Ammonia Emissions, Exposed Surface Area, and Crop and Weed Responses Resulting from Three Post-Emergence Slurry Application Strategies in Cereals

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ammonia Emissions, Exposed Surface Area, and Crop and Weed Responses Resulting from Three Post-Emergence Slurry Application Strategies in Cereals

AU - Mc Collough, Margaret Rose

AU - Pedersen, Johanna

AU - Nyord, Tavs

AU - Sørensen, Peter

AU - Melander, Bo

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Ammonia (NH 3) emissions resulting from the field application of livestock slurry has both negative human health and environmental impacts. However, decreasing the exposed surface area (ESA) of slurry upon application can reduce NH 3 volatilization by limiting its atmospheric exposure. In the present study, three strategies for depositing slurry within a growing crop were studied, including: 1. standard trailing hoses (SA hose), 2. trailing shoes (SA shoes), and 3. the combination of rigid tines and trailing shoes (SA tines+shoes). Application methods interact with the soil to varying degrees and were evaluated within the context of contemporary weed management practices, namely in cereals receiving inter-row hoeing. SA hose, SA shoes, and SA tines+shoes were compared in three coinciding experiments that assessed slurry ESA, NH 3 emissions, and crop and weed effects. SA tines+shoes resulted in smallest ESA, 70–72% and 61–66% less than SA hose and SA shoes, respectively. However, in only one of three site–years did SA shoes and SA tines+shoes reduce NH 3 emissions compared to SA hose, by 46% and 29%, respectively. Crop yields, nitrogen (N) accumulation in crop biomass, and intra-row weed biomass were unaffected by the placement method. In heavily crusted soils, the SA tines+shoes prototype worked well; however, the functional differences among placement strategies were not great enough to detect crop and NH 3 effects.

AB - Ammonia (NH 3) emissions resulting from the field application of livestock slurry has both negative human health and environmental impacts. However, decreasing the exposed surface area (ESA) of slurry upon application can reduce NH 3 volatilization by limiting its atmospheric exposure. In the present study, three strategies for depositing slurry within a growing crop were studied, including: 1. standard trailing hoses (SA hose), 2. trailing shoes (SA shoes), and 3. the combination of rigid tines and trailing shoes (SA tines+shoes). Application methods interact with the soil to varying degrees and were evaluated within the context of contemporary weed management practices, namely in cereals receiving inter-row hoeing. SA hose, SA shoes, and SA tines+shoes were compared in three coinciding experiments that assessed slurry ESA, NH 3 emissions, and crop and weed effects. SA tines+shoes resulted in smallest ESA, 70–72% and 61–66% less than SA hose and SA shoes, respectively. However, in only one of three site–years did SA shoes and SA tines+shoes reduce NH 3 emissions compared to SA hose, by 46% and 29%, respectively. Crop yields, nitrogen (N) accumulation in crop biomass, and intra-row weed biomass were unaffected by the placement method. In heavily crusted soils, the SA tines+shoes prototype worked well; however, the functional differences among placement strategies were not great enough to detect crop and NH 3 effects.

KW - ESA

KW - NH3

KW - biomass

KW - intra-row weeds

KW - nitrogen accumulation

KW - spring barley

KW - trailing hose

KW - trailing shoe

KW - winter wheat

KW - yield

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140457358&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/agronomy12102441

DO - 10.3390/agronomy12102441

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2073-4395

VL - 12

JO - Agronomy

JF - Agronomy

IS - 10

M1 - 12102441

ER -