Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181399
Title: NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND RUNOFF FROM ALUM-TREATED BROILER LITTER TALL FESCUE PLOTS

Author
item Sistani, Karamat
item MAYS, D - ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
item DAWKINS, R - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Mississippi Water Resources Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2005
Publication Date: 4/27/2005
Citation: Sistani, K.R., Mays, D.A., Dawkins, R.A. 2005. Nutrient uptake and runoff from alum-treated broiler litter tall fescue plots. Mississippi Water Resources Research Conference Proceedings. 4/26-4/27/2005

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Land application of poultry litter as fertilizer may lead to impaired surface and ground water quality. An experiment was conducted at Crossville, AL to study the effects of alum [Al2 (SO4)3,14H2O] treatment of broiler litter on the yield and nutrient uptake of tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae) and the nutrient content of runoff water exited from treated plots. Alum treatments had no effect on tall fescue dry matter yield, and the herbage nutrient concentrations were within acceptable limits. We noted significant reductions in the runoff concentrations of NH4-N (28.6 mg/L for untreated litter VS 15.0 mg/L for alum-treated litter), total P (11.5 mg/L VS 5.1 mg/L), soluble reactive P (10.4 mg/LVS 4.7 mg/L) , and particulate P (1.9 mg/L VS 0.8 mg/L). This practice should receive serious consideration as a method of reducing the adverse environmental impact of broiler chicken production when the litter is applied to pasture land.