Using manure from cattle fed dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) as fertilizer: Effects on nutrient accumulation in soil and uptake by barley

Dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS) is becoming a valuable livestock feed with implications for manure composition. This study investigated nutrient uptake by barley (Hordeum vulgare) forage in a growth chamber and accumulation in soil amended with two manure types: from DDGS-fed cattle (DDGS) or grain-fed cattle (REG) at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 Mg ha−1 yr−1. There was also a commercial fertilizer (FERT) and un-amended control (Check). Barley was grown and harvested six-times successively from soil receiving either one-time or six-repeated amendment applications over 297-d. Regardless of application regime, soil N, Ca, K and Mg contents in DDGS were similar to those in REG. Soil total-P (TP) and available-P (AP) contents were higher (p < 0.05) in DDGS (except for <60 Mg DDGS manure ha−1 yr−1 at one-time application for TP) than REG, Check and FERT. Barley N and P removal from DDGS were 1.3 and 2.3 times those from REG and 1.8 and 11.8 times those from Check. Although higher (p < 0.05) barley yields were observed in DDGS than REG and Check, including DDGS in cattle rations may require increasing land area for manure application due to its higher TP content which poses a risk of P environmental pollution.