Livestock manure improves acid soil productivity under

a cold northern Alberta climate

Mônica B. Benke1, Xiying Hao1, John T. O’Donovan2, George W. Clayton1,
Newton Z. Lupwayi1, Pam Caffyn1, and Mike Hall3
1
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403-1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta,
Canada T1J 4B1 (e-mail: xiying.hao@agr.gc.ca); 2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre,
6000 C & E Trail, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada T4L 1W1; and 3Cargill Ltd., Hwy 16, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
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S3N 0A1. LRC contribution number 38709015. Received 25 November 2009, accepted 30 August 2010.
Benke, M. B., Hao, X., O’Donovan, J. T., Clayton, G. W., Lupwayi, N. Z., Caffyn, P. and Hall, M. 2009. Livestock
manure improves acid soil productivity under a cold northern Alberta climate. Can. J. Soil Sci. 90: 685
697. The acid-
ameliorating properties of feedlot cattle manure on barley and canola productivity in acid soils were evaluated from 2003
to 2007 at Fort Vermilion and Beaverlodge research stations in northern Alberta, Canada. Treatments included Control,
NP fertilizer, LimeNP fertilizer and manure at 80 (M80) and 160 (M160) Mg ha 1. Manure and lime were applied once
in 2003 and NP fertilizer was applied annually. Manure significantly increased soil pH from around 4 to
5 and this
increase persisted over the 4-yr period. At Fort Vermilion, M160 reduced soil 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable Al and Mn
contents from 2.9 and 11.7 mg kg 1 (Control) to 1.1 and 8.9 mg kg1 and barley straw Mn content from 313 (Control) to
220 mg kg1. Soil P (Mehlich 3) and K (0.01 M CaCl2 extractable) contents in M160 were more than two times those in
the Control, while values from fertilizer treatments were not different from the Control. Crop grain N, P and K uptakes
and yields in M160 were twice those of the Control. In northern Alberta, manure application to acid soils at a rate of 160
Mg ha1 once every 4 yr had the same effectiveness as LimeNP fertilizer in increasing soil pH and improving soil
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

fertility and crop productivity at the field scale.

Key words: Acid soil, cattle feedlot manure, barley, canola, liming effect, nutrient uptake

Benke, M. B., Hao, X., O’Donovan, J. T., Clayton, G. W., Lupwayi, N. Z., Caffyn, P. et Hall, M. 2009. Le fumier de bovins
améliore la productivité des sols acides dans le climat froid du nord de l’Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 90: 685
697. De 2003 à 2007,
les auteurs ont évalué les propriétés antiacide du fumier de bovins sur le rendement de l’orge et du canola cultivés en sol
acide aux stations de recherche de Fort Vermilion et de Beaverlodge, dans le nord de l’Alberta, au Canada. Les traitements
étaient les suivants: témoin, engrais NP, chauxengrais NP et fumier à raison de 80 (M80) et de 160 (M160) Mg par
hectare. Le fumier et la chaux ont été appliqués une seule fois en 2003, alors qu’on a épandu l’engrais NP annuellement. Le
fumier relève sensiblement le pH du sol, soit autour de 4 à
5, hausse qui s’est maintenue durant les quatre années de
l’expérience. À Fort Vermilion, le traitement M160 a diminué la concentration d’Al et de Mn du sol extractibles dans une
solution de CaCl2 à 0,01 M de 2,9 et 11,7 mg par kg (témoin) à 1,1 et 8,9 mg par kg, respectivement, tandis que la
concentration de Mn dans la paille d’orge a baissé de 313 (témoin) à 220 mg par kg. La teneur en P (Mehlich 3) et en K
(extractible dans une solution de CaCl2 à 0,01 M) du sol après le traitement M160 était plus de deux fois supérieure à celle
observée dans la parcelle témoin, alors que sur les parcelles amendées avec l’engrais, cette valeur était la même que dans la
parcelle témoin. La teneur du grain en N, P et K et le rendement grainier étaient deux fois plus élevés dans les parcelles
M160 que dans les parcelles témoins. Dans le nord de l’Alberta, appliquer 160 Mg de fumier par hectare aux sols acides
une fois tous les quatre ans aurait la même efficacité que l’application de chaux et d’engrais NP pour rehausser le pH du sol
et en accroı̂tre la fertilité, parallèlement à la productivité des cultures.

Mots clés: Sol acide, fumier de bovins, orge, canola, chaulage, absorption des éléments nutritifs

There are more than 0.4 million ha of strongly acidic
(pH B5.5) and 1.8 million ha of moderately acidic (pH
5.6 to 6.0) cultivated land in Alberta, mostly located in
the Peace River Region of northern Alberta [Agriculture
and Rural Development (ARD) 2002]. Crop production
in these soils is hindered substantially by Al and/or Mn
toxicity and low levels of available Ca and P (ARD
2006; Canola Council of Canada 2009). Traditionally,
soil acidity is corrected by lime application (Sumner and
Noble 2003). Applying animal manure to acid soils has
also been reported to increase soil pH and reduce Al
toxicity (Hue 1992; Naramabuye and Haynes 2006;
Tang et al. 2007), while also supplying crops with avail-
able N, P and K (Whalen et al. 2000) and improving soil
physico-chemical and biological properties (Gong et al.
2009; Nyiraneza et al. 2009).
The liming properties of cattle manure have been
attributed to the presence of Ca carbonates (Eghball
Abbreviations: AN, available N; AP, available phosphorus; BL,
Beaverlodge; FV, Fort Vermilion; NP, nitrogen, phosphorus; TN,
total N; TP total P

