Liquid dairy manure slurry for weed suppression in no-till corn

Overview

This research investigates the use of liquid dairy manure slurry applied prior to planting as a physical weed suppression barrier in late-planted no-till corn. The approach addresses the growing challenge of herbicide-resistant weeds by exploiting the natural crusting behavior of dairy manure, which has been observed to persist for several months in pasture settings without being penetrated by underlying weeds. By applying manure slurry uniformly at optimal rates and timing, the method aims to provide broad-area weed suppression with minimal ecological impact. The research is relevant to dairy operations, crop producers, and agronomists seeking integrated weed management solutions that reduce reliance on chemical herbicides.

Technical specifications

Key approach and methodology:

• Pre-plant application of liquid dairy manure slurry to form a uniform crust on the soil surface
• Integration with cover crop use and tillage method selection in a reduced-herbicide system
• Designed for late-planted no-till corn production
• Experimental plots defined as strips of ten or more rows of corn
• Measurement of weed abundance, crop yield, and soil health as key outcomes

Potential benefits:

• Physical suppression of herbicide-resistant weed populations
• Reduced dependence on chemical herbicides
• Dual-purpose nutrient delivery from manure application
• Compatibility with no-till and conservation tillage practices
• Potential soil health improvements from organic matter addition

Technology readiness level

This research is at the field validation stage. Future work includes conducting a field experiment to test the combined effects of cover crop use, tillage method, and manure slurry application within a reduced-herbicide late-planted corn system. The study will evaluate weed abundance, crop yield, and soil health outcomes to determine the effectiveness of manure slurry as a weed suppression tool. Further validation is needed before commercial recommendations can be developed.