2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Organic agricultural production is increasing rapidly across the U.S., now totaling more than $10 billion annually. The rapid expansion of organic dairy production in the Northeast U.S. illustrates this trend. However, little information is available to help organic farmers make nutrient and manure management decisions, although differences in production practices, feed and nutrient imports impact availability, utilization, and cycling of manure nutrients on these farms. Research will be conducted to. 1)develop predictions of nutrient availability in manures from organic and conventional dairy farms in the Northeast, including the development and improvement of analytical methods for predicting nutrient availability, and. 2)develop and transfer production and management practices that improve the efficiency of manure nutrient utilization and farm profitability on organic dairy farms, minimizing environmentally harmful nutrient flows. Predictions of nutrient availability will be developed through identification of phosphorus-containing compounds and measurement of available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in soil after addition of a wide range of organic dairy manures. Agronomic field experiments and whole farm nutrient budgets will be used to improve crop nutrient utilization and farm profitability. Knowledge gained from these studies will be transferred to growers through multiple avenues. The research and technology transfer endeavors proposed in this project are expected to improve agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast. This research contributes to Problem Areas 3 (Management Tools for Indexing and Evaluating Nutrient Fate and Transport) and 4 (Farming Systems and Practices for Managing Manure in an Efficient and Balanced Fashion) in the Nutrient Management Component of National Program 206 (Manure and Byproduct Utilization). 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. FY 2005: Collection and preliminary analysis of manure samples from organic and conventional farms Development of model (reference) P samples Conduct meta-analysis of cross location aerobic incubations on manure N availability FY 2006: Complete collection and preliminary analysis of manure samples from organic and conventional dairy farms Complete manure P availability incubations Conduct meta-analysis of cross location aerobic incubations Collection and analysis of whole-farm nutrient budgets from organic dairy farms Initiate field experiments on manure nutrient utilization and loss Collect economic data on production practices FY 2007: Conduct sequential fractionation/enzymatic hydrolysis of manure and soil samples Identify P-containing compounds in manure Complete manure N availability aerobic incubations Complete meta-analysis of cross location aerobic incubations Conduct meta-analysis of cross location field validations Complete whole-farm nutrient budgets from organic dairy farms Continue field experiments on manure nutrient utilization and loss Collect economic data on production practices FY 2008: Complete sequential fractionation/enzymatic hydrolysis of manure and soil samples Identify P-containing compounds in manure Conduct manure nutrient uptake experiment in greenhouse Complete meta-analysis of cross location field validations Continue field experiments on manure nutrient utilization and loss Initial development of predictive model on N and P availability FY 2009: Conduct regression analyses of manure composition and nutrient availability experiments Analyze and publish field experimental results Complete development of predictive model of N and P availability from organic dairy manures FY 2010: Complete regression analyses of manure composition and nutrient availability experiments Transfer of research information 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Phosphorus-containing compounds in dairy manure have not been characterized like those in poultry litter. Seven metal-phytate compounds were synthesized to be used experimentally as model metal-organic phosphate compounds. Corresponding metal inorganic phosphates were also prepared under the same conditions to be used as controls for upcoming studies. These reference compounds will be used to help identify P-containing compounds in dairy manures. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. Compost is an important nutrient source on many organic farms, but improved methods for assessing manure compost maturity are needed to balance soil improvement and nutrient availability. We collected eleven separate compost samples from a single windrow over a 100 d period. Initial assessment of compost maturity used standard analyses, including total C and N, C:N ratio, and inorganic N concentration. Some widely-used parameters, like compost C:N ratio, changed very little during the sampling period, while others (compost CO2 release, compost fiber concentration) showed strong linear relationships with length of the composting process. These results indicate that both commercial maturity indices and alternative (but commonly available) fiber analysis can be used to establish relative differences in compost maturity. These same characteristics were also strong predictors of the amount of N released after each compost was incorporated into a sandy loam soil, and the growth and N uptake of plants monitored in the greenhouse. Methods of characterizing compost maturity that more realistically reflect the composting process are better predictors of N release after incorporation into soil. This research contributes to milestone #1 for FY 2005 by furthering our understanding of nutrient availability from organic sources, such as compost, that can be extended to other sources, such as manure, in organic production systems. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. Accomplishments in 4A and 4B will benefit the approximately 11,000 small livestock farms in the New England Region (1997 Census of Agriculture). 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Major accomplishments have not yet been achieved, as work on this project only began in April 2005. This project replaces CRIS 1915-12000-001D, Efficient Nutrient Use in Manure-amended Cropping Systems. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? None. Work on CRIS 1915-12630-001-00D began in June 2005. This replaces CRIS 1915-12000-001D, Efficient Nutrient Use in Manure-amended Cropping Systems. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Presentation to producers on Challenges in Managing Manure Nitrogen on Organic Dairy Farms. Maine Organic Milk Producers Field Day in Farmington, ME (August 19, 2005). Review Publications Griffin, T.S., Hutchinson, M. 2005. Characterizing compost maturity for nitrogen and carbon mineralization. Northeast Branch,American Society of Agronomy Meetings, Storrs, CT. July 2005 CD-ROM