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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #263761

Title: Animal and industrial by-products management strategies for sustainable agricultural production system and environmental quality

Author
item Adeli, Ardeshir
item Jenkins, Johnie
item Brooks, John

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2011
Publication Date: 7/18/2011
Citation: Adeli, A., Jenkins, J.N., Brooks, J.P. 2011. Animal and industrial by-products management strategies for sustainable agricultural production system and environmental quality. In Papanikos, Gregory T. (Ed.), 4th Annual International Symposium on Agricultural Research, July 18-21, 2011, Athens, Greece. p. 13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Repeated application of broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter to agricultural lands often results in soil P and heavy metal accumulations, which may pose risks to water bodies. We evaluated six different application strategies on P, N and heavy metal losses from an established bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) forages: control (no fertilization), broiler litter alone (N-based), broiler litter plus ammonium nitrate (P-based litter); commercial fertilizer N and P, broiler litter (N-based) plus FGD (flue gas desulfurization) gypsum, commercial fertilizer plus FGD gypsum. Leachat P, N and heavy metals were monitored using lysimeters installed at 60 cm depth. Surface runoff collectors were used to monitor runoff N, P and heavy metals from naturally occurring rainfall events. Bermudagrasses were harvested, herbage yield and concentration of N, P and heavy metals were determined. Soil samples were analyzed for Mehlich-3 P, KCl-extractable NH4–N and NO3–N concentrations and digested for heavy metal concentrations. Phosphorus-based plus supplemental N and N-based plus FGD gypsum produced forage dry matter yield similar to that of the N-based treatment alone, however, forage P uptake for both P-based plus supplemental N and N-based litter plus FGD gypsum were greater than N-based litter alone, indicating greater P use efficiency with either lower P application or using P immobilizing agent. Application of broiler litter in combination with FGD gypsum suppressed leachate P and resulted in approximately 50% reduction in runoff N, P and heavy metals such as Cu, Zn and arsenic (As) loads than treatments receiving broiler litter alone. Broiler litter applied alone at P-based or in combination with FGD gypsum had lower soil test P levels in upper soil horizons than litter applied at N-based rate alone. Results demonstrate that combining broiler litter application with FGD gypsum represents an environmentally sound application strategy to reduce soil P and N accumulation and subsequent risks of nutrient transport.