BMP Evaluation

Long Term Evaluation of Best Management Practices

This study was conducted on a split field at the CSU Agriculture Development and Education Center. The first objective (north field) was to determine if manure applied at nitrogen-based application rates versus phosphorus-based application rates resulted in statistically different soil nutrient values. The treatments were:

  1. control, fertilizer only
  2. N-based, annual application
  3. N-based, every 2 years
  4. P-based, annual application
  5. P-based, every 2 years
  6. P-based, every 4 years

The second objective (south field) examined the effects of application and incorporation timing on the soil nutrient content. The treatments applied were:

  1. Fall application, immediate incorporation
  2. Fall application, 2 weeks until incorporation
  3. Fall application, Spring incorporation
  4. Winter application, Spring incorporation
  5. Spring application, immediate incorporation
  6. Spring application, 2 weeks until incorporation

Runoff and leaching data is currently being analyzed.

Funding provided by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.