Application of Animal Manure/Compost in an Irrigated Alfalfa Production System

摘要: The assessment of environmental degradation from farming practices has received recent attention due to the concern for sustainable agriculture. United States Department Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency have set forth Unified National Animal Feeding Operation Strategy protect nation's water resources contamination. requires that field application manure, a common fertilization method manure disposal practice, may not exceed crop nutrient needs. In this research, effects both fresh composted, on production alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was examined. Manure compost were applied determine impact yield, soil content, potential nitrate leaching. A conventional "no nitrogen added" treatment also maintained as control. after each harvest in amounts such amount removed replaced with same or compost. Soil analysis down 150 cm depth showed an increase initial readings plots but relatively stable level no-nitrogen plots. Final PO4-P revealed again had significant while plot lower. Alfalfa yield did vary between treatments throughout one half year study. Also, no detectable phosphate found leachate collected treatments.