TY - JOUR T1 - Economic impact of varying swine manure application rates on continuous corn JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 460 LP - 464 VL - 46 IS - 6 AU - Craig Chase AU - Michael Duffy AU - William Lotz Y1 - 1991/11/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/46/6/460.abstract N2 - Yields per hectare and whole-farm returns were evaluated under seven fertilization treatments. Five treatments used swine manure; the other two used a commercial fertilizer application and a check treatment. The 112.2-kl (12,000-gallon) surface manure application achieved the highest average yield per hectare. The commercial fertilizer treatment produced the third highest average yield, significantly below that of the 112.2-kl treatment. Average yield on the check treatment was significantly lower than the yields of all other treatments. Given a 100-sow herd and 101.3-ha (250-acre) farm, the 112.2-kl application rate would cover only 14.8 ha (37 acres). The remaining 865 ha (213 acres) would need commercial fertilization. Because of the required manure coverage, the 18.7-kl and 37.4-kl (2,000– and 4,000-gallon) injected treatments received the highest economic returns per hectare. Moreover, the 18.7-kl and 37.4-kl injected treatments produced the highest returns per hectare over a range of hectares and prices. Thus, there is an economic advantage for injecting versus surface application given comparable application rates. Moreover, a more efficient use of manure at lower rates (18.7 or 37.4 kl/ha) was both economical and labor-saving compared to disposal methods (112.2-kl/ha). ER -