Ag ricultural. Experiment Station. Biosolids Application to No-Till Dryland Rotations: 2015 Results. Nitrogen. Biosolids. Technical Report TR16-5

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1 Technical Report TR16-5 Ag ricultural Experiment Station College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences CSU Extension Biosolids Application to No-Till Dryland Rotations: 2015 Results Nitrogen Biosolids

2 J.P. McDaniel and K.A. Barbarick Research Associate and Professor Department of Soil and Crop Sciences Biosolids Application to No-Till Dryland Crop Rotations: 2015 Results The Cities of Littleton and Englewood, Colorado and the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station (project number ) funded this project. **Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute endorsement by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.** Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and complies with all ederal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements in all programs. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.

3 INTRODUCTION Biosolids recycling on dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) can supply a reliable, slow-release source of nitrogen (N) (Barbarick et al., 1992). Barbarick and Ippolito (2000, 2007) found that continuous application of biosolids from the Littleton/Englewood, CO wastewater treatment facility to dryland winter wheat-fallow rotations provides about 16 lbs N per dry ton. This research involved tilling the biosolids into the top 8 of soil. A question related to soil management in a biosolids beneficial-use program is: How much N would be available if the biosolids were surface-applied in a no-till dryland agroecosystem with winter wheat-fallow (W) and winter wheat-corn (Zea mays, L.)-fallow (WC) crop rotations? Our objective was to compare agronomic rates of commercial N fertilizer to an equivalent rate of biosolids in combination with W and WC crop rotations. Our hypotheses were that biosolids addition, compared to N fertilizer, would: 1. Produce similar crop yields; 2. Not differ in grain P, Zn, and Cu levels; 3. Not differ in soil P, Zn, and Cu AB-DTPA extractable concentrations, a measure of plant availability (Barbarick and Workman, 1987); and 4. Not affect soil salinity (electrical conductivity of saturated soil-paste extract (EC), ph or soil accumulation of nitrate-n (NO3-N). MATERIALS AND METHODS In 1999, we established the experiment on land owned by the Cities of Littleton and Englewood (L/E) in eastern Adams County, approximately 28 miles east of Byers, CO The latitude longitude for the plot corners are 39⁰ /103⁰47 50 (southwest), 39⁰ /103⁰47 17 (southeast), 39⁰ 46 7 /103⁰47 50 (northwest), 39⁰ 46 7 /103⁰47 17 (northeast). The Linnebur family manages the farming operations for L/E. Soils belong to the Adena-Colby association where the Adena soil is classified as an Ustollic Paleargid and Colby is classified as an Ustic Torriorthent. No-till management is used in conjunction with crop rotations of W and WC. We originally also included a wheat-wheat-corn-sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.)-fallow rotation, but after the 2004 growing season, we abandoned this rotation because of persistent droughty conditions that restricted sunflower production. We installed a Campbell Scientific weather station at the site in April 2000; Tables 1 and 2 present mean temperature and precipitation data, and growing season precipitation, respectively. The first biosolids application occurred in August Planting sequences are given in Table 3. We used a randomized complete block design with four blocks. Each phase of each rotation was present every year. Each plot was 100 feet wide by approximately 0.5 mile (2640

