Crop Report – July 21, 2021

Figure 1. Manure applied 1 week ahead of cover crop seeding - growth 3 weeks after seeding.

Revitalizing Soil with Manure and Cover Crops After Wheat Harvest

Wheat in a crop rotation provides many benefits, including spreading weather risks that can impact yields and balancing workload more evenly between planting and harvest season. Wheat also provides the opportunity to revitalize the soil; to disrupt pest cycles; alleviate compaction and increase subsequent corn and soybean crop yields. Best of all, wheat in rotation provides the opportunity for livestock farms to apply manure, potentially to fields further from the storage during a part of the season when risk of compaction and nutrient losses are lower. Manure applied with most cover crops provides almost immediate visible benefit from increased biomass growth and deeper colour.

With the wheat harvest currently in progress it’s time to start thinking about which cover crops to plant and integrating the application of manure or other organic amendments.  Cover crop goals, type of manure, storage capacity and proximity of storage will influence type of cover crop species and nutrient application decisions. Cover crops such as oats or barley are easiest to manage and are responsive to the addition of organic amendments. Complex cover crop mixtures may add diversity, however with manure there are usually a few dominant species (cereals, brassicas) that outcompete most other species. Two- or three-way mixes are often more economical, especially with liquid manure.

One of the most frequent questions – should the manure be applied before or after the cover crop is planted (See Figures 1, 2 & 3)? This depends on the several things, including soil moisture levels, weather forecasts, weed pressure and equipment and labour availability. Is the seed being broadcast and the manure applied the same day, potentially in one pass?  That’s the easiest and probably safest option for maximizing the nutrients, especially from liquid manures. However, high application rate combined with high total salts content (NH4-N, K, Mg, etc.,) and sodium can result in salt injury and reduced emergence.  When manure application is planned after the cover crop emerges, it is best to wait for some growth to occur. The greatest amount of damage occurs when the cover crop has just emerged and manure application with relatively narrow spread pattern results in significant wheel track damage to the new seedlings. Manure application – injected or surface applied – in early to mid-September still provides value to growth and help prevent nutrient losses, especially if the nutrients are applied below the crop canopy.

Figure 1. Manure applied 1 week ahead of cover crop seeding - growth 3 weeks after seeding.
Figure 1. Manure applied 1 week ahead of cover crop seeding – growth 3 weeks after seeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Manure applied immediately after cover crop planting – growth 3 weeks later
Figure 2. Manure applied immediately after cover crop planting – growth 3 weeks later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Manure applied 2 weeks after seeding to emerged cover crop - growth 3 weeks after seeding.
Figure 3. Manure applied 2 weeks after seeding to emerged cover crop – growth 3 weeks after seeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil micro-organisms respond to the nutrients from manure, and with the growing cover crop will enhance root systems, provide synergy for biomass production, and enrich the soil. Taking a manure sample during application will provide insight on nutrients (including secondary and micro) applied and will provide guidance for determining commercial fertilizer needs.

Ontario is Hosting the 2021 North American Manure Expo August 25-26th

Come join us for the 2021 North American Manure Expo August 25-26th coming from Ontario. Registration is free for this virtual event hosted from Maplevue Farms near Listowel, Perth Cty.

Although a virtual event, there is a lot to see. Equipment demonstrations featuring some of the latest innovations, farm tours, informative sessions highlighting current research and practical in-field tips around manure and organic amendments are scheduled during the two-day event (but available to view until the end of the year). Topics include:

  • Determining the Real Cost of Handling Manure (panel)
  • OPACA Innovations – Ontario Professional Ag Contractors share innovations that enhance application
  • On-the-Go Tracking of Applied Nutrients – Opportunities, Challenges, Economics
  • Compaction – the Problem – measuring soil compaction from manure equipment at 6, 12- & 20-inch depth
  • Compaction – Fixing the Problem – choosing tires, managing tire pressure and utilizing inflation/deflation systems
  • Managing Manure to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Phosphorus and Manure – is 4R enough to reduce P impact from manure?
  • Safe Travels – Tips for staying safe from agitation to application
  • Maximizing Growing Season and In-crop Manure Application Using Draghose Systems
  • Whole Farm Nutrient ManagementTour – Visit the North American Manure Expo 2021 host farm and family to experience Ontario dairy farm innovations and a whole-farm approach to manure nutrient management.
  • Tiny Bubbles Make Me HappyTour – Aeration systems in liquid manure storages are a new-to-Ontario technology. Two dairy farms show and tell why they chose aeration and how the technology has improved manure management.
  • Solid Innovations – Thinking Outside the BoxTour beef, dairy and poultry solid manure facilities including a compost pack barn, innovative covered storage and compost production facility.
  • From Flush to FieldTour – Did you ever wonder what happens to, well you know, when you flush the toilet? Journey through a wastewater treatment plant all the way to field application of biosolids and experience the people, the processes and the products.
  • The Land Down Under – Soil Interpretive Centre Tour – An overview of the world-class Soil Health Interpretive Centre (U of G) where cutting edge soils research meets farm field manure management.

On vacation, or busy during the last week of August? No worries: Once registered there is access to all the events anytime until the end of the year. Registration is free, nutrient management CEU credits are available and the top 10 manure slogans will be revealed.  Register today at www.manureexpo.ca

Weather Data

Location Year Weekly July 12 – July 18 Accumulated
Highest Temp (°C) Lowest Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Rain (mm) April 1st GDD 0C April 1st  GDD 5C April 1st CHU May 1st
Harrow 2021 31 15 55 325 1758 1232 1739
2020 32 16 14 280 1657 1142 1723
2019 33 15 23 348 1587 1070 1542
Ridgetown 2021 29 13 62 348 1655 1137 1637
2020 31 13 10 243 1572 1073 1620
2019 32 13 9 319 1502 987 1452
London 2021 29 15 15 263 1642 1130 1610
2020 31 13 4 216 1514 1017 1533
2019 30 10 31 355 1411 921 1382
Brantford 2021 29 14 21 250 1627 1112 1589
2020 32 13 4 174 1518 1027 1512
2019 31 10   274 1460 958 1437
Welland 2021 29 15 66 266 1619 1101 1586
2020 30 15 9 244 1555 1057 1597
2019 29 14 3 307 1524 1007 1508
Elora 2021 28 14 9 192 1494 988 1460
2020 30 13 3 206 1400 928 1424
2019 28 12 5 343 1252 779 1225
Mount Forest 2021 27 13 54 252 1497 995 1470
2020 29 12 4 274 1386 927 1439
2019 30 9   129 1317 833 1313
Peterborough 2021 29 15 35 263 1489 973 1444
2020 31 13 11 154 1421 941 1444
2019 32 9 22 314 1338 841 1285
Kingston 2021 28 16 39 190 1525 1009 1478
2020 29 15 51 214 1518 1015 1567
2019 30 12 6 311 1462 949 1437
Kemptville 2021 29 15 24 212 1613 1090 1537
2020 32 15 8 148 1489 997 1507
2019 30 10   203 1370 879 1324
Earlton 2021 29 10 126 347 1389 892 1308
2020 29 12 37 276 1228 818 1311
2019 32 10 8 307 1083 660 1092
Sudbury 2021 29 11 49 246 1419 922 1362
2020 28 12 40 324 1294 859 1368
2019 28 11 13 301 1098 675 1102
Thunder Bay 2021 33 8 3 225 1264 782 1212
2020 30 8 36 135 1174 761 1238
2019 29 10 24 231 986 570 965
Fort Frances 2021 32 6 0 158 1344 856 1333
2020 30 8 17 188 1292 850 1361
2019 30 8 55 240 1118 673 1104
Report compiled by OMAFRA using Environment Canada data. Data quality is verified but accuracy is not guaranteed. Report supplied for general information purposes only. An expanded report is available at www.fieldcropnews.com.

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