ARS | Publication request: MINERALIZATION OF BROILER LITTER NITROGEN: LABORATORY INCUBATION AND FIELD VALIDATION

Submitted to: Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 6, 2005
Publication Date: November 6, 2005
Citation: Sistani, K.R., Adeli, A., Tewolde, H., Brink, G.E., Read, J.J., Owens, P. 2005. Mineralization of broiler litter nitrogen: laboratory incubation and field validation. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting. Agronomy Abstracts, CD Nov 2005.

Technical Abstract: Nitrogen (N) availability from animal manures is dependent on the rate of conversion of organic N to inorganic N. It is difficult to predict the availability of manure N to plants since both N transformation/turnover processes and losses of N influence availability. The objectives of this laboratory incubation and field validation studies were to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of soil temperature (18 and 25 C), moisture regime (constant at 60%; and fluctuating between 60% and 30% water fill pore space), and soil type (Brooksville and Ruston from Mississippi, and Catlin Soil from Illinois) on broiler manure N mineralization. Broiler litter was incorporated into the soils in an amount calculated to provide 350 kg total N/ha for both experiments. The lab experiment continued for five wet/dry cycles. For the field validation, microplot cylinders were constructed with manure-amended and unamended treatments to conduct the experiment. Cloth bags containing anion exchange resin held in place at the bottom of each cylinder to capture mineralized inorganic N. Microplot cylinders were removed from soil at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 49, and 70 days after manure application and processed for N determinations. Results indicated a significant impact by temperature and soil type, while no impact observed by soil moisture regime on manure mineralization. The field study results followed the same trend as laboratory incubation, however, in lower quantities, indicating greater immobilization.