Can. J. Soil Sci. (2010) 90: 685
697 doi:10.4141/CJSS09112 685

 686 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
1999; Whalen et al. 2000), low-molecular-weight organic
acids and humic-like substances (Hue 1992; Haynes and
Mokolobate 2001) in the manure. These substances cause
the precipitation of monomeric Al ions [Al3, AlOH2,
Al(OH)2] as insoluble hydroxyl-Al compounds and the
formation of Al-organic complexes (Hue 1992; Haynes
and Mokolobate 2001; Naramabuye and Haynes 2006).
The liming effect of manure on soil may persist for
several years (Eghball 1999, 2002).
With the expansion of cattle feedlot operations in the
Peace River Region of Alberta (ARD 2001), the use of
cattle manure to correct soil acidity problems is becom-
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ing an economical option in the region. Under con-
trolled environmental conditions, Whalen et al. (2000,
2002) have shown that acid soils from northern Alberta
could potentially be amended by cattle feedlot manure.
Whalen et al. (2002) suggested that a distance B40 km
from the source to the point of application makes it
economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for lime in
northern Alberta. Other studies under controlled labo-
ratory (Naramabuye and Haynes 2006; Murphy 2007;
Schefe et al. 2008a) or greenhouse conditions (Hue
1992; Tang et al. 2007; Schefe et al. 2008b) have also
demonstrated the liming effects of different manures on
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
acid soils. While few studies have been conducted under
field conditions, Eghball (1999) successfully demon-
strated that cattle feedlot manure increased the pH of
an acid soil in the central United States of America
during a 4-yr field trial. However, the impact of manure
application on acid soil could be substantially different
under field conditions in a cold climate, because soil
chemical and biological reactions are temperature
dependent. Therefore, a study was conducted to evalu-
ate the influence of cattle feedlot manure application on
soil pH, N, P, K, Mn, Zn and Al availability, and barley
and canola nutrient content, uptake and yield under
field conditions in cold climate acid soils.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Site Description and Experimental Design
The experiment was conducted at two Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada Research substations located at
Beaverlodge and Fort Vermilion, in the Peace River
Region of northern Alberta. The study area is character-
ized by a cold semi-arid climate. From 2004 to 2007 the
average annual precipitation was 387 and 489 mm and
average annual air temperature was 1.2 and 3.08C for
Fort Vermilion and Beaverlodge, respectively. The
growing season (May
October) precipitation and mean
air temperature during the 4-yr study was 238957 mm
and 11.990.98C at Fort Vermillion and 326965 mm
and 10.490.68C at Beaverlodge. The growing season
long-term averages for precipitation and temperature are
235 mm and 10.88C at Fort Vermilion and 224 mm and
11.18C at Beaverlodge.
The soils were classified as Orthic Gray Luvisol (clay,
mixed, frigid Typic Hapludalf) at Fort Vermilion and
Gray Luvisol (silt loam, mixed, frigid Typic Hapludalf)
at Beaverlodge. The Orthic Gray Luvisol has a clay
texture (43 g sand kg1 soil, 129 g silt kg1 soil and
828 g clay kg1 soil) with total C content of 43 g kg1.
The Gray Luvisol has a loam texture (295 g sand kg1,
454 g silt kg1 and 251 g clay kg1) with total C content
of 38 g kg1. The initial soil pH (measured in fall 2003)
was 4.1 and 4.8 (0
15 cm depth) at Fort Vermilion and
Beaverlodge, respectively.
The following treatments in a randomized complete
block design were established at both sites: Control, NP
(nitrogen and phosphorus) fertilizer, LimeNP fertili-
zer, and fresh cattle feedlot manure at 80 (M80) and
160 t ha1 (M160) on a wet basis. Each treatment was
replicated four times. Plots were 15.2 m long and 7.9 m
wide. For the NP fertilizer and LimeNP fertilizer treat-
ments, fertilizers were applied at seeding every spring to
provide total available N of 75 kg N ha1 and available
P of 38 kg P2O5 ha1 based on spring soil (0
15 cm
depth) testing results. Nitrogen fertilizer (46-0-0) was
side-banded at about 5 cm, 70% of the P fertilizer
(11-51-0) was seed placed and 30% was side-banded at
about 5 cm. Lime and manure were applied only once in
the fall of 2003. Lime was applied at a rate of 5 Mg ha1
at both Fort Vermilion and Beaverlodge, with the aim of
increasing soil pH to either 6.0 or 6.5 based on the
Shoemaker-McLean-Pratt (SMP) method (Ziadi and
Sen Tran 2008a). The type of lime used was calcium
carbonate powder (Steel Brothers Canada Ltd., Lime
Division, Kananaskis, AB) containing 97% CaCO3.
Fresh cattle manure applications of 80 t manure ha1
were required to raise pH by one unit based on an
incubation study (Caffyn et al. 2004). Lime and manure
were incorporated by disking to a depth of 10 cm. The
manure properties used at the two sites are presented in
Table 1.
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Vivar’) in 2004 and 2006
and canola (Brassica rapa L. ‘InVigor 5020’) in 2005 and
2007 were seeded with 23 cm ConservaPak knife openers
at both sites. Weeds were controlled with herbicide and
the field was not tilled during the 4-yr experimental
period. Prior to our treatment implementation, the field
at Fort Vermilion had been under minimum or zero
Table 1. Characteristics of the cattle feedlot manure used (dry matter
basis)
Propertiesz Fort Vermilion Beaverlodge
1
Moisture (fresh weight basis, g g ) 0.5390.01 0.5490.00
pH 8.090.03 8.390.04
EC (dS m 1) 4.092.2 1.8
Total C (g kg 1) 252923 251913
Total N (g kg1) 16.390.9 17.090.1
Total P (g kg 1) 3.2690.15 1.9290.07
Available N (NH4NO3, g kg 1) 1.3290.29 0.2490.01
Available P (Kelowna, g kg 1) 1.3990.22 0.5590.01
z
Values are means and SE of four sub-samples at Fort Vermilion and
two sub-samples at Beaverlodge.
 BENKE ET AL. * LIVESTOCK MANURE IMPROVES ACID SOIL PRODUCTIVITY
tillage with a barley
pea
wheat
canola rotation for at
least 10 yr. The field at Beaverlodge was seeded to tall
fescue from 1999 to 2001, moldboard ploughed to about
a 25 cm depth in 2002 and fallowed until the fall of 2003
before the start of the current experiment. For barley,
forage (soft dough stage) yield (on average 72 d after
sowing) was obtained by hand harvesting 1 m2 per plot.
Barley straw samples (on average 109 d after sowing)
and canola straw samples (on average 113 d after
sowing) were collected at maturity by hand (with the
grain portion removed) harvesting 1 m2 per plot. Crop
grain yield was obtained by machine-combining 109 m2
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per plot. After grain removal, the straw was put back
through a straw chopper on the combine and spread
over the plots. Grain nutrient uptake (removal) was cal-
culated by multiplying yield by the nutrient content.
Manure and Soil Analysis
During the 4-yr experiment, soil samples were collected
every fall (2004 to 2007) at 0
15 cm and 15
30 cm
(results not shown) depths. In addition, soil samples
were collected in the fall of 2003 before lime and manure
applications and in the spring of 2004 before seeding.
Soil samples were air-dried and ground to pass through
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
a 2-mm sieve. Soil (air dried) pH was determined using
0.01 M CaCl2 (1:2 solid to liquid ratio) after the slurry
was shaken for 30 min in a reciprocal shaker and
equilibrated for 1 h (Hendershot et al. 2008). Available
N (AN, NH4-NNO3-N) was extracted using 2 M
KCl (1:5 solid to liquid ratio) and the concentration in
the extracting solution was measured colorimetrically
using an auto-analyzer (Model AA3, BranLuebbe,
Nordersted, Germany). Available P (AP) was extracted
with the Mehlich 3 method (1:10 solid to liquid ratio)
(Ziadi and Sen Tran 2008b) and the concentration in
the extracting solution was measured colorimetrically
using an auto-analyzer (Model AA2, BranLuebbe,
Nordersted, Germany). After pH determination, the
soil slurry was filtered and the concentrations of
Al, K, Mn and Zn in the 0.01 M CaCl2 filtrate were
determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer
(Model AA 240, Varian, Palo Alto, CA). The 0.01 M
CaCl2 extraction method estimates Al that is closely
related to crop uptake (Wright et al. 1989; Machado and
Gerzabek 1993). Manure total C and total N (TN)
were determined using an automated CN analyzer
(Carlo Erba, Milan, Italy). After digestion with
H2SO4H2O2 (Parkinson and Allen 1975), total P
(TP) was determined on an auto-analyzer (Technicon
II AutoAnalyzer, following Technicon Industrial
Method No. 334-74 W/B). All results are expressed
on dry-weight (608C) basis.
Crop Sample Analysis
Prior to analysis, barley and canola straw samples were
oven-dried at 608C and ground in a UDY Sample
Cyclone Mill (UDY Corporation, Fort Collins, CO) to
pass through a 1.0-mm sieve. Sub-samples were then
687
fine ground to pass through a 0.15-mm sieve in a
RETSCH Mixer Mill MM 200 (RETSCH Inc., USA).
At both sites, barley straw chemical analyses were
performed only in the 2004 crop. Crop TN and TP
were determined using the same methods as for manure
TN and TP determination. For the determination of
elemental content, crop straw (0.25 g per sample) was
digested on a digestion block (Varian, Palo Alto, CA)
with 5 mL 50% HNO3 and 2 mL 30% H2O2 at 858C for
30 min, followed by the addition of 2 mL H2O2 solution
and a further 30-min digestion at 958C based on EPA
method 3050B (USEPA 1996). The K, Mn and Zn
concentrations in the digests were determined using an
atomic absorption spectrometer (Varian Model AA240,
Palo Alto, CA). All results are expressed on dry-weight
(608C) basis.
Data Handling and Statistical Analysis
For soil and crop properties, the MIXED procedure in
SAS software (SAS Institute, Inc. 2005) was used for the
analysis of variance (ANOVA) separately for each site
with treatments, year and their interaction in the model
as fixed effects and replication as random effects. Year
was treated as a repeated measure effect to account for
potential correlations and different variances between
the years. Various variance-covariance matrices were
fitted and the one with the lowest Akaike’s Information
Criterion value was used for the final analysis. The
UNIVARIATE procedure was used to check the
residuals for normality and for potential outliers. Log-
transformation was used prior to statistical analysis
when data were not normally distributed. When treat-
ment effects were significant (P B0.05), means were
separated with the LSD test.
RESULTS
Soil
Soil pH
For both sites, soil pH was affected (P B0.05) by treat-
ment, sampling year and their interaction (Table 2).
At Fort Vermilion, 6 mo after manure incorporation
(measured in spring 2004), soil pH increased (P B0.05)
from 4.3 (Control) to 5.1, 6.0, and 5.7 in treatments M80,
M160 and LimeNP fertilizer, respectively (Fig. 1a).
In 2007, 4 yr after manure application, soil pH in the
M80, M160 and LimeNP fertilizer treatments had
decreased to 4.5, 4.9 and 5.1, respectively, but all were
still higher (P B0.05) than Control (4.1).
At Beaverlodge, soil pH increased (P B0.05) from 5.3
and 5.2 in the Control and NP fertilizer treatments to 5.4,
5.9 and 5.6 in the M80, M160 and LimeNP fertilizer
treatments, respectively, in spring 2004 (Fig. 1b). The
increases in soil pH were smaller at Beaverlodge than at
Fort Vermilion. However, at Beaverlodge pH in the
M80, M160 and the LimeNP fertilizer treatments
remained unchanged over the years, with the pH from
the M80 and LimeNP fertilizer treatments still higher
 688 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE

