A study was initiated in the fall of 1996 in east-central Saskatchewan to examine the soil and crop
response to application of liquid hog manure and solid feedlot cattle manure at different rates,
timing and methods of application. Low, medium and high rates of manure (equivalent to 100,
200 and 400 kg total N/ha, respectively) and of urea (50, 100 and 200 kg N/ha, respectively) were
applied in various timing combinations. Field crops (canola, spring wheat, hulless barley and
canola) were seeded in spring of 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. This paper only looks
at the effect of rates of liquid swine manure and solid cattle manure in comparison to rates of urea.
Results show significant crop response to rates of both hog and cattle manure. Effect of hog
manure on grain yield was higher than that of cattle manure and comparable to that of urea.
Annual application of the medium and high rates of hog manure resulted in grain yields similar to those at the low rate. However, annual application of the high rate of hog manure resulted in significant elevation of available N in both the upper (0-60 cm) and the lower (60-120 cm) soil depths. A single application of either hog or cattle manure at the beginning of the study showed no residual effect on either crop or soil by the third year. Cumulative N use efficiency (NUE) of swine manure was lower but comparable to that of urea at the corresponding rates of application.