Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

2024 Annual Report

Objectives
1. Evaluate above- and below-ground fluxes of C and N to improve pasture and cropping systems management for future climate conditions, including their ability to mitigate climate change via sequestration of CO2. 1A. Continue treating the Southeastern bermudagrass pasture to determine the effects of atmospheric CO2 level and N fertility management on above- and below-ground responses of the plant/soil systems. 1B. Continue treating the Southeastern bermudagrass pasture to determine the effects of atmospheric CO2 level... 1C. Determine the effects of elevated CO2 on growth and efficacy of herbicidal control of herbicide resistant weed populations important in Southeastern US. 1D. Identify crop cultivars that respond most favorably to elevated CO2 in terms of growth, yield, and seed nutritional quality. 2. Develop new practices and technologies to quantitatively improve the sustainability of ornamental horticulture systems, including both nursery production and landscaping applications, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing C sequestration potential. 2A. Determine if alternative growth media (WT and CCR vs PB standard) impact growth and GHG emissions of common ornamental crops. 2B. Assess growth and GHG emissions from a common perennial ornamental grown in standard growth media (PB) supplemented with varying levels of biochar. 2C. Determine the longevity of C in horticultural growth media (e.g., PB standard, CCR, and WT) following placement in the landscape. 3. Develop inelastic neutron scattering technologies for rapid measurement of soil elements to aid in precision application of poultry waste in the landscape. 3A. Develop new methodology for rapid measurement of soil elements based on soil neutron-activation analysis. 4. Quantify the benefits of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum when combined with poultry litter to improve the sustainability of full life-cycle poultry production systems. 4A. Determine the best management practice for using FGD gypsum as a bedding for broiler production. 4B. Determine the influence of FGD gypsum vs. poultry litter treatment on reducing ammonia and GHG emissions from poultry litter. 4C. Evaluate the influence of FGD gypsum litter treatments on nutrient composition and P solubility in poultry litter. 5. Develop implement for subsurface band application of poultry litter (and similar solid manures) to improve the sustainability of field-scale manure use for agriculture production systems. 5A. Develop implement which uses pneumatic conveying, for subsurface band application of litter. 5B. Compare performance of an pneumatic conveying implement with performance of an mesh chain conveyoring implement. 6. Develop uses of biochars for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes. Research can include, but is not limited to, developing biomass conversion technologies to engineer biochar for soil nutrient cycling and heavy metals absorption, examining the role of biochar in optimizing soil nutrients and sequester heavy metals in soils using field-scale studies, and developing the best management practices to apply biochar for improving the soil health and maximizing nutrient uptake by plants.

Approach
A long-term Southeastern bahaigrass pasture study will be terminated and a bermudagrass pasture study will be initiated. Both systems are exposed to current and projected levels of atmospheric CO2 and either managed (N added) or unmanaged (no N). Carbon flux to plants (biomass growth, allocation, and quality) and soil will be determined with supporting data on soil physicochemical properties. Emphasis will be given to measuring soil C and N dynamics and C storage, root growth, water quality, and GHG (CO2, N2O, and CH4) flux from soil. Using the same CO2 levels, container studies on weeds important to the southeastern U.S. (including those resistant to herbicides) will evaluate herbicide efficacy, regrowth, biomass, and tissue quality. In addition, research will evaluate production practices (in terms of such factors as fertilizer placement, growth media, and irrigation) to identify best management practices which ensure productivity, minimize GHG emissions, and maximize belowground C storage. Other work will examine how the application of organic waste to soil can improve soil conditions via C addition and provide nutrients needed for crop production. Poultry litter may be a viable fertilizer option for crop producers in the Southeastern U.S. given the large amounts of manure generated by the poultry industry. However, improper application of animal waste can contribute to environmental degradation such as increased hypoxia, eutrophication, human health problems, and greenhouse gas emissions. Due to these environmental and animal health concerns, studies will be established to develop improved methods to utilize waste products for animal and crop benefits. Research and development of technologies to recover phosphorous from manure, transform manure into secondary byproducts and find alternative, environmentally safe and economical usages of manure will be undertaken. Studies will be initiated to determine long term effects of poultry litter on plant yields, and soil physicochemical properties (including C storage) under various cropping systems. Further, different poultry litter application practices, such as subsurface banding, will be evaluated to determine their impact on nutrient loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Soil amendments (e.g., gypsum) will be evaluated both as a poultry house bedding material and as a soil amendment to determine the impact on animal production, plant responses, and the potential to reduce NH4 emissions and phosphorus (P) loss in runoff. Information acquired in the course of this project will be useful for developing improved poultry and crop production practices. Integrating data from these studies will be economically analyzed to aid understanding on how to adjust future poultry production and agronomic management practices to sustain productivity, while aiding mitigation of global change via increasing soil C sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Progress Report