Table 2. Results of statistical analysis (P value) of soil and crops

Fort Vermilion Beaverlodge

z y x
Properties Treatment (T) Year (Y) T Y Treatment (T) Year (Y) T Y

Soil
pH B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.002 0.002
AN B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.054 B0.001 B0.001
AP B0.001 0.001 0.217 B0.001 B0.001 0.085
K B0.001 B0.001 0.249 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001
Al B0.001 0.002 0.009 0.141 B0.001 0.724
Mn B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.112 B0.001 0.006
Zn B0.001 B0.001 0.624 NAw NA NA
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Barley
N B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.013
P B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.003 B0.001 0.609
K B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.005 B0.001 0.370
Mn 0.023 B0.001 0.125 0.020 B0.001 0.004
Zn B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.011 B0.001 0.158
Forage yield 0.006 B0.001 0.004 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001
Grain yield B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.107
Canola
N B0.001 B0.001 0.097 B0.001 B0.001 0.009
P B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001 0.006
K B0.001 B0.001 0.018 B0.001 B0.001 0.002
Mn B0.001 B0.001 0.212 B0.001 B0.001 0.001
Zn B0.001 B0.001 0.007 B0.001 B0.001 B0.001
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

Grain yield B0.001 B0.001 0.046 0.002 B0.001 0.020

z
TreatmentsNP fertilizer, LimeNP fertilizer, M80 and M160.
y
Years2004s (spring), 2004f (fall), 2005, 2006 and 2007.
x
T Ytreatment and year interaction.
w
NA non applicable.

