On-farm trials of liquid swine and dairy manure nutrient availability provides helpful information for stretching fertilizer dollars.

Nitrogen (N) availability from liquid swine and dairy manure was measured by corn yield response on 13 Minnesota farms, and compared to predicted N availability based on current University of Minnesota guidelines.

“The predictions of N availability were most reliable for injection application,” the report says. “For broadcast-incorporated manure, nearly one-half of the predictions were more than 30 lbs. N/acre higher or lower than the measured N availability.”

According to the report, “This variation likely was due to ammonia losses from manure that were higher or lower than average due to weather conditions (rainfall, temperature, wind speed) after application and before incorporation.”

Get more details at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI8583.html.