ARS | Publication request: DETERMINATION OF N AND P CONCENTRATIONS IN BROILER LITTER USING NEAR INFRARED REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY

Submitted to: Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 10, 2003
Publication Date: December 10, 2003
Citation: AIKEN, G.E., POTE, D.H., PIPER, R.J. DETERMINATION OF N AND P CONCENTRATIONS IN BROILER LITTER USING NEAR INFRARED REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting. 2003.

Technical Abstract: Primary use of broiler litter has been as a fertilizer for pastures, but long-term applications of litter can cause accumulation of soil P. Knowledge of N and P levels in applied litter are necessary for setting application rates that are environmentally safe. An evaluation was conducted to determine if near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used to estimate N, P, and moisture concentrations in broiler litter. Litter samples collected from twelve broiler houses over a l-yr period were scanned fresh and then re-scanned after they were dried and ground. Estimates of moisture and N concentrations for fresh samples had correlation coefficients of 0.99 and 0.96, respectively, and standard errors of cross-validation of 7.53 and 2.87 g/kg, respectively. Estimates of N and P concentrations for processed samples had correlation coefficients of 0.94 and 0.96, respectively, and standard errors of cross-validation of 2.14 and 1.27 g/kg, respectively. Results indicate that NIRS can provide reasonable estimates of moisture, N, and P concentrations in broiler litter.