(P B0.05) than the NP fertilizer and Control treatments
at the end of the 4-yr experimental period.
Soil Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium
Soil AN was affected by treatment (except at Beaver-
lodge), year and their interaction (Table 2). At Fort
Vermilion, soil AN contents in manure treatments were
higher with values of 1.3 to 2.1 times those from the
Control in the first year (spring and fall 2004) (Fig. 2a).
Over time (2005, 2006 and 2007), soil AN content
decreased, but values from the M160 treatment were
still higher than Control in 2005 and 2007 (Fig. 2a).
At Beaverlodge, AN content in spring 2004 was 3
to 11 times those from other years regardless of the
treatment (Fig. 2b). In the fall of 2004 and 2005, soil AN
contents in M160 were 2.8 and 1.8 times (P B0.05) the

Fig. 1. Mean (and SE) soil (0
15 cm) pH during the 4-yr [2004s (spring), 2004f (fall), 2005, 2006 and 2007] study period at Fort
Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n 4).
 BENKE ET AL. * LIVESTOCK MANURE IMPROVES ACID SOIL PRODUCTIVITY 689
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Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

Fig. 2. Mean (and SE) soil (0
15 cm) available N (AN, NH4 NO3), available P (AP) and 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable K contents
during the 4-yr [2004s (spring), 2004f (fall), 2005, 2006 and 2007] study period at Fort Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n4).

value from the Control treatment (Fig. 2b). However,
soil AN content in the M80 and M160 treatments
decreased (P B0.05) over time and was not different
from the Control by 2006 and 2007.
Soil AP (Mehlich 3) was affected by treatment and
year, but not by their interaction (Table 2). Soil AP
contents increased (P B0.05) with manure application
at both sites, but were not affected (P
0.05) by com-
mercial fertilizer (NP and LimeNP fertilizer) applica-
tions (Fig. 2c and d). In the spring of 2004 at Fort
Vermilion, soil AP was 13.9 mg kg1 in the Control, and
increased to 28.1 mg kg1 in M80 and 53.0 mg kg1 in
M160. In the spring of 2004 at Beaverlodge, soil AP was
6.2 mg kg 1 in the Control, and increased to 8.5 mg kg1
in M80 and 11.5 mg kg1 in M160. As with AN, soil AP
content decreased (P B0.05) over time at Fort Vermilion.
At this site, a reduction of 45% in treatment M80 and
61% in treatment M160 was observed at the end of the
4-yr period compared with values in spring 2004 (Fig. 2c).
Soil K (0.01 M CaCl2 extractable) was affected by
year and treatment at Fort Vermilion and also by the
treatment year interaction at Beaverlodge (Table 2).
As with AN and AP, soil extractable K content in the
manure-treated plots was higher (P B0.05) than in
 690 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
Control (Fig. 2e and f). In the first 6 mo after manure
application (spring 2004), soil extractable K in the M160
treatment was 2.6 (283 mg kg1) and 6.6 (72 mg kg1)
times those in the Control (88.5 and 11.0 mg kg 1) at
Fort Vermilion and Beaverlodge, respectively. Soil extr-
actable K content in M160 treatment decreased from
283 (2004s) to 118 mg kg1 (2007) at Fort Vermilion
and from 72 (2004s) to 39 mg kg1 (2007) at Beaver-
lodge, but values from the manure treatment were still
higher than those of the Control and fertilizer treat-
ments at the end of the 4-yr study.
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Soil 0.01 M CaCl2 Extractable Aluminum,
Manganese and Zinc
At Fort Vermilion, soil extractable Al, Mn and Zn
contents were affected (P B0.05) by treatment, year and
their interaction (except Zn) (Table 2). At Beaverlodge,
soil extractable Al was affected (P B0.05) by treat-
ment and year, and soil extractable Mn by year and
treatmentyear interaction. At this site, soil extractable
Zn content was lower than the equipment detection limit
and no statistical analysis was performed.
Soil extractable Al content (measured in the spring
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
of 2004) at Fort Vermilion was 3.28 mg kg 1 in the
Control, and decreased (P B0.05) to 1.76 mg kg1 in
M80 and to 0.82 mg kg 1 in M160 treatments 6 mo
after manure incorporation (Fig. 3a). The M160 treat-
ment reduced soil extractable Al to levels similar to that
of LimeNP fertilizer (0.85 mg kg1). However, NP
fertilizer treatment (3.93 mg kg1) did not change soil
Al content. Soil extractable Al content in both manure
treatments (1.3 mg kg1 in M80 and 0.68 mg kg 1 in
M160) as well as in the LimeNP fertilizer (0.76 mg
kg1) remained low 4 yr after treatments were applied.
At Beaverlodge, neither lime nor treatments M80 and
M160 affected (P
0.05) soil extractable Al content
(Fig. 3b).
At Fort Vermillion, soil extractable Mn content
decreased (P B0.05) after manure and lime incorpora-
tion (from 2005 to 2007) compared with the Control and
NP fertilizer (Fig. 3c). In 2005, soil extractable Mn
content was 13.4 mg kg 1 in the Control, and decreased
(P B0.05) to 9.8 mg kg1 in M80, 7.6 mg kg1 in
M160, and 6.1 mg kg 1 in the LimeNP fertilizer
treatments. At Beaverlodge, M160 was the only treat-
ment where soil extractable Mn content (1.0 mg kg1)
was lower (P B0.05) than the Control (2.2 mg kg1) in
2005 (Fig. 3d). At both sites, soil extractable Mn content
decreased (P B0.05) over time independent of the
treatments used.
As with soil extractable Al and Mn contents at Fort
Vermilion, the soil extractable Zn content in lime and
manure treatments was lower (P B0.05) than in the Con-
trol and NP fertilizer (Fig. 3e). The soil Zn content
at Fort Vermilion was 2.10 mg kg1 (mean across year)
in the Control, and was reduced to 1.64, 0.81, and 0.84
mg kg 1 for the M80, M160 and LimeNP fertilizer
treatments, respectively.
Crop
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Manganese
and Zinc
Grain nutrient uptake at Fort Vermilion was affected
(P B0.05) by treatment, year and their interaction (exc-
ept Mn in barley and N and Mn in canola) (Table 2). At
Beaverlodge, grain nutrient uptake was also affected
(P B0.05) by treatment, year and their interaction
(except barley grain P, K and Zn uptake).
At the two sites, barley grain N uptake (removal) was
higher (P B0.05) (except in 2004 at Beaverlodge) in the
fertilizer treatments (NP and LimeNP fertilizer) than
in the Control and M80 (Table 3). However, N removal
in treatment M160 was similar (P
0.05) to the values in
the fertilizer treatments (except in 2006 at Beaverlodge).
Barley straw TN content was also higher (P B0.05) in
treatment M160 (10.2 g kg1 at Fort Vermilion and
12.2 g kg1 at Beaverlodge) than in the Control (9.0 g
kg 1 at Fort Vermilion and 9.5 g kg1 at Beaverlodge).
Similar results were observed with barley grain TN
content at Fort Vermilion (data not shown).
At Fort Vermilion, canola grain N removal was
higher (P B0.05) in the fertilizer (NP and LimeNP
fertilizer) and manure (M80 and M160) treatments than
in the Control (Table 4). At Beaverlodge, canola grain
N removal was similar among all treatments in 2005,
whereas in 2007 values were higher from NP, LimeNP
fertilizer, and M160 than from the Control and M80
treatments (Table 4). At both sites, manure treatments
did not affect canola straw and grain TN contents (data
not shown).
Barley and canola grain P removal in the M160
treatment were higher (P B0.05) (except in canola
in 2005 at Beaverlodge) than in the Control at both
sites and for all years (Tables 3 and 4). In addition,
amendment of 160 Mg fresh manure ha 1 resulted in
higher P removal by barley grain than 5 Mg lime ha1
plus NP fertilizer. Barley straw P content was also
higher (P B0.05) in treatment M160 (0.82 g kg1 at
Fort Vermilion and 0.77 g kg1 at Beaverlodge) than in
the LimeNP fertilizer (0.49 g kg1 at Fort Vermilion
and 0.45 g kg1 at Beaverlodge). Similar results were
observed with barley grain TP content (data not shown).
Manure (M80 and M160) treatments had a similar
(P
0.05) effect to fertilizer (NP and LimeNP fertili-
zer) treatments on grain K removal by both crops
(except in 2005 at Beaverlodge), and all treatments used
resulted in higher (P B0.05) K removal than the Control
(Tables 3 and 4). Barley straw K content was higher
(P B0.05) in treatment M160 (17.6 g kg1 at Fort
Vermilion and 20.6 g kg1 at Beaverlodge) than in both
fertilizer and Control (14.2 g kg1 at Fort Vermilion
and 15.8 g kg1 at Beaverlodge) treatments. Canola
grain K content was higher (P B0.05) in treatment
 BENKE ET AL. * LIVESTOCK MANURE IMPROVES ACID SOIL PRODUCTIVITY 691
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Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

