Manure vs Commercial Fertilizer vs 1/2 rate Nitrogen/Manure Corn plot

Blair Hoseth

The purpose is to compare yield data, net profit, soil health on a replicated corn plot using commercial fertilizer vs beef manure and this year adding a 3rd comparison using 1/2 rate Nitrogen fertilizer with beef manure. Having done this plot for 3 years we have seen a yield drag on the manure only plot vs the commercial plot on the corn: while the beans proved a higher yield on the manure only. We are concerned the higher organic matter on the corn is tying up too much nitrogen during the growing season. By adding the extra Urea with the new manure plot we hope to see a better yield response.

This is our 4th year with this plot this year we will be doing a 371/2-acre plot with 4 replication using beef manure alone, commercial fertilizer alone, and beef manure with 50% (125#s) of urea. Preplant application of commercial fertilizer of Urea, P, K and sulfur, 10-34-0 will be applied at planting at 3 gallons per acre. Both Liquid beef manure and Dry manure were applied the fall of ’23 and incorporated with a vertical tillage tool. Conventional corn will be planted with the same variety on all 3 replications.

We will be broadcast spraying post emergence herbicide. Harvest with 12 row corn head using a precision 2020yield monitor and weighing each replication with the grain cart with scale. We will be doing soil and manure testing and working with our agronomists.

We will be broadcast spraying post emergence herbicide. Harvest with 12 row corn head using a precision 2020yield monitor and weighing each replication with the grain cart with scale. We will be doing soil and manure testing and working with our agronomists.