Dairy manure and crop management practices to improve soil health and carbon sequestration

Project Overview

Applying manure to agricultural soils can enhance sequestration of carbon and deliver nitrogen and other nutrients, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. This can help combat climate change by removing atmospheric carbon dioxide and boosts soil productivity without costly inputs. However, soil carbon sequestration and nutrient availability following manure application are influenced by factors like temperature, tillage practices, and crop selection. An integrated approach is essential to understand the long-term effects of dairy manure application on environmental health, soil productivity, forage quality, farm economics, and food sustainability.

The overall objective of this project is to establish long-term carbon sequestration values for various manure application practices and identify management practices for improving soil health and reducing synthetic fertilizer use. This research aims at improving Canadian dairy farms’ sustainability and resilience against climate change through improved soil health and carbon sequestration.

What Will the Research Team Do?

The research team will conduct; (i) soil sampling and analysis to quantify the trends of soil carbon and nitrogen from a long term forage and cereal crop experimental site; (ii) soil sampling and analysis to evaluate carbon sequestration, nutrient leaching, and soil productivity on a long term site in which dairy manure and fertilizer are applied to perennial grass; and (iii) a field experiment with small farm replicates to evaluate different strategies for fertilization of grass and corn crops using an integrated assessment including economic and life cycle analyses.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Quantify the long-term effects (25+ years) of dairy manure and fertilizer applications to perennial forage grass on soil carbon sequestration, soil health and regeneration, forage production, and environmental sustainability for two contrasting Canadian dairy production regions.
2. Develop and assess multi-year (6-10 years) best management practices for corn and forage dairy feed production.
3. Integrate precision nutrient management and advanced cropping systems to improve soil health while improving farm nutrient balances, reducing environmental losses, and improving farm profitability.