1. A comparison of chemical fertiliser and separated liquid pig manure as the sole nitrogen source for winter wheat production.Gráinne Meade & Tom Mc CabeUniversity College Dublin,Lyons Research Farm, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
4. Background Improved manure spreading technologies and Improved manure treatment technologies Land application of pig manure at advanced winter wheat growth stages may now be viable
5. Hypothesis Can liquid pig manure be used as an alternative to chemical fertiliser as a nitrogen source for winter wheat production?
6. Materials and Methods 2 experimental sites 3 N treatments Untreated zero N control Separated liquid pig manure (LPM) Inorganic N fertiliser (CF) 3 manure application timings G.S 31 (1st node) G.S 33 (3rd node) G.S 39 (flag leaf emergence)
7. Materials and Methods N rate 120 kgN/ha Liquid Pig Manure (LPM) 4% N, 0.08% P, 2% DM Band spread at a rate of 30 m3/ha Inorganic N (CF) – 27% N Leaf N % and chlorophyll readings taken at 10 day intervals until natural senescence Crop N uptake, grain yield and nitrogen uptake efficiency was assessed at harvest
20. Conclusion LPM proved to be a useful N source for winter wheat production LPM increased grain yield and CNU by 48% and 74% respectively compared to the zero N control. Timely LPM application can achieve similar grain yield levels to chemical fertilisers LPM application may result in economic benefits for cereal producers CF proved to be a more efficient N source for grain yield production