ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF TANNIN DIETS ON LAND APPLICATIONS OF DAIRY MANURE By

121 Pages·2015·3.11 MB·English

by  Claire Campbell

ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF TANNIN DIETS ON LAND APPLICATIONS OF
DAIRY MANURE

By
Claire Ashlin Campbell

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science
Soil Science and Agroecology

at the
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
2015

Approved by:

_________________________________
Dr. Matthew D. Ruark
Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science

_________________________________
Dr. J. Mark Powell
Professor, Department of Soil Science
Research Scientist, USDA Dairy Forage Research Center

Date: ____________________________________

Acknowledgements
Before I started the journey into graduate school, I was told that “graduate school is the
most selfish thing you’ll ever do,” and now I truly have come to understand what that
means. Graduate school is a community endeavor with one goal: to let me do what I love;
in a word, learn.
Thank you to Drs. Matthew Ruark and Mark Powell, for serving as my advisers and
providing unique, thoughtful feedback and encouragement throughout my research
experience. Their direction, creativity, and experience helped to shape this incredible
project, and I appreciated their trust in me to take full ownership of that experience.
Thank you also to my committee members Bill Bland and Rebecca Larson, who were
integral parts of the design and implementation of this research. Thank you also to my
research lab, my cohort, statistical consultant and SAS guru Peter Crump, and all of the
faculty and staff of the Department of Soil Science for advancing my education and my
personal growth during my time in Madison.
I couldn’t have completed this degree without the help of three mentors throughout this
process; Sarah Collier, Kristine Neiman, and Alicia Pelletier. Their support, both
professionally and personally, was critical in helping me earn this degree. From day one,
Sarah, Kris, and Ali were there to answer my questions, teach me the basics, keep me on
track, and be incredible role models.
No one can complete a project of this magnitude without support of friends and family.
Thank you to my parents, my sisters, and my friends here in Madison. And thank you
most of all to Alex, for everything.

Dedication
I dedicate my thesis in loving memory to Tim Myrick, my mentor. Tim was a lifelong
environmental engineer and through volunteering as a guest speaker in my high school
environmental science classes, he became the first to introduce me to the fascinating
world of soil. Tim helped me land my first job, steered me towards environmental work,
and was an integral part in my decision to come to graduate school. Tim lost his cancer
battle in December 2014, but remained my mentor through it all.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Greenhouse Gas Abatement and Nitrogen Management Potential from Tannin
Enhanced Dietary Trials in Dairy Production Systems ................................................................... 2
Chapter 2: Assessing the Impact of Tannin Diets on Land Applications of Dairy Manure ............ 7
Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 8
Materials and Methods .............................................................................................................. 10
Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................. 17
Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 26
Tables and Figures ..................................................................................................................... 28
SAS Code .................................................................................................................................. 35
Chapter 3: Assessing the Impact of Tannin Diets for Dairy Cattle on Multiple Applications of
Dairy Manure in a Greenhouse ...................................................................................................... 36
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 36
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 37
Materials and Methods .............................................................................................................. 40
Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................. 45
Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 53
Tables ........................................................................................................................................ 55
Figures ....................................................................................................................................... 60
SAS Code .................................................................................................................................. 68
Chapter 4: Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 70
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 74
Appendix 1: Soil Nitrogen Mineralization with Tannin Manures ................................................. 77
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 77
Materials and Methods .............................................................................................................. 80
Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................. 83
Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 89
Tables and Figures ..................................................................................................................... 90
SAS Code .................................................................................................................................. 96
Appendix 2: Greenhouse Trial Weekly Photos ............................................................................. 97
Appendix 3: Greenhouse Trial Protocol ...................................................................................... 110
Appendix 4: Incubation Trial Protocol ........................................................................................ 112
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