4 feet) long. The width of each plot was split so that one 50-foot wide section received commercial N fertilizer applied with the seed and sidedressed after plant establishment (Table 3), and the second 50-foot wide section received biosolids applied by L/E with a manure spreader. We randomly selected which half of the strip in each rotation received N fertilizer or biosolids. Characteristics of the L/E biosolids are provided in Table 4. The N fertilizer and biosolids applications were based on soil test recommendations determined on each plot before planting each crop. The Cities of L/E completed biosolids application for wheat in August 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, and 2014 for the summer crops in March 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, and We planted the first corn crop in May We also established wheat rotations in September 2000 through 2014 and corn rotations in May 2001 through 2014, and sunflower plantings in June 2001, 2002, and Soil moisture was inadequate in June 2004 to plant sunflowers (see Table 1); hence, the sunflower portion of the study was abandoned in At harvest, we cut biomass from four rows, approximately 3 foot long within each subplot. The wheat was then threshed and dried. We determined the yield for each area and then took a subsample from each cutting for subsequent grain protein or N, P, Zn, and Cu analyses (Huang and Schulte, 1985). ollowing each harvest, we collected soil samples using a Giddings hydraulic probe. We sampled to one foot and separated the samples into 0-2, 2-4, 4-8, and 8-12 inch depth increments for AB-DTPA extractable Cu, P, and Zn (Barbarick and Workman, 1987) and EC (Rhoades, 1996) and ph (Thomas, 1996). or soil NO3-N (Mulvaney, 1996) analyses, we sampled to 6 feet and separated the samples into 0-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-24, 24-36, 36-48, 48-60, and inch depth increments. The experimental design was a split-plot design where type of rotation was the main plot and type of nutrient addition (commercial N fertilizer versus L/E biosolids) was the subplot. or crop yields and soil-sample analyses, main plot effects, subplot effects, and interactions were tested for significance using least significant difference (LSD) at the 0.10 probability level. Since we only had one corn rotation, we could only compare the commercial N versus L/E biosolids using a t test at the 0.10 probability level.

5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION itation Data Tables 1 and 2 present the monthly precipitation records from the time we established the weather station at the Byers research site. The plots received more than 11 of total annual rainfall in 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2015, between 5 and 6 in 2002 and 2012, about 12 in 2003, 10 in 2004, 2005, and 2010, 9 in 2006, and about 8 in itation received as snow is not recorded, thus the amounts reported are an underestimate of the annual total. The critical precipitation months for corn are July and August (Nielsen et al., 2010). The Byers site received 6.0, 3.8, 1.3, 2.6, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.4, 7.4, 4.4, 3.9, 5.2, 1.3, 5.2, and 4.4 of precipitation in July and August 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively Crop Grain Data The rotation by nutrient source interaction was significant for wheat yields with the biosolids treatment in WC producing the largest yields (igure 1). The treatments did not significantly affect 2014 corn yields (Table 5). Average wheat yield for our treatments was 39 bushels/acre while the Colorado state average was 37 bushels/acre (USDA NASS Colorado ield Office, 2015). The 2014 corn yields averaged 76 bushels/acre; 11 of rain were received during the corn growing season (Table 2). The 2014 corn yield averaged 76 bushels/acre; 11 of rain were received during the corn growing season (Table 2). Even with the higher yield for the WC rotation there was a non-significant effect on the wheat protein content (igure 2) that averaged 16% protein. The rotation, nutrient source, and the rotation by nutrient source interaction did not have an effect on wheat grain P (igure 3) or Zn (igure 4). Wheat grain Cu concentration was statistically higher with the use of N fertilizer than biosolids. The 2014 corn grain yield, protein, P, Zn, and Cu were not affected by any of the treatments (igure 5 and Table 5) Soil Data In the wheat phase of each rotation, biosolids addition had no effect on AB-DTPA P (igure 6) or soil ph (igure 10) in the top 12 of soil. The addition of biosolids resulted in higher AB-DTPA Zn (igure 7) and Cu (igure 8) in the 0 to 2-inch depth. Soil EC (salinity) in the 4 to 8-inch depth was higher for the W rotation than the WC rotation (igure 9). Soil NO3-N was only significantly different in the top 2 with both a treatment and rotation effect. The addition of biosolids and the W rotation had a higher concentration of NO3-N. There were no other consistent trends in the data. The 2014 corn phase of the rotation there were elevated concentrations of AB-DTPA extractable P, Zn, and Cu in the top 2 of soil (Table 6) with the application of biosolids.

6 There was also higher AB-DTPA Cu in the 2-4 in depth range (Table 6). Soil ph was not affected by the nutrient source (Table 6). The EC (salinity) of the soil increased with biosolids application for in the top 2 of soil and from 8 to 12 (Table 6). The addition of biosolids resulted in higher concentrations of soil NO3-N in the 4 to 8, 12 to 24, and 36 to 48 inch depth ranges (Table 6). These higher concentrations with depth are mostly due to the higher rainfall in the last several years moving soil NO3-N deeper into the soil profile.