World food stability depends on productive agricultural systems, but environmental concerns must be addressed for these systems to be sustainable. Research at the ARS-USDA National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, Alabama, addresses potential impacts of management strategies on plant productivity, soil physicochemical properties [including soil carbon (C)], greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and nutrient losses. Global change research examined the impacts of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) under differing pasture management practices (nitrogen) on C dynamics. Critical information on how pastures potentially mitigate or contribute to climate change through soil C storage and soil CO2 efflux is needed for efficient environmental management of these systems. Within the long-term bermudagrass pasture study, above- and belowground biomass data continue to be collected; soil cores for soil C as well as lysimeter solution samples are also being collected and processed. Additional work will examine how growth and herbicidal control of weeds important to Southeastern US cropping systems are impacted by the rise in atmospheric CO2. Further work will investigate the differential response of various crop cultivars to a changing CO2 environment. A manuscript describing the long-term response of pasture root systems to elevated atmospheric CO2 and soil fertility management has recently been published. An ARS research in Auburn, Alabama, is seeking to understand factors affecting trace gas (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)) efflux from agricultural and horticultural systems. Carbon dioxide efflux from the pasture study is being continually monitored (24 hours per day) using Automated Carbon Efflux Systems (ACES). Trace gas emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4) are assessed weekly in this system. Gas samples are collected in situ using the static closed chamber method according to USDA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network (GRACEnet) protocols and analyzed using gas chromatography. Soil C data are being collected in the ongoing bermudagrass pasture study. In addition, a long-term evaluation of CO2 efflux (using ACES) from differing horticulture media is nearing completion in plots established on an outdoor soil bin. Studies examining the effects of varying amounts of biochar in growth media on growth and trace gas efflux in both annuals (greenhouse) and perennials (outdoor) have been published. An additional biochar study has been completed and another has been initiated. Direct greenhouse gas emissions from a pilot-scale aquaponics (combining aquaculture and hydroponics) system were also examined. Aquaponics has the potential to reduce environmental impacts of plant production by repurposing aquaculture wastewater for hydroponic plant production in greenhouses. Horticultural plants were produced using standard pine bark mix or perlite as growth substrates. In addition to last year’s publication, two additional manuscripts were recently published from this work. Work on how supplemental use of biochar will impact growth and trace gas emissions in other ornamental functional groups will continue. Research is continuing on the development of new methodology for an in situ, rapid, non-destructive technique of measuring soil elements based on soil neutron-activation analysis. This work includes a recent publication on carbon analysis of large soil samples using the tagged neutron method that accounts for radiation attenuation. In addition, a recent SCINet Newsletter article covered the topic of Monte-Carlo simulations for soil content determinations on Atlas. Using this technology, a soil scanning system has been developed called a Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering (MINS) system and work on an initiated CRADA continues with a company to commercialize the MINS technology for use as a method to create element distribution maps across a landscape. The significance of this technologies’ impact has resulted in the NSDL team winning a Secretary’s Honor Award for the MINS technology. Furthermore, four invention disclosures using this technology have been submitted concerning measuring soil moisture, soil texture, mapping uranium soil contamination, and mapping soil carbon. Due to the growing environmental concern regarding organic waste disposal, field, laboratory, and broiler chicken bedding studies were established to develop improved methods to utilize waste products for soil and crop benefits while minimizing environmental degradation. A series of field studies have been initiated in multiple states to evaluate the effects of management practices of fertilizer and poultry litter application methods on crop production, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient losses to the environment through surface water runoff. Research has also been initiated to refine management practices for using gypsum to reduce soluble phosphorus losses to the environment. This included the evaluation of how different gypsum bedding management practices influence broiler chicken production, ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions, surface water runoff, broiler litter nutrient concentrations, and development of an implement for litter applications. Several publications on these topics have been recently published. Further development of a new prototype field implement for subsurface band application of poultry litter was accomplished. This implement uses mesh chains to convey litter to the trenchers which place the litter in shallow subsurface bands in the soil. A corn field experiment which includes surface broadcast and subsurface band application of poultry litter and biochar to the soil was initiated. Measurements include greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater samples collected from lysimeters, and crop yield.