Fig. 3. Mean (and SE) soil (0
15 cm) 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable Al, Mn and Zn contents during the 4-yr [2004s (spring), 2004f (fall),
2005, 2006 and 2007] study period at Fort Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n 4).

M160 (7.2 g kg 1 at Fort Vermilion and 7.3 g kg1 at
Beaverlodge) than the Control (6.4 g kg1 at Fort
Vermilion and 6.5 g kg 1 at Beaverlodge).
Treatments M160, NP and LimeNP fertilizer inc-
reased (P B0.05) Mn removal by barley and canola
grain compared with values in the Control at both sites
(Tables 3 and 4). In contrast, Mn content in barley straw
was 313 mg kg1 for the Control, declined (P B0.05) to
186 mg kg1 in the LimeNP fertilizer treatment and
to 222 mg kg1 in the M160 manure treatment at Fort
Vermilion. The M160 treatment was as efficient as lime
in reducing Mn content. A reduction (P B0.05) in barley
grain Mn content from 49 mg kg1 in the Control to 32
and 33 mg kg1 in the LimeNP fertilizer and M160
treatments was also observed. At Beaverlodge, barley
straw and grain Mn contents were not affected by the
treatments (data not shown). However, barley Mn levels
at Beaverlodge were substantially lower than those at
Fort Vermilion (data not shown).
Manure application also reduced (P B0.05) Mn con-
tent in canola straw and grain compared with the
Control. At Fort Vermilion, canola straw and grain
(only in 2005) Mn contents were 367 and 103 mg kg1
in the Control and were reduced to 215 and 83 mg kg1
 692 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE

Table 3. Barley mean (and SE) grain nutrient uptake at Fort Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n4)

Control NP fertilizer LimeNP fertilizer M80 M160 Mean

1
FV N (kg ha ) 2004 15.994.6bC 29.293.6bA 30.093.1bA 23.592.9bB 26.894.3bAB 25.1
2006 21.094.0aD 67.692.4aB 71.593.0aA 42.291.7aC 66.792.3aAB 52.3
Mean 18.5 45.6 50.8 32.8 43.9
P (kg ha 1) 2004 2.190.6bB 2.690.3bAB 2.690.2bAB 2.690.4bAB 3.090.3bA 2.6
2006 4.490.9aC 8.990.2aB 9.190.9aB 8.490.5aB 12.190.8aA 8.4
Mean 3.3 5.3 5.8 5.5 6.9
K (kg ha 1) 2004 3.291.1bB 4.490.7bA 4.790.6bA 4.190.7bA 4.990.8bA 4.3
2006 5.091.0aD 11.690.4aBC 12.390.9aB 9.690.4aC 13.990.7aA 10.2
Mean 4.1 7.5 8.5 6.9 8.8
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Mn (g ha 1) 2004 32.897.1 40.493.4 46.595.2 36.595.0 44.094.4 40.0b

2006 53.4910.8 96.8911.5 96.498.7 73.793.7 87.1913.9 81.5a
Mean 43.1B 68.6A 71.5A 55.1AB 65.5A
Zn (g ha 1) 2004 57.5917.7aB 74.899.4bAB 86.5910.8bA 70.699.0bAB 83.4912.7bA 74.6
2006 66.6913.3aC 200.398.1aA 206.4913.9aA 126.494.5aB 183.2910.9aA 152.7
Mean 62.1 128.6 146.5 98.5 126.17
BL N (kg ha 1) 2004 104.495.1aB 110.692.2aB 112.897.1aAB 120.598.0aAB 132.4910.1aA 116.1
2006 26.697.2bC 73.897.6bA 70.393.2bA 46.392.1bB 54.593.7bB 54.3
Mean 65.5 92.2 91.6 83.4 93.4
P (kg ha 1) 2004 11.690.4 12.790.9 12.591.0 15.391.1 15.291.3 13.5a
2006 4.391.1 7.190.9 6.490.4 7.590.3 7.4905 6.5b
Mean 8.0C 9.9AB 9.4BC 11.4A 11.3A
K (kg ha 1) 2004 18.091.8 19.191.4 19.692.1 22.892.3 22.992.0 20.5a
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

