ARS | Publication request: MINERALIZATION OF NITROGEN FROM BROILER LITTER AS AFFECTED BY SOIL TEXTURE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN COASTAL PLAIN

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 20, 2007
Publication Date: November 5, 2007
Citation: Hubbard, R.K., Bosch, D.D., Marshall, L.K., Strickland, T.C., Rowland, D., Griffin, T.S., Honeycutt, C.W., Albrecht, S.L., Sistani, K.R., Torbert III, H.A. 2007. Mineralization of nitrogen from broiler litter as affected by soil texture in the southeastern coastal plain. American Society of Agronomy Meetings, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 4 - 8, 2007.

Technical Abstract: A field study was conducted during 2004-2005 to determine nitrogen (N) mineralization of broiler litter (BL) in two Coastal Plain soils of differing texture, sandy or clayey. The soils were a Tifton loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Kandiudults) and a Greenville sandy clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiults). These soils represented the broad range in surface textures commonly found in soils used for agricultural production in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Published protocols used for the study were designed by the ARS mineralization team. Amounts of N in the soil from BL mineralization were similar for both soils, 46 ug g-1 and 41 ug g-1 for Tifton and Greenville soils respectively, but differences occurred in mineralization timing. Mineralization of the BL was complete on the sandy soil in 28 days, while mineralization on the clayey soil was not complete until 70 days or later. Previous research has shown that mineralization rate is positively correlated with sand content and negatively correlated with clay content of soils, and the results of this study concurred with those findings. From these findings it can be concluded that land managers, when possible, should apply BL later on the sandier soils than on the clayey ones to maximize use of mineralized N by crops and minimize potential losses of this N by surface runoff or leaching.