Accomplishments
1. Elevated CO2 and fertilizer management effects on bahiagrass roots. Effects of rising atmospheric CO2 on pastures and grazing lands remain understudied compared to other ecosystems. ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, conducted a long-term (2005–2015) study of bahiagrass response to elevated CO2 and fertility regimes representing managed and unmanaged pastures that are both common in the southeastern United States. Annual root cores (0–60 cm depth) indicated that fertility additions consistently increased both root length density (53.8%) and root dry weight density (68.2%) compared to unmanaged conditions, but these measures were generally not impacted by elevated CO2. Results suggest that southern bahiagrass pastures could benefit greatly from fertilizer additions, but root growth is unlikely to be greatly affected by rising atmospheric CO2.

2. Fine tuning spectra in neutron-gamma analysis. Soil elemental determination traditionally done by laboratory analysis is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires many samples and extensive preparation. Neutron-gamma analysis is an alternative, non-destructive, in situ method capable of rapid measurement of very large soil volumes. This work by ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, encompassed deconvoluting the sample’s gamma spectra (received by tagged neutron method) on the sample component's spectra by accounting for neutron and gamma radiation attenuations. This method was tested with Monte-Carlo simulations and experimental gamma spectra and good agreement was found between defined and actual sample component measurements. This method will improve accuracy of this non-destructive technology, which is critical in assessing management induced changes in soil C in agricultural fields. This technology will help assess management practices that can help mitigate global change via soil C sequestration.

3. Mass balance and lifecycle analysis of a pilot-scale aquaponics system. Agricultural production systems are known to be large contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but little attention has been given to direct emissions from non-traditional production systems such as aquaponics. Aquaponics (combining aquaculture and hydroponics) has the potential to reduce environmental impacts of horticultural plant production by repurposing aquaculture wastewater for hydroponic plant production. For this decoupled aquaponic system, ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, evaluated a mass balance process model along with a life cycle assessment. Flows of N, P, and C were followed for a year of system operation for the mass balanced approach. Fish assimilated ~ 21.6% of N input compared to plants which assimilated ~2.8% and the model was suitable for long-term simulations but weaker at predicting short term effects. Lifecycle analysis indicated that electricity, heating fuel, and feed made up 40%, 22%, and 24% of global warming potential (GWP); these inputs similarly dominated cumulative energy demand. A switch to renewable electricity sources could reduce GWP by over 40% in scenario analysis. While eutrophication impacts were ~10% lower than aquaculture alone, but higher than coupled systems due to nutrient discharge during plant production. Efforts to balance fish and plant production are especially critical in decoupled systems, as is re-use of post-plant effluent. Lifecycle results show that operational decisions are important in minimizing the environmental footprint of decoupled aquaponics systems.