2006 6.291.9 13.592.4 13.090.6 12.090.7 12.390.7 11.4b

Mean 12.1B 16.3A 16.3A 17.4A 17.6A
Mn (g ha 1) 2004 84.291.8aB 94.299.4aB 90.094.3aB 121.096.6aA 120.898.9aA 103.7
2006 22.796.0bB 55.7911.2bA 48.892.0bA 37.493.0bAB 42.193.2bA 41.3
Mean 49.1 74.9 66.5 79.2 81.5
Zn (g ha 1) 2004 217.891.2 258.8927.2 254.995.0 279.7915.5 297.2926.7 264.5a
2006 71.3921.0 141.5919.8 158.095.0 108.696.5 125.1913.5 120.9b
Mean 134.1B 200.1A 199.5A 194.1A 211.2A

a, b; A, B Numbers in a column followed by different lower case letters and numbers in a row followed by different upper case letters are significantly
different at the 0.05 probability level using the LSD test.

in M160. At Beaverlodge, the 2-yr average Mn canola
straw and grain contents were 19 and 35 mg kg1 in the
Control, and were reduced (P B0.05) to 11 and 31 mg
kg1 in M160.
All treatments resulted in greater (P B0.05) grain Zn
removal at Fort Vermilion (barley only in 2006) and
Beaverlodge (canola only in 2007). However, barley
straw and grain Zn contents were generally not affected
(P
0.05) by the treatments, whereas canola straw and
grain Zn contents were lower (P B0.05) in the Control
than in manure treatments at both sites (data not
shown).
Forage and Grain Yields
Barley forage, barley grain and canola grain yields were
affected (P B0.05) by treatment, year and their interac-
tion (except barley grain yield at Beaverlodge) (Table 2).
At Fort Vermilion, barley forage and grain yields in the
Control were lower (P B0.05) (except barley forage in
2004) than all other treatments (Fig. 4a and c). At this
site, the highest barley forage and grain yields occurred
in the LimeNP fertilizer and the M160 treatments,
and they were 1.7 to 2.8 times those of the Control.
At Beaverlodge, barley forage and grain yields from
manure treatments (except forage from M80) were
higher (P B0.05) than the Control in 2004 (Fig. 4b
and d). The forage and grain yields from the M160
treatment were 1.4 and 1.2 times (2004) and 1.6 and 2.1
times (2006) those from the Control.
At Fort Vermilion, canola grain yield was higher
(P B0.05) in all treatments than in the Control (Fig. 4e).
In both years, the highest grain yields were observed
with the LimeNP fertilizer treatment. However,
canola grain yield with M160 was not different from
the LimeNP fertilizer treatment. At Beaverlodge,
canola grain yields from the manure and fertilizer treat-
ments were higher (P B0.05) than those from the
Control in 2007 (Fig. 5f). However, yield from the
LimeNP fertilizer treatment was higher (PB0.05)
than from treatment M160.
DISCUSSION
Soil
The results illustrate that cattle manure increases acid
soil pH at 0
15 cm depth under field conditions in a cold
climate. The liming effect on clay and silt loam Gray
 BENKE ET AL. * LIVESTOCK MANURE IMPROVES ACID SOIL PRODUCTIVITY 693

Table 4. Canola mean (and SE) grain nutrient uptake at Fort Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n4)

Control NP fertilizer LimeNP fertilizer M80 M160 Mean

1
FV N (kg ha ) 2005 88.094.3 117.195.4 142.995.5 105.496.9 133.194.6 117.3a
2007 11.590.8 47.091.9 50.292.1 33.894.3 44.391.4 37.4b
Mean 49.8D 82.1B 96.6A 69.6C 88.7B
P (kg ha1) 2005 16.291.0aD 22.190.9aC 26.391.1aB 23.791.1aBC 32.591.8aA 24.2
2007 5.090.3bC 20.791.6aA 22.491.5bA 14.391.0bB 20.791.8bA 16.6
Mean 10.6 21.4 24.3 19.0 26.6
K (kg ha1) 2005 13.090.9aC 18.290.8aB 22.991.3aA 17.690.8aB 24.791.3aA 19.3
2007 2.390.2bC 9.490.5bA 9.890.5bA 6.990.8bB 9.890.4bA 7.6
Mean 7.7 13.8 16.3 12.2 17.3
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Mn (g ha1) 2005 240.997.9 288.6915.4 299.4910.7 242.499.3 297.3914.9 275.5a

2007 24.892.6 113.297.6 107.096.3 73.7910.7 90.794.1 81.9b
Mean 117.4C 200.9A 203.2A 158.0B 194.0A
Zn (g ha1) 2005 94.596.5aD 131.593.9aB 162.894.8aA 112.2 94.4aB 137.694.0aC 125.9
2007 14.691.3bC 66.091.1bA 65.291.6bA 47.096.0bB 59.792.8bA 50.5
Mean 54.6 98.8 107.0 79.6 98.6
BL N (kg ha1) 2005 7.791.0aA 9.891.8bA 6.591.0bA 11.892.4aA 12.194.0bA 9.9
2007 14.494.0aC 32.793.6aA 34.995.7aA 21.092.4aBC 27.291.8aAB 26.0
Mean 11.5 21.2 25.43 17.1 19.7
P (kg ha1) 2005 2.890.4aB 3.690.7bAB 2.390.3bB 4.790.9aA 3.491.3bAB 3.4
2007 3.991.1aC 8.990.6aA 9.391.1aA 5.890.6aB 8.090.5aA 7.2
Mean 3.4 6.3 7.0 5.3 6.0
K (kg ha1) 2005 2.290.3aBC 2.790.6bABC 1.690.2bC 3.690.7aAB 3.591.1bA 2.8
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.

2007 3.390.9aB 8.890.8aA 8.691.2aA 4.890.5aB 7.190.4aA 6.5

Mean 2.8 5.8 6.3 4.3 5.3
Mn (g ha1) 2005 10.391.2aA 14.693.1bA 10.793.1bA 13.792.7bA 13.494.3bA 12.9
2007 19.295.3aC 44.394.5aA 49.696.6aA 27.793.1aBC 29.792.8aB 34.1
Mean 15.4 29.5 36.6 21.7 21.5
Zn (g ha1) 2005 11.591.6aA 16.894.0bA 10.791.5bA 16.492.7bA 16.995.4bA 15.0
2007 21.396.0aD 46.693.5aB 62.294.3aA 29.693.6aC 35.092.1aC 37.7
Mean 17.1 31.7 41.6 23.9 25.9

a, b; A, B Numbers in a column followed by different lower case letters and numbers in a row followed by different upper case letters are significantly
different at the 0.05 probability level using the LSD test.

