ARS | Publication request: Effects of broiler litter management on runoff N and P from bermudagrass forage based system

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 24, 2007
Publication Date: August 25, 2007
Citation: Adeli, A., Brooks, J.P., Rowe, D.E., Miles, D.M. 2007. Effects of broiler litter management on runoff N and P from bermudagrass forage based system. Proceedings 37th Annual Mississippi Water Resources Conference. 5 p.

Technical Abstract: Management of broiler litter to provide nutrients for crop growth has generally been based on crop N requirements. Because broiler litter has a lower N/P ratio than harvested crops, N-based broiler management often oversupplies the crop-soil system with P, which can be lost into the environment and contribute to eutrophication of water bodies. This study was conducted in 2005 and 2006 at R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, on a Mariate silt loam soil to investigate the effects of nitrogen vs. phosphorus based broiler litter application on bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.)] dry matter yield, N and P uptake, runoff losses of nutrients and soil test P levels. Treatments included N-based broiler litter rate, combination of P based broiler litter with supplemental N, chemical fertilizer N and P at the recommended rate for comparison purposes, and the control with no nutrient inputs. Annual broiler litter application based on N or P requirements of bermudagrass resulted in similar dry matter yields and N removal. No significant difference in N removal was obtained between N-based and P-based broiler applications. However, P and N use efficiency was greater for P-based than N-based and resulted in 68% lower runoff nitrate N concentration in P-based as compared to N-based broiler litter applications. Nitrogen based broiler litter application increased soil test P level by 64% from 20 to 57 mg kg-1. This increase in available soil P from N-based application has implications for increased risk of off-field P movement, indicating application of broiler litter based on crop P requirements with supplemental fertilizer N is agronomically and environmentally sound.