4. Biochar effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient loss from a horticultural system. Biochar has been proposed to be an agricultural soil amendment that can store C, improve soil health, and increase plant productivity. However, little work has examined biochar use in horticultural container production systems, ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, investigated how biochar additions to growth media impacted trace gas efflux (CO2, CH4, and N2O), plant growth, and N loss from leaching in two studies: a peat-based greenhouse study using viola and a pinebark-based outdoor study using daylily. Biochar had little effect on viola growth, but growth inhibition was noted for daylily. Both studies clearly showed that N in leachate was reduced by biochar with higher rates having greater effects on reducing N loss. Reductions in N loss with biochar suggest improved N use efficiency. Biochar use also decreased N2O and CO2 fluxes in daylily, which suggests that biochar could help mitigate global climate change. The complexities of N management highlight the importance of developing biochar practices that increase N retention for the benefit of both agriculture and the environment.

5. Effectiveness of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum in reducing phosphorus solubility in poultry litter when applied as an in-house amendment. Research has shown that addition of FGD gypsum to poultry litter can reduce the loss of dissolved P in runoff. This is a result of the calcium in gypsum forming insoluble complexes. However, no study to our knowledge had evaluated the influence of FGD gypsum litter on reducing P loss when used as a bedding for broiler chicken production. Utilization of FGD gypsum in the bedding material would allow for the P in litter to be controlled at the source. Thus, ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of using FGD gypsum as litter amendments during broiler chicken production on reducing P loss and how these amendments could alter the fractionation of P forms. Results indicated that not only did FGD gypsum act as an effective bedding material for poultry production, the resulting litter also significantly lowerered forms of water extractable P. This resulted in the FGD-gypsum treated litters reducing dissolved P by 58 to 67% compared to untreated litters. Fractionations also revealed higher proportions of NaHCO3-P and HCl-P in the FGD-gypsum treated vs. untreated litters. This study suggests the FGD-gypsum use in broiler houses as litter amendments for bedding can potentially reduce P mobility concerns when used as fertilizer.

6. Soil pore characteristics and implications for contaminant flow through soil in strip-tillage cotton cropping systems. Cover crops are an effective soil management practice to improve soil health. However, cover crops can create connected soil pore networks which can cause preferential transport of contaminants to the groundwater or surface water via subsurface flow pathways. ARS researchers at Auburn, Alabama, collected cylindrical soil cores (50 cm depth) from a strip-tillage cotton experiment which included cover crop (mixture of cereal rye and crimson clover) and no cover crop treatments. The cores were subjected to non-invasive X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning, and the images were analyzed to determine soil pore characteristics. The soil cores from the cover crop treatment had comparatively greater values of porosity and pore number density in the top 10 cm of soil. Pore geometry metrics like tortuosity were not significantly affected by the cover crop vs. no cover crop treatments. Significant correlations between CT-derived pore characteristics and root characteristics were found. Thus, cover crop roots influenced the X-ray CT-derived pore properties. The cover crop caused significantly greater volume descriptors (porosity and pore number density), geometry descriptors (circularity and macropore diameter), and connectivity descriptors (connection probability). Larger root volumes were significantly correlated with complex and irregularly shaped macropores. These results are critical for improving our understanding of the flow dynamics of contaminants through the soil profile and for developing appropriate management strategies.

Review Publications
Watts, D.B., He, Z., Yin, X., Torbert III, H.A., Senwo, Z., Tewolde, H. 2024. Long-term cropping management practices affect the biochemical properties of an Alabama Ultisol. Soil Systems. 8(2):41. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020041.
Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Murphy, A., Hoffman, H., Johnson, M.G., Torbert III, H.A. 2023. Influence of biochar addition to nursery container media: Trace gas efflux, growth, and leachate N. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 41(4):141-151. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-41.4.141.
Motta, A.C., Maeda, S., Rodrigues, V.D., Ercole, T.M., Prior, S.A., Brumat, A.L., Moura, A.P., Barbosa, J.Z., Gomes, J.V. 2023. Is magnesium deficiency the major cause of needle chlorosis of Pinus taeda in Brazil?. Journal of Forestry Research. 35:24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-023-01656-9.
Watts, D.B., Horvath, T., Torbert III, H.A., Adesemoye, A.O. 2023. Effects of selected manure sources on runoff, soil loss, and nutrient transport. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 39(6):565-572. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.15651.
