Influence of Rates and Timing on Incorporation of Dairy Manure Compost on Sweet Corn Yield, Composition and Soil Fertility

Sweet corn was grown in a sandy loam soil in southwestern Québec. The experiment evaluated the effect of five rates of dairy manure compost and timing of compost incorporation upon yield, macronutrient content and uptake by the corn and soil fertility at two depths and two sampling dates. The treatments had no effect on whole plant or ear weights. Plant N and K were positively influenced by application rates as high as 179.2 t/ha while a six-week surface application of compost, compared to almost immediate incorporation, produced higher whole plant N and P. Six weeks after seeding, soil moisture and plant available N, P, K and Mg were affected positively by the rate of compost application, while only exchangeable K was influenced by timing of incorporation, which was higher in the six-week surface application.