Bedding Material Effects on Nutrient Availability

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Bedding Material Effects on Nutrient Availability

• Dick Wolkowski
• Dept. of Soil Science
• Univ. of Wisconsin

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• Potential Issues
• Impact of preserving the liquid portion
• Nutrient immobilization from high CN materials
• Ammonia loss
• Soil quality effects

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Loss of Urine Loss of Nutrients
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Bedding Types
Different bedding types absorb different amounts
of urine.
Source Mark Powell, USDA-DFRC
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CN of Amendment is a Balancing Act

Nitrogen
Carbon
(Energy)
(Microbial demand)

• Enzymes, proteins, amino acids
• Primary limiting nutrient

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Factors Affecting Manure/Bedding Mineralization
Rates

• Carbon to nitrogen (CN) ratio
• CN30 net immobilization CNmineralization
• CN 20-30 depends on environmental conditions
• Presence of hemicellose, chitin, lignin
• Soil microbial diversity and activity
• Soil texture, moisture, and temperature
• Material size
• Incorporation

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Waste Material
THE NITROGEN CYCLE
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Carbon to Nitrogen Ratios of Different Amendments
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Nitrogen Uptake by Corn
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
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Effect of a Cool, Wet Spring on Paper-bedded
Manured Corn Yield, Arlington, Wis. 1993
40 t manure/a
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Annual Loss Of Ammonia Nitrogen 100 Tie-stalls
Using Different Beddings
N loss (lbs)
Composted manure solids
Chopped newspaper
Chopped straw
Pine shavings
Sand
Chopped corn stalks
Those that absorb the most urine also have high
losses (wicking effect)
Source Mark Powell, USDA-DFRC
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Ammonia N Loss From Dairy Heifers in Tie-stalls
Using Different Beddings
Lbs / heifer / year
Composted manure solids
Chopped newspaper
Chopped straw
Pine shavings
Summer emissions are 20-55 greater during summer
than winter
Source Mark Powell, USDA-DFRC
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AGGREGATE STABILITY IS A COMMON MEASURE OF SOIL
QUALITY

• INFLUENCED BY
• Organic matter and organisms
• Texture
• Rotation
• Tillage
• IMPORTANT FOR
• Aeration
• Water relations
• Productivity (Tilth)

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Pennsylvania
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NRCS IS INTEGRATING SOIL QUALITY CONCEPTS INTO
CONSERVATION PLANNING

• Soil Conditioning Index (SCI)
• Model that predicts the impact of adjusting
  rotation, tillage, and other management on soil
  organic matter
• Assumes SOM is a major indicator of soil quality
• Impacts erosion and is related to C sequestration
• Calculated within RUSLE2
• Scaled from -2 to 2
• Goal is to plan to increase SCI

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Summary

• Retain the liquid portion of manure to maximize
  nutrient benefit
• Bedding types affect urine retention and ammonia
  loss
• Bedding with high CN can induce N deficiency
• Use small amounts of N fertilizer to compensate
• Organic addition will enhance soil quality
• Future government programs may offer benefits for
  organic material additions