Luvisols of a one-time application of fresh cattle manure
at 160 Mg ha1 (wet basis) every 4 yr was similar to a
one-time lime application at 5 Mg ha1 every 4 yr. Our
results are consistent with those of other studies (Eghball
1999; Whalen et al. 2002), which showed that applying
cattle manure to acid soils is as effective as lime in incr-
easing soil pH. However, soil pH in the limed and
manure-treated plots at both sites in each year (except
M160 in spring 2004 at Fort Vermilion) was lower than
the targeted values of 6.0 to 6.5. These targets were
achieved by Whalen et al. (2002) using similar soils under
laboratory conditions. As Godsey et al. (2007) pointed
out, the actual lime requirement in the field is generally
greater than the amount predicted by the buffer method
in the laboratory, particularly when the lime requirement
is high (
4.5 Mg ha1), further demonstrating the
importance of field research for determining actual soil
lime requirements.
At Fort Vermilion, the observed increase in soil AN
content in the manure treatments (especially in the first
2 yr of the experiment) compared with the Control
reflected the supply of AN directly from manure and
indirectly through mineralization of manure organic N.
Increased microbiological activity was observed with the
manure treatments especially in 2004 and 2005 (data not
shown). Treatments NP and LimeNP fertilizer did not
result in higher soil AN content (except in the fall of
2004), probably due to plant removal of readily avail-
able N in inorganic fertilizers. Similar results were
observed by Nyiraneza et al. (2009) in a long-term study
on the effect of commercial fertilizer and cattle manure
on soil properties. At Beaverlodge, the substantially
higher soil AN content in the spring of 2004 in all treat-
ments compared with other years probably reflected
mineralization of recently plowed (fall 2002) fescue grass
after 2003 fallow. A higher soil AN content in M160
than the Control and fertilizer treatments observed in
the fall of 2004 and 2005 reflects the continuing miner-
alization of manure organic N.
The higher soil AP content in manure (M80 and M160)
treatments than fertilizer (NP and LimeNP fertilizer)
and Control reflects the direct PO3 4 addition and
indirect mineralization of organic P following manure
application. Additionally, manure applications increase
soil pH, which could promote the formation of Al-
organic acid chelates, thus reducing soil P immobilization
 694 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
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Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
Fig. 4. Barley forage and barley and canola mean (and SE) grain yields at Fort Vermilion (FV) and Beaverlodge (BL) (n 4).
(Bolan et al. 1994; Schefe et al. 2008a) and further
contributing to the observed higher AP content.
Other studies have also reported increases in soil AP
after cattle manure applications at high rates with the
potential to contribute to surface and ground water
contamination (Sharpley et al. 1984; Whalen and Chang
2001; Eghball 2002; Hao et al. 2008). However, the
soils used in our study have low AP (13.9 mg kg 1 in
Fort Vermilion and 6.2 mg kg1 in Beaverlodge) and
the maximum soil AP content was 53.0 mg kg1 6 mo
after the 160 Mg ha1 fresh manure application. Soil
AP decreased over time to 20.6 mg kg1 after 4 yr. This
decrease was mostly due to plant uptake and immobi-
lization by soil matrices as more Al is available with
decreasing pH over time in manure-treated soil. In addi-
tion, there was no increase in soil AP content at
15 cm
depth at both sites in manure applied plots (data not
shown).
The higher soil extractable K content in the manure
treatments than in the Control and fertilizer treatments
reflected high levels of K in manure, and were consistent
with results reported earlier (Hao and Chang 2003).
Crop uptake contributed to the significant reduction
(58% at Fort Vermilion and 47% at Beaverlodge) in soil
extractable K content (M160 treatment) at the end of
the 4-yr period.
The similar reduction in soil extractable Al content
observed in the M160 and LimeNP fertilizer treat-
ments was mainly due to elevation of soil pH, which
causes the precipitation of Al ions. The liming effect of
animal manure is also related to the formation of Al
complexes with both low-molecular-weight organic acids
 BENKE ET AL. * LIVESTOCK MANURE IMPROVES ACID SOIL PRODUCTIVITY
and humic-like substances present in manure (Hue 1992;
Haynes and Mokolobate 2001; Naramabuye and Haynes
2006). Our results are consistent with those from incuba-
tion and greenhouse studies that show a rapid reduction
in soil extractable Al content after manure amendment
(Naramabuye and Haynes 2006; Tang et al. 2007).
However, those studies lasted only several days to a
few months, whereas our field study was over 4 yr. The
higher original (spring 2004) soil extractable Al content
at Fort Vermilion (3.3 mg kg1) reflected its lower soil
pH and higher CEC due its higher clay content, com-
pared with soil at Beaverlodge (0.6 mg kg1).
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The decrease in soil extractable Mn content at Fort
Vermilion after cattle manure application is consistent
with results reported after chicken manure application
in tropical acid soils (Escobar and Hue 2008). Because
the Beaverlodge soil initially had a low extractable Mn
content, applying manure or lime had minimal impact.
As with Al, complex formation with low-molecular-
weight organic acids is responsible for the reduction in
extractable Mn and Zn contents following manure
application (Escobar and Hue 2008).
Crop
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
The higher barley and canola grain N uptakes (removal)
in the LimeNP fertilizer and manure amended soil
than in the Control were most likely due to an increase
in soil AN and other nutrients (P and K). It has been
reported that P and K fertilization of sandy acidic soils
in Alaska increased barley N utilization (Michaelson
and Ping 1987). The higher barley grain N removal at
Beaverlodge in 2004 may be related to a substantially
higher soil AN in all plots in spring 2004 than any other
year.
The increase in soil AP content and the decrease in
extractable Al (Fort Vermilion site only) in the manure-
amended plots resulted in higher grain P removal by
both barley and canola in treatments M80 and M160
than in the Control. Ryan and Smillie (1975) suggested
that tissue P deficiency and Al toxicity are generally
observed in acid soils. These authors reported an
increase in P uptake by ryegrass after lime application
into an acid brown Podzolic soil (pH 4.0) in Ireland.
The higher barley and canola K uptakes in manure-
amended soil than in the Control reflect the significant
increase in soil K content. Increases in barley K uptake
following fertilizer (NP and LimeNP fertilizer) appli-
cation could be related to N and P fertilization, which
could stimulate crop K uptake (Aulakh and Malhi
2005).
Our results are consistent with those of a greenhouse
study on acid soils from the Peace River Region, which
reported that grain plus straw N, P, and K removals by
canola and wheat were higher in manure-amended
treatments than in the Control, NP fertilizer and lime
treatments (Whalen et al. 2002). As with uptake, the
concentration of N, P and K in barley and canola straw
and grain tended to be greater in manure-amended plots
695
than in the Control, also in agreement with Whalen
et al. (2002).
Although treatments M160 and LimeNP fertilizer
reduced soil extractable Mn and Zn and plant tissue Mn
and Zn contents, grain uptake of these elements was
higher in these treatments than in the Control. Similar
results were observed in wheat and canola Fe, Cu, and
Zn removals (Whalen et al. 2002) and in corn Mn and
Zn removals (Hensler et al. 1970) grown in acid soils
amended with cattle manure. Whalen et al. (2002)
attributed the higher crop uptake of micronutrients in
manure plots, despite their reduced availability at higher
pH, to the higher crop yield in manure-treated com-
pared with untreated soil.
The higher barley and canola yield (forage and grain)
in manure and inorganic fertilizer (either with or with-
out lime) treatments compared with the Control ref-
lected the increases in soil N, P and K availability and
soil pH, and consequent reductions in Al and Mn
toxicity. Barley is particularly sensitive to soil acidity
(Mugwira et al. 1976; Coventry et al. 1989), and liming
could increase barley yield (McKenzie and Nyborg
1984; Dolling et al. 1991; Tang et al. 2003), but only
when P is not limited in soil (Hoyt et al. 1967). Negative
linear correlations have been reported between soil 0.01
M CaCl2 extractable Al concentrations and barley yield
(Hoyt and Webber 1974; Tang et al. 2003). Reduction in
barley root growth has been reported in acid soils when
soil 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable Al content is as low as
2
3 mg kg1 (Mckenzie and Nyborg 1984). At Fort
Vermilion, soil extractable Al was reduced from 3.3 in
the Control toB2 mg kg 1 in treatments M160 and
LimeNP fertilizer. Whereas canola is less sensitive to
acid conditions compared with barley (2006), liming
strongly acid soils can significantly increase canola yield
(Whalen et al. 2002; Canola Council of Canada 2009).
The most common problem in acid soils is Al toxicity
(Pavan et al. 1982; Kochian and Shaff 1991). How-
ever, Mn toxicity could also be a crop yield-limiting
factor (Hoyt and Nyborg 1971). Barley growth could be
reduced by Mn toxicity when the Mn content in leaves
is
200 mg kg1 (Gupta 1972; Gupta et al. 1973). At
Fort Vermilion, the Mn content in barley straw (313
mg kg 1) from Control treatment was greater than this
critical value. Reductions in Mn content and in barley
straw with the LimeNP fertilizer and M160 treatments
at Fort Vermilion further confirm the reduction in
Mn toxicity and consequent increase in yield. At
Beaverlodge, significantly higher barley forage and grain
yields in M160 than in the Control were primarily
related to higher soil N, P and K contents in manure-
amended than un-amended soils because the original
soil extractable Al and Mn contents were low.
At Fort Vermilion, the much lower barley forage
and grain yields in 2004 than in 2006 were a consequence
of drought conditions during the 2004 growing season
(175 mm precipitation), whereas precipitation in the
2006 growing season (291 mm) was above normal
 696 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(235 mm). At Beaverlodge, the lack of treatment effect
from NP and LimeNP fertilizer on barley forage yield
in 2004 could be due to sufficient soil N supply in all plots
in that year. Additionally, higher soil moisture content
from greater precipitation in 2004 (409 mm) than normal
(314 mm) contributed to higher barley forage and grain
yields in 2004 than in 2006 (250 mm). At Beaverlodge,
there was extensive crop damage by wild animal feeding
just prior to grain harvest, which may have contributed
to low canola grain yield and the non-significant results
in 2005.
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CONCLUSIONS
A one-time cattle manure amendment at 80 and 160 Mg
ha1 (wet weight) to strongly acidic (pH B5.5) clay
(Fort Vermilion) and silt loam (Beaverlodge) soils from
the Peace River Region in Alberta, Canada, resulted in a
significant increase in soil pH that persisted for 4 yr.
Manure application at 160 Mg ha1 also significantly
reduced surface soil 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable Al (only
Fort Vermilion soil) and Mn contents. The liming effect
of manure applied at 160 Mg ha1 was similar to the
application of 5 Mg CaCO3 ha1. Manure applications
Can. J. Soil. Sci. 2010.90:685-697.
not only increased soil pH and reduced extractable Al
and Mn contents, but also improved soil fertility by
significantly increasing surface soil AN, AP (Mehlich 3)
and 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable K contents. In contrast,
the AP content in limed plots was similar to the Control
over the 4-yr period even with the annual commercial P
fertilizer applications. Although the effect of manure on
soil pH and fertility was restricted to the 0- to 15-cm
depth, our results indicate that the application of cattle
manure to strongly acidic soils could have the same
effect as lime with the advantage of supplying nutrients
for crop production. Higher barley forage and barley
and canola grain yields and higher N, P and K uptakes
from 160 Mg ha1 manure application than from the
Control indicate that manure increased N, P and K and
reduced Al and Mn levels in soil. Our results suggest
that lime could be replaced by cattle manure for barley
and canola production in strongly acidic soils near cattle
feedlot operations in the study area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to Joe Unruh and Greg Semach for their
dedication in carrying out all the field work and Brett
Hill for all soil and crop sample analysis. We also
appreciate the statistical advice provided by Toby Entz.
Agriculture and Rural Development. 2001. Changes in cattle
production in Alberta. [Online] Available: http://www.agric.
gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sag1500?opendocument
[2009 Apr. 02] Agriculture and Rural Development. Govern-
ment of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Agriculture and Rural Development. 2002. Liming acid soils.
[Online] Available: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/
deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3684 [20009 Apr. 02] Agriculture and
Rural Development. Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Agriculture and Rural Development. 2006. Barley production
in Alberta. [Online] Available: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/
$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/crop4933?opendocument [2009
mApr. 02] Agriculture and Rural Development. Government
of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
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with other nutrients and water: effect on crop yield and
quality, nutrient use efficiency, carbon sequestration, and
environmental pollution. Adv. Agron. 86: 341
409.
Bolan, N. S., Naidu, R., Mahimairaja, S. and Baskaran, S.
1994. Influence of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the
solubility of phosphates. Biol. Fertil. Soils 18: 311
319.
Caffyn, P., Hao, X., Chang, C., Hall, M., Clayton, G. and
O’Donovan, J. 2004. Amending Peace River acid soil with
cattle manure. Alberta Soil Science Workshop, Feb. 17
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