7 CONCLUSIONS Relative to our hypotheses listed on page 3, we observed the following trends: 1. In the 2015 wheat, biosolids did not significantly affect grain concentrations of protein P, or Zn. There was a fertilizer source by rotation effect on wheat yield and the addition of N fertilizer elevated grain Cu concentrations. or the 2014 corn there was no effect of biosolids addition on yield, or grain concentration of protein, P, or Zn. 2. or dryland wheat in 2015, biosolids additions did not increase soil AB-DTPA extractable P, but there was an increase in soil levels of AB-DTPA extractable Zn and Cu in the top 2. or the 2014 corn the addition of biosolids increased the AB-DTPA extractable P, Zn, and Cu in the top 2 of soil and Cu in the 2 to 4-inch depth. 3. The W rotation had a higher EC (salinity) in the 4 to 8 of soil. There was an increase in EC (salinity) in the corn plots with biosolids application in the top 2 and from 8 to The wheat plots did not accumulate NO3-N in the profile below the top 2. However, following the 2014 corn plots there were accumulations of NO3-N from 24 to 48 in biosolids treatments. 5. The results discussed in items 1 through 3 are similar to a majority of our past findings.

8 REERENCES Barbarick, K.A., and J.A. Ippolito Nitrogen fertilizer equivalency of sewage biosolids applied to dryland winter wheat. J. Environ. Qual. 29: Barbarick, K.A., and J.A. Ippolito Nutrient assessment of a dryland wheat agroecosystem after 12 years of biosolids application. Agron. J. 99: Barbarick, K.A., R.N. Lerch, J.M. Utschig, D.G. Westfall, R.H. ollett, J. Ippolito, R. Jepson, and T. McBride Eight years of sewage sludge addition to dryland winter wheat. Colo. Agric. Exp. Stn. Bulletin. TB92-1. Barbarick, K. A., and S. M. Workman. l987. NH4HCO3-DTPA and DTPA extractions of sludgeamended soils. J. Environ. Qual. l6:l25-l30. Huang, C.L., and E.E. Schulte Digestion of plant tissue for analysis by ICP emission spectroscopy. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 16: Mulvaney, R.L Nitrogen - inorganic forms. pp In D.L. Sparks (Ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3 - Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI. Nielsen, D.C., Halvorson, A.D., and Vigil, M Critical precipitation period for dryland maize production. ield Crop Res. 118: Rhoades, J.D Salinity: Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids. pp In D.L. Sparks (Ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3 - Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI. Thomas, G.W Soil ph and soil acidity. pp In D.L. Sparks (Ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3 - Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI. USDA NASS Colorado ield Office Crop Production 2015 Summary. (Accessed on 15 January 2015).

9 Table 1. Monthly mean maximum () and minimum () temperatures and precipitation () in at the Byers research site, (Weather station was installed in April, 2000). Month January ebruary March April May June July August September October November December Total Month January ebruary March April May June July August September October November December Total We installed the weather station in mid-april, The tipping bucket rain gauge may not accurately measure precipitation received as snow.

10 Table 1 (continued). Monthly mean maximum () and minimum () temperatures and precipitation () in at the Byers research site, (Weather station was installed in April, 2000). Month January ebruary March April May June July August September October November December Total Month 2015 o o January ebruary March April May June July August September October November December Total 16.6 We installed the weather station in mid-april, The tipping bucket rain gauge may not accurately measure precipitation received as snow.

11 Table 2. Growing season precipitation. Stage Dates itation, Stage Dates itation, Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn/Sunflowers preplant July 2000 April Corn preplant July 2006 April Corn/Sunflowers growing season May 2001 October Corn growing season May 2007 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn/Sunflowers preplant July 2001 April Corn preplant July 2007 April Corn/Sunflowers growing season May 2002 October Corn growing season May 2008 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn/Sunflowers preplant July 2002 April Corn preplant July 2008 April Corn/Sunflowers growing season May 2003 October Corn growing season May 2009 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn/Sunflowers preplant July 2003 April Corn preplant July 2009 April Corn/Sunflowers growing season May 2004 October Corn growing season May 2010 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn preplant July 2004 April Corn preplant July 2010 April Corn growing season May 2005 October Corn growing season May 2011 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Wheat reproductive April June Corn preplant July 2005 April Corn preplant July 2011 April Corn growing season May 2006 October Corn growing season May 2012 October

