KaPre ExAlt Applications on Manure Trial Study

Transcription

1 Golden Grain Farms KaPre ExAlt Applications on Manure Trial Study A Biological and Chemical Comparison of KaPre ExAlt Treated Manure vs. a Non-Treated Control October-November 21

2 Golden Grain Farms KaPre Exalt-treated Cattle Manure Study in the Midwest Liquid Dairy waste manure was applied to farmland by a knifing system that shatters the soil surface and delivers manure below the surface. A control slurry (GG Untreated) was compared to an KaPre ExAlt-treated slurry (GG Treated) by sample analysis one-week after and one-month after application respectively. Plantavailable Nitrogen and other nutrient levels were studied and compared to Biological components. Trial Description All testing areas were 5 ft. wide by 44 ft. long (1/2 acre each) in active farmland Manure loading rates were approximately 3,75 gallons per test area Manure loading rates were approximately.17 gallons (21.75 fl. oz.) per sq. ft. GG Untreated was cattle manure slurry only GG Treated was cattle manure slurry blended with.75 gallons of KaPre ExAlt OMAFRA Factsheet 9-71, Incorporation of Liquid and Solid Prescribed Materials

3 The Total Bacteria represents all soil bacteria groups. Most are decomposers that consume simple carbon compounds. Actinomycetes (right) are part of this group. Though relatively equal at one week, the comparison shows a much higher mass in the Treated area. This is important to nutrient cycling. Total Bacteria (µg/g) Actinomycetes decompose a wide array of substrates, but are especially important in degrading hard-to-decompose compounds such as chitin and cellulose. As seen below, Actinomycetes were 2 times higher at one week and 1 times higher at four weeks in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area. Actino-Bacteria (µg/g) 1, Total Bacteria- UT 85 Total Bacteria - T 18, 16, 14, 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, 16,271 1,642 Actino Bac- UT 33, ,343 Actino Bac - T

4 Fungi, along with bacteria, are important decomposers and nutrient-releasers in the soil food web. The weight of Total Fungi was significantly higher at both sample intervals in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area. Nematodes help release nutrients in plant-available forms by consuming bacteria and releasing their waste. The total Nematode count in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area was lower than in the control, likely due to food-source competition with very high numbers of Protozoa. Total Fungi Comparison (µg/g) Nematodes (# s/g) Total Fungi - UT Total Fungi - T Nematodes - UT.31 Nematodes - T

5 Manure and The Nitrogen Cycle Animal waste manures add Nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil in organic complexes generally unavailable to plants The Nitrogen Cycle Illustrated A manure application adds an enormous number of beneficial bacteria and fungi to the soil environment as evidenced in the Bacteria and Fungi Reports of this study With a proper balance of available nutrients, moisture and aeration, microbes efficiently assimilate the manures into the soil and complete the steps to produce the plant-available forms of Nitrogen, primarily Ammonium (NH 4 ) and Nitrates (NO 3 ) This trial study indicates that KaPre ExAlt helps create the proper soil environment necessary for efficient microbial activity. Source: Washington State University, NSPIRE, Connections Magazine 211

6 SOIL PROTOZOA Protozoa are single-celled animals that feed primarily on bacteria and are classified into three groups: Flagellates, Ciliates, and Amoebae Protozoa require a much lower concentration of nitrogen in their cells than the bacteria they eat, so they release the excess nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH 4 +) Studies have shown that 1-3% of the Nitrogen in agricultural soils is cycled through protozoa as they graze on Nitrogen-rich bacteria. 1. Flagellate Protozoa 2. Ciliate Protozoa Protozoa flourish on the enormous number of microbes present in animal manures applied to the soils 3. Naked Amoeba 4. Testate Amoeba All Photos Credit: Wilhelm Foissner, Institute of Zoology, University of Salzburg

7 Protozoa Flagellates have one or two flagella which they use to propel or pull their way through soil while consuming bacteria and excreting excess nitrogen into the soil. The number of Flagellates in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area was almost 4-times that of the control at four weeks Protozoa Flagellates (# s/g) Ciliates are the largest Protozoa and preferentially consume anaerobic bacteria as well as the other two types of protozoa. They may indicate low-oxygen soils. The Ciliates in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area were high in the first week but decreased 2-fold by the fourth week, perhaps indicating that the soils became more oxygenated. Protozoa Ciliates (# s/g) 4, 35, 3, 25, 2, 15, 1, 5, 36,829 9,763 3,285 2,581 Flagellates -UT Flagellates- T Ciliates -UT 3,342 Ciliates- T 161

8 Amoebae can be quite large and are responsible for consuming a large number of bacteria and subsequently excreting their excess Nitrogen. The number of Amoebae in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area was 2-times that of the control in the first week and 1-times higher in the fourth week of the study. Protozoa play an important role in nutrient cycling by feeding intensively on bacteria. This oval-shaped protozoa is surrounded by speck-like bacteria and angular sand particles. Bacteria, high in Nitrogen, are being ingested by the Protozoa and their waste nutrients, now plantavailable, are being expelled. Amoeba Counts (# s/g) 18, 161,343 16, 14, 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, 16,271 1,642 Amoeba- UT 33,424 Amoeba - T Credit: Elaine R. Ingham, Soil Biology Primer [online]. Available: soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil biology/biology.html [213].

9 Observations There is a possible correlation between the activity of Protozoa and the level of Nitrogen in the soils examined in this study This may explain the double amount of Nitrogen found in the KaPre ExAlttreated soils vs. the control four weeks after manure application Nitrogen Comparison (Pounds per acre) 25+ The KaPre ExAlt-treated soils exhibited a much healthier microbial population than the non-treated soil Regardless of the reason, the Nitrogen level at one-week was 4-6 times higher and 2-times higher in the KaPre ExAlt-treated soils 1 5 <25 Nitrogen- UT Nitrogen - T

10 Golden Grains Farms KaPre ExAlt - Manure Trial Base Saturation of Primary Cations (%) At week-1, Calcium and Magnesium were higher in the KaPre ExAlt-treated area providing a more balanced ion profile. Note that Hydrogen was high in the Untreated area; this will reflect on the soil ph. At week-4, the KaPre ExAlt-treated area continued to produce a more balanced ion profile. The Ca/Mg ratios were low in both profiles. Amending with Calcium may be required for optimal Saturation. Wk 1-UT Wk 1-T Wk 4-UT Wk 4-T % Saturation % Saturation Ca Mg K Na H Ca Mg K Na H

11 Golden Grains ExAlt Manure Trial Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and ph The Cation Exchange Capacity, an estimate of the soils ability to attract, retain, and exchange Cations, was higher in the KaPre ExAlt-treated areas at both intervals. CEC is critical to making nutrients available. CEC As reflected in the Base Saturation graphs, the increased Hydrogen occupying exchange sites in the Untreated area was evident by the lower (acidic) ph values at both sample intervals. ph Wk 1-UT Wk 1-T Wk 4-UT Wk 4-T Wk 1-UT Wk 1-T Wk 4-UT Wk 4-T

12 Manure Application Additive Improves penetration of fluids into soil Improves Oxygen movement into soil Accelerates biological growth in the soil Increases biological mass in the soil Increases available Nitrogen in the soil Increases available ions in the soil Increases manure application benefits Application Rates and Timing fl. oz. per 1 gallons manure slurry at time of application blended in the tank then applied by surface spray or knifing system gallons per acre rate mixed in tank and applied with up to 8, gal/acre manure loading rates gallons per acre mixed with 2 gallons of fresh water and boom sprayed over the top of recent manure applications up to 8, gal/acre manure loading rates

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