Sally A. Flis1, Sidney C. Bosworth2, Everett D. Thomas1, and Jeffrey W. Darrah1. (1) W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 90, Chazy, NY 12921, (2) University of Vermont Department of Plant and Soil Science, Burlington, VT
The use of copper sulfate (CuSO4) in dairy footbaths as a preventative maintenance for foot health is a common practice. The waste material from footbaths often ends up in manure storages and applied to fields. Annual application rates of Cu in dairy manure have been as high as 31.7 kg/ha. Spreading manure slurry with high Cu concentrations may adversely impact crop growth and quality. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CuSO4 application from dairy manure on establishment, growth, and quality of grasses. Two cool season forage grasses, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and timothy (Phleum pretense L.) were grown in the greenhouse. Treatments were 0, 5.61, and 11.22 kg Cu/ha from CuSO4 in dairy manure. Manure was applied at the same rate to each treatment. Treatments were replicated 6 times. Grasses were cut after initial growth to leave 5.1 cm of stubble. Re-growth was allowed until one treatment reached 40.6 cm at which time the entire plant was harvested. Roots and shoots were dried at 55°C for 24 h to determine dry weight. Shoots were analyzed for ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin. All samples were analyzed for mineral concentration. There were no significant species x treatment interactions. Tillering rate and root dry weight decreased with increased Cu application (P = 0.05). Shoot yield decreased as Cu application increased (P = 0.09) Re-growth rate also decreased as Cu application increased (P = 0.08). Shoot Cu concentration increased with increased Cu application (P = 0.12), but was within the expected range. Root Cu concentration increased with increased Cu application but was not significantly different. The Cu concentration in the roots was higher than in the shoots.
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