12 Table 2 (continued). Growing season precipitation. Stage Dates itation, Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Corn preplant July 2012 April Corn growing season May 2013 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Corn preplant July 2013 April Corn growing season May 2014 October Wheat vegetative September March Wheat reproductive April June Corn preplant July 2014 April Corn growing season May 2015 October

13 Table 3. Biosolids and fertilizer applications and crop varieties used at the Byers research site, Biosolids Treatment Nitrogen ertilizer Treatment Year Date Crop Variety Biosolids Bio/N N N Total N P2O5 Zn Planted Planted tons/acre equiv. lbs lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre with seed after planting 1999 Early Oct. Wheat Halt May Corn Pioneer June Sunflowers Triumph 765, (confection type) /25/00 Wheat Prairie Red /11/01 Corn DK493 Round Ready /20/01 Sunflowers Triumph 765C /17/01 Wheat Prairie Red Variable Variable 5 Variable Variable Corn Pioneer 37M81 Variable Variable 5 Variable Variable Sunflowers Triumph 545A Wheat Stanton Variable Variable 5 Variable Variable /21/03 Corn Pioneer K /28/03 Sunflowers Unknown 2003 Wheat Stanton Variable Variable 5 Variable Variable Corn Triumph 9066 Variable Variable 5 Variable Variable 15 5 Roundup Ready 2004 Sunflowers Triumph 765 (confection type) /17/04 Wheat Yumar /10/05 Corn Pioneer J

14 Table 3. (continued) Biosolids and fertilizer applications and crop varieties used at the Byers research site, Biosolids Treatment Nitrogen ertilizer Treatment Year Date Crop Variety Biosolids Bio/N N N Total N P2O5 Zn Planted Planted tons/acre equiv. lbs lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre with seed after planting 2006 Sept. Wheat Yumar May Corn Pioneer J Sept. Wheat Yumar May Corn Pioneer J Sept. Wheat Yumar May Corn Pioneer J Sept. Wheat Yumar May Corn Pioneer J Sept. Wheat Yumar May Corn Pioneer J Sept. Wheat Snowmass May Corn Triumph Sept. Wheat Snowmass May Corn Triumph Sept. Wheat Byrd May Corn Triumph

15 Table 3. (continued) Biosolids and fertilizer applications and crop varieties used at the Byers research site, Biosolids Treatment Nitrogen ertilizer Treatment Year Date Crop Variety Biosolids Bio/N N N Total N P2O5 Zn Planted Planted tons/acre equiv. lbs lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre with seed after planting 2014 Sept. Wheat Byrd May Corn Triumph

16 Table 4. Littleton/Englewood biosolids composition used at the Byers research site, Parameter 1999 Wheat 2000 Corn, Sunflowers 2001 Corn, Sunflowers 2001 Wheat 2003 Corn, sunflowers 2003 Wheat 2004 Wheat 2005 Corn Solids, g kg ph EC, ds m Org. N, g kg NH 4-N, g kg NO 3-N, g kg K, g kg P, g kg Al, g kg e, g kg Cu, mg kg Zn, mg kg Ni, mg kg Mo, mg kg Cd, mg kg Cr, mg kg Pb, mg kg As, mg kg Se, mg kg Hg, mg kg Ag, mg kg Ba, mg kg Be, mg kg <0.001 Mn, mg kg

17 Table 4 (continued). Littleton/Englewood biosolids composition used at the Byers research site, Parameter 2012 Corn 2012 Wheat 2013 Corn 2013 Wheat 2014 Corn 2014 Wheat 2015 Corn Avg. Range Solids, g kg ph EC, ds m Org. N, g kg NH 4-N, g kg NO 3-N, g kg K, g kg P, g kg Al, g kg e, g kg Cu, mg kg Zn, mg kg Ni, mg kg Mo, mg kg < < Cd, mg kg Cr, mg kg Pb, mg kg As, mg kg < <0.001 < < Se, mg kg < Hg, mg kg Ag, mg kg Ba, mg kg Be, mg kg -1 <0.01 <0.01 < <0.01 <0.01 < < Mn, mg kg