You, Y., Tian, H., Pan, S., Shi, H., Lu, C., Batchelor, W.D., Cheng, B., Hui, D., Kicklighter, D., Liang, X., Li, X., Melillo, J., Pan, M., Prior, S.A., Reilly, J. 2023. Net greenhouse gas balance in U.S. croplands: How can soils be part of the climate solution? Global Change Biology. 30:e17109. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17109.
Kavetskiy, A.G., Yakubova, G.N., Prior, S.A., Torbert III, H.A. 2024. Carbon analysis of large soil samples using the tagged neutron method: Accounting for radiation attenuation. Applied Radiation And Isotopes. 209:111332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111332.
Kalvakaalva, R., Smith, M., Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Ayipio, E., Blanchard, C., Wells, D., Blersch, D., Adhikari, S., Prasad, R., Hanson, T., Higgins, B.T. 2023. Life cycle assessment of a decoupled biofloc aquaponics facility across seasons. Journal of Cleaner Production. 429:139356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139356.
Zinnert, A., Gladfelter, M.F., Poe, H.P., Merrill, K.L., Hennessey, A.V., Mcdonald, M.B., Wang, D., Torbert III, H.A., Wilson, A.E. 2023. Positive and negative impacts of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on water quality. Environmental Management. 348:119307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119307.
Zinnert, A., Gladfelter, M.F., Poe, H.P., Tenison, S.E., Merrill, K.L., Hennessey, A.V., Mcdonald, M.B., Wang, D., Torbert III, H.A., Wilson, A.E. 2023. Impacts of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on water quality and the algal community in catfish aquaculture ponds. Aquaculture. 581:740406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740406.
Alkhalifa, N., Tekeste, M., Jjagwe, P., Way, T.R. 2023. Effects of vertical load and inflation pressure on tire-soil interaction on artificial soil. Journal of Terramechanics. 112:19-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jterra.2023.11.002.
Kaur, P., Lamba, J., Way, T.R., Balkcom, K.S., Sanz-Saez, A., Watts, D.B. 2024. Characterization of soil pores in strip-tilled and conventionally-tilled soil using X-ray computed tomography. Soil and Tillage Research. 239:106035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106035.
Runion, G.B., Prior, S.A., Torbert III, H.A. 2024. Belowground response of a bahiagrass pasture to long-term elevated [CO2] and soil fertility management. Plants. 13(4):485. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040485.
Escobar, C., Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A., Bailey, M.A., Krehling, J.T., Landers, D., Jackson, A.P., Gilpin, M., Still, K., Munoz, L.R., Orellana, L., Adhikari, Y., Macklin, K.S., Baker-Cook, B. 2024. Evaluation of the impact of gypsum as a novel bedding material on broiler performance, foot pad health, and fear response. Poultry Science. 103:103676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103676.
Trentin, N.S., Motta, A.C.V., Maeda, S., Ercole, T.M., Prior, S.A., Gomes, J.B.V., Bognola, I.A., De Albuquerque, C.G. 2024. Long-term effects of recycled paper alkaline waste use on soil, litter, weeds, and development and nutrition of Pinus taeda L. New Forests. 55:1617-1646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-024-10045-x.
De Albuquerque, C.G., Gavelaki, F., Matera, H.B., Motta, A.C., Prior, S.A., Ercole, T.M., Araújo, E.M. 2024. Relationship between pH and base saturation associated with soil cation exchange capacity in soils of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Bragantia. 83:e20230291. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4499.20230291.
Malhotra, K., Lamba, J., Way, T.R., Williams, C., Karthikeyan, K.G., Budhathoki, S., Prasad, R., Srivastava, P., Zheng, J. 2024. Preferential flow of phosphorus and nitrogen under steady-state saturated conditions. Vadose Zone Journal. 23:e20331. https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20331.
