Project title: The residual effect of composted manure application on P loss to runoff and erosion

Principal investigator:

Charles Wortmann

Daniel Walters

Duration: 2002 to 2004

Funding: UNL Research Council and Williams Endowment

Contact:

Charles Wortmann Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, 154 Keim Hall, Lincoln NE 68583-0915, (402)472-2909 cwortmann2@unl.edu

Daniel Walters Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, 261 Plant Science, Lincoln NE 68583-0915, (402)472-1506

Project description:

Approximately 240 tons of composted feedlot manure was applied to manured treatments over a 3 year period to determine the effects on P and N loss. Runoff and erosion were less with manured than with non-manured treatments but total P and dissolved reactive P losses were greater with the manured treatments. P levels remain excessively high, however, even two years after the last application. The objective of this research is to determine the residual effect of the previously applied compost on erosion, runoff and loss of various P fractions.

Key results: