Multi-Location Study of Soil Enzyme Activities as Affected by Types and Rates of Manure Application and Tillage Practices

Veronica Acosta-Martinez, Maysoon M. Mikha, Karamat R. Sistani, Phillip W. Stahlman, Joseph G. Benjamin, Merle F. Vigil and Richie Erickson
Additional contact information
Veronica Acosta-Martinez: Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 3810 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79415, USA
Maysoon M. Mikha: Central Great Plains Research Station, USDA-ARS, 40335 County Road GG, Akron, CO 80720, USA
Karamat R. Sistani: Animal Waste Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 230 Bennett Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42104, USA
Phillip W. Stahlman: Agricultural Research Center—Hays, Kansas State University, 1232 240th Avenue, Hays, KS 67601, USA
Joseph G. Benjamin: Central Great Plains Research Station, USDA-ARS, 40335 County Road GG, Akron, CO 80720, USA
Merle F. Vigil: Central Great Plains Research Station, USDA-ARS, 40335 County Road GG, Akron, CO 80720, USA
Richie Erickson: The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Reese Technology Center Building 555, 1207 Gilbert Drive, Lubbock, TX 79416, USA

Agriculture, 2011, vol. 1, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Significant amounts of manure are produced in the USA; however, information on the changes in ecosystem services related to soil biogeochemical cycling for agroecosystems supported with organic amendments such as manure is limited. A multi-location field study was initiated in Colorado (CO), Kansas (KS) and Kentucky (KY), USA in loam soils to evaluate the effects of manure and tillage practices on enzyme activities that are key to biogeochemical cycling such as β-glucosidase (C cycling), α-galactosidase (C cycling), β-glucosaminidase (C and N cycling) and phosphomonoesterases (P cycling). The treatments were as follows: (i) two years of beef manure applications to a fine sandy loam at different rates (control: 0, low: 34 kg N ha −1 and high: 96 kg N ha −1 ) and tillage practices in CO; (ii) three years of beef manure applications to a silt loam at different rates (0, low: 67 kg N ha −1 and high: 134 kg N ha −1 ) and tillage practices in KS and; (iii) three years of poultry and dairy manure applications to a silt loam with different tillage practices at the same rate (403 kg N ha −1 ) in KY. Tillage practices (none vs. conventional) had no effect on the enzyme activities. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) grouped all enzyme activities with the high beef manure application rate after the first year in CO at 0–5 cm. By the second year, the low and high beef manure rates differed in enzyme activities for the KS soil with no difference between the low rate and control in CO. Since the first year of the KY study, acid phosphatase activity was greater in the poultry treated soil compared to dairy or the control; whereas, C cycling enzyme activities were similar in soil treated with dairy or poultry manure. For all studies, PCAs for soil samples from 5–10 cm depth did not reveal treatment separation until the second year, i.e. , only high application rate differed from the other treatments. Results of the study indicated significant responses in C and P cycling enzyme activities to manure applications within two years, suggesting potential benefits to soil biogeochemical cycling essential for the productivity of agroecosystems supported with organic fertilizers.

Keywords: broiler litter; poultry manure; dairy manure; beef manure; corn; tillage; enzyme activities; biogeochemical cycling; soil quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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