The Effect of Dairy Compost on Summer Annual Dicots Grown as Alternative Silages
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2001 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Kenaf (Hibiscus cannibinus) var. India, lablab (Lablab purpureus) variety Tecomate, combine and iron-clay cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), and sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) S682 and S573 were planted at the Stephenville Research and Extension Center in the spring seasons of 1998 and 1999. Dairy compost was incorporated into half the plots prior to seeding both years at 11.2t DM ha1. Average days to maturity and number of harvests per season varied from 66 to 84 d and 1 to 3 harvests, respectively. Average yields were highest for kenaf (13,762kg DM ha1 yr1) followed by lablab (7,925kg DM ha1 yr1). Acid detergent fiber and lignin DM concentrations were lowest in kenaf (average 26.9 and 3.57%, respectively) and cowpeas (average 25.9 and 4.39%, respectively). Crude protein and phosphorus (P) concentrations were high in the iron-clay cowpea (22.3 and 0.269, respectively), combine cowpea (18.3 and 0.276%, respectively), lablab (16.8 and 0.268%, respectively), and kenaf (14.9 and 0.204%, respectively) and relatively low in the sunflower (9.7 and 0.174%, respectively). Compost increased forage yields 21.6% and forage P concentration 18.8% following the second year's application. Compost was applied to supply 130kg P ha1 yr1; on average, forages removed only 34.2kg P ha1 yr1. As a result, soil P was 2.4 times higher in plots with compost (26.9 ppm) by the end of the 2-yr trial. Kenaf had the highest P uptake, averaging 56.6kg P ha1 over 2 yr, accounting for 43% of the P applied.
