Effect of rate, timing, and placement of liquid dairy manure on reed canarygrass yield

Perennial cool-season grasses in a crop rotation provide alternative land area for in-season manure applications. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) might be suitable crop for manure application due to its consistently high yields and N uptake capacity. The primary objective of this research was to determine the agronomic responses to and feasibility of in-season manure application rates to reed canarygrass. Field studies were established at three locations with pure stands of reed canarygrass. Treatments included a series of liquid dairy manure and fertilizer N rates. In addition, broadcast or surface-band manure placement configurations and single or split manure application timings were compared with one manure rate. Manure application rates up to 40 000 gal/acre per yr (approximately 920 lb total N/acre per yr) were applied. A positive dry matter yield response was measured with increasing rates of manure or fertilizer N. Grass stand density generally increased with manure or fertilizer compared with the unfertilized control. With the 20 000 gal/acre rate, split applications with manure applied in early spring resulted in superior yields compared with split manure applications made after the second and third forage cuttings. For the 20 000 gal/acre manure application rate, split application of the manure after the second and third cuttings did not result in significantly greater forage yields than a single application made after the second cutting. Forage yield was similar for broadcast and surface-band manure placement configurations for the one manure rate investigated.