No-Till Manure Injection

The above video was taken by Jeff Graybill, Agronomy Educator in Lancaster County, of shallow manure injection into a no-till field of corn.  This is new technology being tested on a corn field in Southeast Pennsylvania.  If the rain stops corn will be planted on this field soon.

Normally on no-till fields manure has to be broadcast so as not to disrupt the soil, but broadcasting manure results in a significant loss of nitrogen from the manure into the air as ammonia.  Injecting manure into the soil is a better option to avoid the loss of nitrogen to the air, but normal injection works up the soil and increases the risk for sediment loss.

It sill be interesting to see how the subsequent corn crop reacts to this type of application.  I'll keep you posted as the season progresses.