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Spreading manure and fermentation residues on standing corn has its advantages and disadvantages. If you have decided to do so, you should ensure low-emission spreading.
Spreading slurry and digestate in standing corn has both advantages and disadvantages. If you have decided to do so, you should pay attention to low-emission spreading.
The dry weather since early March has allowed farmers to carry out many field operations and apply manure without any issues. Many corn fields have already been supplied with nutrients from the slurry. The "conventional approach" of spreading slurry over the entire area with immediate incorporation, according to Stefan Schulte-Übbing from the LWK NRW, has the advantage of lower ammonia losses.
However, there are reasons to consider spreading slurry and digestate in standing corn. For example, in very heavy and wet soils, it may be useful to send the heavy slurry equipment to the fields after sowing. This prevents soil compaction and clod formation that could complicate seedbed preparation.
Surface incorporation before seeding is also not an option for direct seeding operations. Factors like storage capacity also play a role. For farms without grassland and without rapeseed in the crop rotation, it is often the last opportunity to apply significant amounts of manure in spring.
Choosing the right timing is crucial for achieving high nutrient utilization and minimizing emissions. According to Schulte-Übbing, ideal conditions include a knee-high crop and cloudy or even slightly rainy weather on light soils.
Additional potential lies in acidifying slurry. Ongoing experiments are investigating the reduction of ammonia emissions in corn and the impact of sulfuric acid in the slurry.
