Details for Determining Optimal Amounts of Manure Application for Your 53-Acre Corn Farm

This is an ongoing question for all types of manure. Depends on lots of parameters including level of organic matter already in place. I would also add that you want to look a the levels of Phosphorus in soil and not to let P leach. Phosphorus toxicity can be a problem and you need to be aware of P load before application. I did some research on this very topic years ago. There are other things to look at and I would do in season tissue testing also. I would also say that the level of N up front would not be a lot but as the manure breaks down you do get added benefits and the ability to build organic matter. I would also add that I am in MS so our level of breakdown may be faster due to higher humidity and temperatures. Always be careful with manures and you would be ahead if you could get the manure testing for nutrients. My 10 cents.

150kg per acre (330lb) of NPK ratios depending on the crop you harvest.

I agree with the previous answers and respect their request for more information. I can tell you, as a jumping off point for estimates, that dry manure from cattle or poultry is often applied at 1 to 3 tons per acre. You may be able to push it to higher rates but that is where you needed soil test results and a manure analysis.

Cattle or Hog manure?

Thats a loaded question that needs a lot more information. Manure is a massive topic thats not one size fits all. I’ve attached some average content of manures (tables 3 and 4 are the big ones). Just remember both tables need to be used. Lets say you are broadcasting and are letting it lay on top for a week before it gets worked in, then you have to take into account the volatilization thats going to occur as well. On top of that, not all the nitrogen will be available the first year, so for ease well just say its about half of the total N is available the first year and half of that the second year (its like a half life, so manure year in and year out helps a lot). In my little neck of the woods, when guys spread bedded pack on top, i treated it like a corn on bean rotation. Everyone always “covers it with a really thick layer”, but no two thick layers are the same so that was my solution to keep from having 200 different corn mixes to spread in the springs.

A lot. Just joking. To Answer this question we require a lot more information such as, the type of soil you have. The type of manure? What are the background levels of nutrients? Method of application? Target yield? Availability of other Fertilizers? However, the bottom line is access to manure is a wonderful way to build up your nutrient levels and also increase your microbial activity in your soil.