Researchers at the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre have set out to determine energy savings through efficient use of manure application for crop production. Assuming sufficient local manure production for this to be economically feasible, energy savings equivalent to 105 million litres of diesel fuel could be achieved by maximizing the use of manure nitrogen application on all grain corn currently receiving commercial fertilizer. For farmers to be able to replace commercial fertilizer with manure, it must be applied accurately and evenly. Liquid application systems currently used by Ontario farmers and commercial applicators were evaluated with the assistance of Husky Farm Equipment Ltd., John Deere, Agri-Food Laboratories and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. None of the applicators tested were found to adequately apply the manure evenly.
Improved uniformity is required before liquid manure can be used as the primary source of nutrients.
A prototype manure distributor and boom were developed for more precise manure application. The boom can be used with a tanker or drag hose system and application rates can be varied by adjusting tractor speed. Preliminary results indicate that grain corn can be grown using manure alone without sacrificing yield. The first year of field testing indicates that either applying manure before planting or splitting the application to before planting and at side-dress with a barley cover gave yields comparable to commercial fertilizer application. This trial will be repeated in 1998.