PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wang, E.
AU  - Harman, W. L.
AU  - Williams, J. R.
AU  - Sweeten, J. M.
TI  - Profitability and nutrient losses of alternative manure application strategies with conservation tillage
DP  - 2002 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
PG  - 221--228
VI  - 57
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/57/4/221.short
4100  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/57/4/221.full
AB  - Profitability and nutrient loss in runoff and sediment of alternative manure utilization strategies integrated with conservation tillage in irrigated agriculture were examined for the Tierra Blanca Creek watershed in the central Texas panhandle. Average and maximum nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses in runoff and long-term accumulations of P in the topsoil were simulated. These factors were considered to be environmental indicators of water and soil quality when applying manure and commercial fertilizers. Costs and profitability of alternative manure management strategies were compared to determine how to best safeguard the environment while maximizing profits. The study found that both objectives could be achieved with the application of N fertilizer combined with a reduced manure rate using conservation tillage to eliminate fallowing. A sensitivity analysis of the price of anhydrous ammonia indicated that a 50% increase would, however, reduce the profitability of this strategy to less than that of the two all-manure utilization strategies.