Land spreading of various types of residual by-products from manufacturing as a means of disposing of these by-products is becoming more widespread throughout Wisconsin. Paper mill residuals, vegetable processing waste and various types of other products are increasingly spread on agricultural land as an alternative to landfill disposal or incineration. These various materials contain nutrients, primarily nitrogen but also various amounts of other primary, secondary and micronutrients. Many of these materials are also noted to be effective in varying degrees as liming agents.

This trial is a continuation of work that was started in 2002. Prior research on this topic conducted by Leslie Cooperband consisted of experiments in the Central Sands area of Wisconsin. Work done by Bowen and Wolkowski, December 1998, on the use of fresh and composted paper mill fiber residuals in potato production at the Rhinelander Experiment Station was also conducted on sandy soil. The soils in Langlade County used for potato production are primarily Antigo Silt Loam. The results of applications of fiber paper mill residual (PMR) to a silt loam soil may produce different results than applications to a sandy soil. In addition the composition of the paper mill residual may vary for each paper mill depending on what components have been blended into their composition. The effect of this material on the pH of the soil and the amounts of various soil nutrients were of concern since an increase in the pH could affect the incidence of potato scab and excessive amounts of any particular nutrient may cause problems. The second area was disease. Would this material affect the incidence of soil or foliar diseases of potatoes that would adversely affect their marketability? This is important since the primary market of potatoes produced in the Langlade County area is for use as seed.