“Fertilizer Strategies to Conserve Energy on the Farm” Southern Maryland Crops Conference Waldorf, MD December 8, 2006 R. David Myers Extension Educator Photo courtesy of Heather Hutchinson

Why do we fertilize? Photo courtesy of Edwin Remsberg

Fertilizer Options? Cost Analysis for No-Till Corn Manure Sludge Commercial Fertilizer

Nutrient Management ement/manmh2006.htm ement/manmh2006.htm

Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Recommendations Based on pre-plant soil tests and yield goal The lower the soil test value, the higher the nutrient recommendation Nitrogen Recommendations Nitrogen recommendations are based on crop and yield goals.

Potash Recommendation (lb/acre) as a function of soil fertility level (FIV-K) for corn grain (yield goal bu/ac) Optimum (51-100) Excessive (>100) Low (0-25) Medium (26-50) # K2O/A FIV-K Agricultural Nutrient Management Program

Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic & Ammonium Nitrogen Components in a Typical Dairy Manure (assumes incorporation the same day as application) 2.4 lb 3 lb 6 lb 0.6 lb

Average Manure Analysis AvailableStockpile Lagoon Nutrient lbs/ton lbs/1000gal N P K Ca Mg S Mn Zn Cu USNAD, Gambrills MD: No-Tillage System

16 Essential Plant Nutrients Macronutrients Non-Mineral : Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen Primary - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium Secondary - Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur Mineral: Micronutrients Iron, Manganese, Boron, Molybdenum, Copper, Zinc, Chlorine

Table 2. Average Nutrient Values for Virginia Manure Tested Manure type Total N*Total P 2 O 5 *Total K 2 O* Available N Broadcast Available N Incorporated Immediately Poultry solid w/out litter (53) Poultry deep pit (5) Poultry solid w/ litter (761) *All nutrient values are reported in pounds per ton. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of samples. Available nitrogen estimated based on application to a spring or fall crop. Available N Broadcast: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 50% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available Available N Incorporated Immediately: Assumes 60% of the organic nitrogen and 90% of the ammonium nitrogen are plant available Additional Benefits: Organic Matter and pH Poultry Litter as a Fertilizer and Soil Amendment Authors: G. L. Mullins, Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Science and E. S. Bendfeldt, Associate Extension Agent, Agricultural and Natural Resources; R.A. Clark, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Virginia Tech Publication Number , Posted January 2002

Biosolids Average Plant Available Nutrients: lbs/ton N34.0 P19.1 K 6.0

How can you be sure sludge is safe?

Sewage Sludge Heavy Metal Tolerance Guidelines

Sewage Sludge Stabilization MD Law Sludge stabilization is the treatment given to sludge and aimed to reduce pathogenic organisms, vector attraction potential, odors and putrescibility of the sludge; acceptable stabilization processes include: anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, composting, heat drying, heat treatment and chemical stabilization. Sewage sludge is also considered as stabilized sludge if one of the following requirements is met: the mass of volatile solids in the sewage sludge has been reduced by at least 38 per cent; the specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) for the sewage sludge is ≤ 1.5 milligrams of oxygen per hour per gram of total solids on a dry weight basis, corrected to 200 C; demonstration through additional anaerobic digestion in a bench-scale unit that volatile solids reduction for anaerobically digested sludge is less than 17 per cent; demonstration through additional aerobic digestion in a bench-scale unit that volatile solids reduction for aerobically digested sludge is less than 15 per cent; addition of alkaline materials to raise the pH of the sewage sludge to ≥ 12 and the sludge then remains at pH 12 or higher for two hours and then at pH 11.5 or higher for an additional 22 hours; and the sewage sludge has been treated in an aerobic composting process for 14 days or longer. During that time, the temperature of the sewage sludge must be higher than 400 C and the average temperature of the sewage sludge must be higher than 450 C.

How can you be sure fertilizer is safe? “Always learning to take nothing for granted!” “A recent study found that Ironite contains up to 3600 mg/kg As and 2900 mg/kg Pb and that solubility testing indicates that the product should be classified as a hazardous waste. On August 15, 2005, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture issued a “stop sale” on Ironite 100, but other Ironite products remain on the market.”

Fertilizers are state regulated

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Commercial Fertilizer Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Price/lb $ Total/Acre Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium *Fertilizer Total Fertilizer Application Costs: 10/10/10 in planter box (300 lb/acre) 5.00 Bulk Spread KCL (150 lb/acre) 8.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25 gal/acre) Fertilizer Application Costs Fertilizer Grand Total $ /Acre * Includes Trucking

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Dairy/Beef Manure Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Manure (on-farm) 15 tons/acre 0.00 Nitrogen 45 (150) Phosphorus 105 (30) 0.00 Potassium240 (120) 0.00 Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure cleanout 1.00/ton Manure spreading15 ton/acre UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (20 gal/acre) Manure Application Costs Manure Fertilization Grand Total $ 90.80/Acre (*) Amount required

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Dairy/Beef Manure - P Based Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Manure (on-farm) 5 tons/acre 0.00 Nitrogen 15 (150) Phosphorus 35 (30) 0.00 Potassium 80 (120) Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Manure cleanout 1.00/ton 5.00 Manure spreading 6 ton/acre KCL in planter box (65 lb/acre) 5.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (19 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25 gal/acre) Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $ /Acre (*) Amount required

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Broiler Litter - N Based Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter /ton* *( $ 25/ton - $ 20/ton MDA cost share) Nitrogen151 (150) 0.00 Phosphorus 203 (30) 0.00 Potassium151 (120) 0.00 Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Litter spreading3 ton/acre Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $ 29.50/Acre (*) Amount required

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Broiler Litter - P Based Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Broiler Litter /ton* 5.00 *( $ 25/ton - $ 20/ton MDA cost share) Nitrogen43 (150) Phosphorus 58 (30) 0.00 Potassium43 (120) Manure & Fertilizer Costs Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs: Litter spreading1 ton/acre Bulk Spread KCL (128.3 lb/acre) 8.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (25.6 gal/acre) Manure/Fertilizer Application Costs Manure/Fertilization Grand Total $ 97.54/Acre (*) Amount required

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Biosolids - N Based Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Biosolids 4.5 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00 Nitrogen 153 (150) 0.00 Phosphorus 86 (30) 0.00 Potassium 27 (120) Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread KCL (160 lb/acre) 8.00 Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs 8.00 Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $ 32.18/Acre (*) Amount required

No-Till Corn Fertilization Budget Biosolids - P Based Scenario: Soil test results: K-medium, P-optimum; Yield Goal bu Unit lbs/Acre Total $/Acre Biosolids 2 tons/acre applied by Synagro 0.00 Nitrogen 68 (150) Phosphorus 38 (30) 0.00 Potassium 12 (120) Biosolids & Fertilizer Costs Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs: Bulk Spread KCL (180 lb/acre) 8.00 UAN at Planting Herbicide (15.00 gal/acre) 1.00 UAN Split Drop-Nozzled (21.0 gal/acre) Biosolids/Fertilizer Application Costs Biosolids/Fertilization Grand Total $ 81.60/Acre (*) Amount required

“Any Questions?” Southern Maryland Crops Conference Waldorf, MD December 8, 2006 R. David Myers Extension Educator