18 Table 5. Corn grain characteristics for the corn rotation (CW) at the Byers research site for Parameter, units Biosolids Nitrogen Probability level Yield, bushels/acre Protein, % P, g/kg Zn, mg/kg Table 6. Soil characteristics for the corn rotation (CW) at the Byers research site for Highlighted parameters are significantly different at the 0.10 probability level according to the t-test. Parameter, units Depth, Biosolids Nitrogen Probability level ABDTPA P, mg kg < ABDTPA Zn, mg kg ABDTPA Cu, mg kg < ph ECe, ds m NO3-N, mg kg

19 igure 1. Wheat grain yields for 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 10% probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. (W = wheat-fallow and WC = wheat-corn-fallow rotations). Grain yields bushels/acre Biosolids N fertilizer Statistical summary Rotation NS Nutrient source NS Rot. by Nut. source W WC

20 igure 2. Wheat grain protein contents for 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 10% probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. (W = wheat-fallow and WC = wheat-corn-fallow rotations). Grain protein, % Biosolids N fertilizer Statistical summary Rotation NS Nutrient source NS Rot. by Nut. source NS 12 W WC

21 igure 3. Wheat grain P concentrations for 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 10% probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. (W = wheat-fallow and WC = wheat-corn-fallow rotations). Grain P, g kg -1 6 Biosolids N fertilizer Statistical summary Rotation NS Nutrient source NS Rot. by Nut. source NS 1 0 W WC

22 igure 4. Wheat grain Zn concentrations for 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 10% probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. (W = wheat-fallow and WC = wheat-corn-fallow rotations). Grain Zn, mg kg Biosolids N fertilizer Statistical summary Rotation NS Nutrient source NS Rot. by Nut. source NS W WC

23 igure 5. Wheat grain Cu concentrations for 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 10% probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences W = wheat-fallow and WC = wheatcorn-fallow rotations). Grain Cu, mg kg Biosolids N fertilizer Statistical summary Rotation NS Nutrient source 0.31 Rot. by Nut. source NS 2 W WC

24 igure 6. Soil ABDTPA-extractable P concentration following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. 0 ABDTPA P, mg kg ABDTPA P, mg kg Depth, Wheat- allow Biosolids Nitrogen fertilizer Depth, Statistical summary by soil depth: Wheat- Corn- allow 8-12

25 igure 7. Soil ABDTPA-extractable Zn concentration following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. ABDTPA Zn, mg kg -1 ABDTPA Zn, mg kg Depth, Treatment 1.74 Wheat- allow Biosolids Nitrogen fertilizer Depth, Statistical summary by soil depth: Wheat- Corn- allow 8-12

26 igure 8. Soil ABDTPA-extractable Cu concentration following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. ABDTPA Cu, mg kg -1 ABDTPA Cu, mg kg Depth, Treatment 2.69 Wheat- allow Biosolids Nitrogen fertilizer Depth, Statistical summary by soil depth: Wheat- Corn- allow 8-12

27 igure 9. Soil saturated-paste electrical conductivity (EC) following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. EC, ds m -1 EC, ds m Depth, Wheat- allow Biosolids Nitrogen fertilizer Depth, Statistical summary by soil depth: Rotations 0.08 Wheat- Corn- allow 8-12

28 igure 10. Soil saturated-paste ph following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. ph ph Depth, Wheat- allow Depth, Wheat- Corn- allow Biosolids Nitrogen fertilizer Statistical summary by soil depth:

29 igure 11. Soil NO3-N concentrations following 2015 dryland-wheat-rotation harvests comparing Littleton/Englewood biosolids to commercial N fertilizer. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean. In the statistical summary, LSD0.10 represents the least significant difference at the 0.10 probability level and NS indicates non-significant differences. NO 3 -N, mg kg -1 NO 3 -N, mg kg Depth, Wheat- allow Depth, Wheat- Corn- allow 54 Biosolids N fertilizer Rotations 6.17 Treatment Statistical summary by soil depth: