Effect of long-term cattle manure application on triticale and corn feed quality

摘要

With the rapid growth of the feedlot industry in southern Alberta, Canada, more manure is being applied to nearby land to support feed production. The effect of long-term manure application on forage feed quality for ensiling was evaluated in 1998. The crops used were triticale (Triticosecale L.), under rainfed conditions, and two varieties of corn (Zea Mays L.) under irrigated conditions. The rainfed field received 0, 30, 60 and 90Mg·ha·yr of cattle manure while the irrigated field received 0, 60, 120 and 180Mg·ha ·yr since fall of 1973. Under rainfed conditions, triricale yield and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased significantly with the rate of annual manure application. The water-extractable nitrate nitrogen (NO-N), crude protein (CP) total extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) in the triticale forage increased significantly with the rate of annual manure application. Acid detergent fiber content (ADF), total extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were not affected. Under irrigated conditions, the forage yield, CP, water extractable NO-N and total extractable P, K, and Zn content increased significantly while Ca, Mg and Mn content decreased with the rate of annual manure application for both varieties of com. The NDF, ADF, Na, Fe and Cu content in the corn forage were not significantly affected by the rate of manure application. Data from this study clearly show that triticale and corn forage feed quality and mineral content were affected by the long- term manure application. For triticale grown under the highest manure rate, the NO-N content of 2.22g·kg might be toxic to cattle.