Responses of Annual Range Grasses and Legumes to Comparable Applications of Manurial and Inorganic Fertilizers

The use of cattle manure as an alternative to commercial inorganic fertilizer for annual rangelands was investigated, using mixtures of annual range grasses and legumes grown in pots containing a range soil known to be low in nitrogen and phosphorus and marginal in sulfur. Equivalent applications were made of N, P, and S over a wide range of levels (ca 100-1,200 kg/ha N, 23-276 kg/ha P, and 17-200 kg/ha S equivalents) with the N:P:S ratios of the inorganic fertilizer treatments adjusted to match those of the manure. All levels of both fertilizer types were applied either soil-incorporated or surface-broadcast. Plants were grown in greenhouse and outdoor environments, harvested twice, and separated into grass and legume components. Total yields and grass vields were higher for inorganic fertilizer. Clover yields were higher in the manure treatments, and in the outdoor environment, and increased from the first to the second harvests. Yields generally increased from first to second harvests and were higher in the outdoor environment. Mode of application had little effect on either yield or grass:legume ratio. Where economically feasible and available, the use of manures on rangeland may be justified, especially where enhancement of a legume component of the vegetation is desired.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202