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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256906
Title: Effects of broiler litter application on nutrient accumulations in soil.

Author
item GILFILLEN, REBECCA - Western Kentucky University
item ROWLAND, NAOMI - Western Kentucky University
item WILLIAN, WILLIAM - Western Kentucky University
item SLEUGH, BYRON - Dow Agrosciences
item TEKESTE, MEHARI - John Deere & Company
item Sistani, Karamat

Submitted to: Forage and Grazinglands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2010
Publication Date: 11/1/2010
Citation: Gilfillen, R.A., Rowland, N.S., Willian, W.T., Sleugh, B.B., Tekeste, M.Z., Sistani, K.R. 2010. Effects of broiler litter application on nutrient accumulations in soil.. Forage and Grazinglands. doi:10.1094/FG-2010-1105-01-RS.

Interpretive Summary: Excessive nutrient accumulation in soils due to repeated land application of broiler litter is a growing environmental concern. A four year study was conducted on a Pembroke silt loam soil cropped to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) to evaluate accumulation of soil nutrients from broiler litter application. The design included four fertilization treatments. Broiler litter was applied at recommended nitrogen rate, recommended phosphorus rate, recommended phosphorus rate supplemented with inorganic nitrogen and inorganic fertilizer with no litter application. The treatments did not cause an increase in soil nutrient accumulation litter application on nitrogen rate increased soil phosphorus, copper and zinc by five-fold compared to values at initiation of this experiment. Maximum and minimum orchardgrass yields were observed with nitrogen rate (18,019 kg/ha DM) and phosphorus rate treatments (7189 kg/ha DM). According to our findings, applying broiler litter at the recommended phosphorus rate and supplementing with inorganic nitrogen may be an environmentally sustainable broiler litter management practice.

Technical Abstract: Excessive nutrient accumulation in soils due to land application of broiler litter is a growing environmental concern. A four year study was conducted on a Pembroke silt loam soil (Mollic Paleudalf) cropped to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) to evaluate accumulation of soil nutrients from broiler litter application. A randomized complete block design with four fertilization treatments was used. Broiler litter was applied at recommended nitrogen rate (L-N), recommended phosphorus rate (L-P), recommended phosphorus rate supplemented with inorganic nitrogen (L-P+N) and inorganic fertilizer with no litter application (Inorg). The L-P, L-P+N and Inorg treatments did not cause an increase in soil nutrient accumulation while L-N increased soil phosphorus, copper and zinc by five-fold compared to values at initiation of this experiment. Maximum and minimum orchardgrass yields were observed with L-N (18,019 kg/ha DM) and L-P treatments (7189 kg/ha DM). According to our findings, applying broiler litter at the recommended phosphorus rate and supplementing with inorganic nitrogen may be an environmentally sustainable broiler litter management practice.