the treatment given to sludge and aimed to reduce pathogenic

organisms, vector attraction potential, odors and putrescibility of the sludge; acceptable stabilization processes include: anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, composting, heat drying, heat treatment and chemical stabilization. Sewage sludge is also considered as stabilized sludge if one of the following requirements is met:

• the mass of volatile solids in the sewage sludge has been reduced by at least 38 per cent;

• the specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) for the sewage sludge is ≤ 1.5 milligrams of oxygen per hour per gram of total solids on a dry weight basis, corrected to 200 C;

• demonstration through additional anaerobic digestion in a bench-scale unit that volatile solids reduction for anaerobically digested sludge is less than 17 per cent;

• demonstration through additional aerobic digestion in a bench-scale unit that volatile solids reduction for aerobically digested sludge is less than 15 per cent;

• addition of alkaline materials to raise the pH of the sewage sludge to ≥ 12 and the sludge then remains at pH 12 or higher for two hours and then at pH 11.5 or higher for an additional 22 hours; and

• the sewage sludge has been treated in an aerobic composting process for 14 days or longer. During that time, the temperature of the sewage sludge must be higher than 400 C and the average temperature of the sewage sludge must be higher than 450 C.

How can you be sure fertilizer is safe?

http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/default.htm

“Always learning to take nothing for granted!”

“A recent study found that Ironite contains up to 3600 mg/kg As and 2900 mg/kg Pb and that solubility testing indicates that the product should be classified as a hazardous waste. On August 15, 2005, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture issued a “stop sale” on Ironite 100, but other Ironite products remain on the market.”

Fertilizers are state regulated http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/ProductDatabase.htm

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetCommercial Fertilizer

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu

Unit lbs/Acre Price/lb $ Total/Acre

Nitrogen 150 .36 51.00Phosphorus 30 .34 10.20Potassium 120 .26 31.20

*Fertilizer Total 92.00

Fertilizer Application Costs:10/10/10 in planter box (300 lb/acre) 5.00Bulk Spread KCL (150 lb/acre) 8.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25 gal/acre) 15.00

Fertilizer Application Costs 29.00

Fertilizer Grand Total $121.00/Acre* Includes Trucking

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetDairy/Beef Manure

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Manure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00Nitrogen 45 (150) 105 lbs @ .36/lb 37.80Phosphorus 105 (30) 0.00Potassium 240 (120) 0.00

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 37.80 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Manure cleanout 1.00/ton 15.00Manure spreading 15 ton/acre 22.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (20 gal/acre) 15.00

Manure Application Costs 53.00Manure Fertilization Grand Total $90.80/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetDairy/Beef Manure - P Based

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Manure (on-farm) 5 tons/acre 0.00Nitrogen 15 (150) 135 lbs @ .36/lb 48.60Phosphorus 35 (30) 0.00Potassium 80 (120) 40lbs @ .26/lb 10.40

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 59.00 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Manure cleanout 1.00/ton 5.00Manure spreading 6 ton/acre 15.00 KCL in planter box (65 lb/acre) 5.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (19 gal/acre) 1.00UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25 gal/acre) 15.00

Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs 41.00Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $100.00/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetBroiler Litter - N Based

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Broiler Litter 3.5 tons/A @ 5.00/ton* 17.50*($25/ton - $20/ton MDA cost share)

Nitrogen 151 (150) 0.00Phosphorus 203 (30) 0.00Potassium 151 (120) 0.00

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 17.50 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Litter spreading 3 ton/acre 12.00

Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs 12.00Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $29.50/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetBroiler Litter - P Based

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Broiler Litter 1 ton/A @ 5.00/ton* 5.00*($25/ton - $20/ton MDA cost share)

Nitrogen 43 (150) 107 lbs @ .36/lb 38.52Phosphorus 58 (30) 0.00Potassium 43 (120) 77 lbs @ .26/lb 20.02

Manure & Fertilizer Costs 63.54 Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs:Litter spreading 1 ton/acre 10.00 Bulk Spread KCL (128.3 lb/acre) 8.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25.6 gal/acre) 15.00

Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs 34.00Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $97.54/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetBiosolids - N Based

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Biosolids 4.5 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00Nitrogen 153 (150) 0.00Phosphorus 86 (30) 0.00Potassium 27 (120) 93 lbs @ .26/lb 24.18

Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs 24.18 Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs:Bulk Spread KCL (160 lb/acre) 8.00

Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs 8.00Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $32.18/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

No-Till Corn Fertilization BudgetBiosolids - P Based

Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal - 150 bu

Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre

Biosolids 2 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00Nitrogen 68 (150) 82 lbs @ .36/lb 29.52Phosphorus 38 (30) 0.00Potassium 12 (120) 108 lbs @ .26/lb 28.08

Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs 57.60 Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs:Bulk Spread KCL (180 lb/acre) 8.00UAN at Planting Herbicide (15.00 gal/acre) 1.00UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (21.0 gal/acre) 15.00

Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs 24.00Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $81.60/Acre

(*) Amount required

 

 

“Any Questions?”

Southern Maryland Crops Conference

Waldorf, MD December 8, 2006

R. David MyersExtension Educator