Poultry Production and Products Safety Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: POULTRY MANURE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO REDUCE NON-POINT SOURCE PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION

Location: Poultry Production and Products Safety Research

Title: EFFECT OF CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL AMENDMENTS ON PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF FROM COMPOSTED POULTRY LITTER

Authors
item Delaune, Paul - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Moore, Philip
item Lemunyon, J - USDA/NRCS

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 10, 2006
Publication Date: July 6, 2006
Citation: Delaune, P.B., Moore Jr., P.A., Lemunyon, J.L. 2006. Effect of chemical and microbial amendments on phosphorus runoff from composted poultry litter. Journal of Environmental Quality. 35:1291-1296.

Interpretive Summary: Many scientists have advocated composting manures, since this process results in the death of most pathogenic microorganisms present in manure. However, when manure is composted, a large quantity of the nitrogen is lost due to ammonia volatilization. The objectives of this study were to measure 1) phosphorus runoff and 2) forage yield and nitrogen uptake from small plots fertilized with composted and fresh poultry litter. Two composting studies, aerated using mechanical turning, were conducted in consecutive years. Composted litter was collected at the completion of each study for use in runoff studies. Treatments in runoff studies included an unfertilized control, fresh (uncomposted) poultry litter, and litter composted with: no amendment, phosphoric acid, alum, and a microbial mixture. An additional treatment, litter composted with alum plus the microbial mixture, was evaluated during the first year. Fertilizer treatments were applied at rates equivalent to 4 tons/acre and rainfall simulators were used to produce a 2" per hour storm event. Composted poultry litter had higher total phosphorus concentrations than fresh poultry litter, since some of the manure is lost through decomposition. Soluble reactive P concentrations were lowest in alum-treated compost, which reduced soluble P concentrations in runoff water by as much as 84%. Forage yields and nitrogen uptake were greatest from plots fertilized with fresh poultry litter. Composting poultry litter without the addition of leaves, hay or other carbon sources can increase phosphorus concentrations in the end product and surface runoff.

Technical Abstract: Environmental impacts of composting poultry litter with chemical amendments in the absence of bulking agents at the field scale have not been well quantified. The objectives of this study were to measure 1) phosphorus (P) runoff and 2) forage yield and nitrogen (N) uptake from small plots fertilized with composted and fresh poultry litter. Two composting studies, aerated using mechanical turning, were conducted in consecutive years. Composted litter was collected at the completion of each study for use in runoff studies. Treatments in runoff studies included an unfertilized control, fresh (uncomposted) poultry litter, and litter composted with: no amendment, H3PO4, alum, and a microbial mixture. An additional treatment, litter composted with alum plus the microbial mixture, was evaluated during the first year. Fertilizer treatments were applied at rates equivalent to 8.96 Mg ha**-1 and rainfall simulators were used to produce a 5 cm hr**-1 storm event. Composted poultry litter, regardless of treatment, had higher total P concentrations than fresh poultry litter. Composting poultry litter resulted in reductions of N:P ratios by as much as 51%. Soluble reactive P concentrations were lowest in alum-treated compost, which reduced soluble P concentrations in runoff water by as much as 84%. Forage yields and N uptake was greatest from plots fertilized with fresh poultry litter. Composting poultry litter without the addition of C sources can increase P concentrations in the end product and surface runoff. This study also indicated that increased rates of composted poultry litter would be required to meet equivalent N rates supplied by fresh poultry litter.

   

 
Project Team
Moore, Philip
Donoghue, Ann - Annie
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Air Quality (203)
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
  Manure and Byproduct Utilization (206)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/21/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House