Adesemoye, A.O., Kodati, S., Watts, D.B., Maharjan, B. 2023. Differential shifts in microbiome and pathogen populations associated with suppressive soil in long-term continuous corn field compared to rotation corn field. Applied Soil Ecology. 192:105093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105093.
Chakraborty, D., Prasad, R., Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A. 2023. Effectiveness of flue gas desulfurization gypsum in reducing phosphorus solubility in poultry litter when applied as an in-house amendment. Waste Management. 171(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.014.
Consalter, R., Motta, A., Barbosa, J.C., Vezzani, F.M., Rubilar, R.A., Prior, S.A., Bassaco, V.M. 2023. Pine root exploration of standing dead tree trunks: a short cut biocycling process. Forest Systems. 32(2):eSC01. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2023322-19715.
Fontoura, S.M., Melinski, A.M., Motta, A.C., Gotz, L.F., Araujo, E.M., Prior, S.A., Pauletti, V. 2024. Soybean and corn yield as affected by crop rotation and surface liming under a no-tillage system. Soil Research. 62:SR22246. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR22246.
Kalvakaalva, R., Smith, M., Ayipio, E., Blanchard, C., Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Wells, D., Blersch, D., Adhikari, S., Prasad, R., Hanson, T., Wall, N., Higgins, B.T. 2023. Mass-balance process model of a decoupled aquaponic system. Journal of the ASABE. 66(4):955-967. https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.15468.
Kichler, C.M., Kornecki, T.S., Torbert III, H.A., Watts, D.B., Prasad, R. 2023. Cover crop termination methods and custom residue manager effects on collard production. Agronomy. 13:2595. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102595.
Rodrigues, V., Motta, A.C., Barbosa, J.Z., Ercole, T.M., Prior, S.A. 2023. Wood production and nutritional status of Pinus taeda L. in response to fertilization and liming: a meta-analysis of the Americas. iForest-Biogeosciences and Forestry. 16(4):195-201. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor4296-016.
Gonzalez, J.M., Dick, W., Islam, K., Watts, D.B., Fausey, N.R., Flanagan, D.C., Batte, M., Vantoai, T.T., Reeder, R., Shedekar, V. 2024. Cover crops, crop rotation, and gypsum, as conservation practices, impact Mehlich-3 extractable plant nutrients and trace metals. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.11.001.
Kaur, P., Lamba, J., Way, T.R., Sandhu, V., Balkcom, K.S., Sanz-Saez, A., Watts, D.B. 2023. Cover crop effects on X-ray computed tomography-derived soil pore characteristics. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 24:111-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03596-7.
Lacroix, E.M., Gomes, A., Barratt-Heitmann, G., Schuler, D., Dekas, A., Liptzin, D., Aberle, E., Watts, D.B., Nelson, K., Culman, S., Fendorf, S. 2024. Microbial proxies for anoxic microsites vary with management and partially explain soil carbon concentration. Environmental Science and Technology. 58(26):11459-11469. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c01882.
Biswas, B., Ammar, M., Adhikari, S., Baltrusaitis, J., Jahromi, H., Torbert III, H.A., Linhoss, J., Lamba, J. 2024. Magnesium doped biochar for simultaneous adsorption of phosphate and nitrogen ions from aqueous solution. Chemosphere. 358:142130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142130.
Tewolde, H., Way, T.R., Buehring, N., Jenkins, J.N. 2024. Residual benefits of poultry litter applied by subsurface band vs surface broadcast to cotton. Agronomy. 14(3):582. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030582.
Ercole, T.M., Gomes, J.V., Rodrigues, V.D., Trentin, N.D., Junior, J.C.O., Pereira, G.A., Filho, M.T., Moura, A.P.C., Maeda, S., Prior, S.A., Consalter, R., Motta, A.C.V. 2024. VARI as an indicator of site productivity of Pinus taeda L.: soil, litter, and plant nutrition. European Journal of Forest Research. 143:1541-1562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-024-01711-y.
Simmons, J.R., Ritchey, E.L., Sistani, K.R., Way, T.R., Coyne, M.S., Matocha, C.J. 2024. Spacing of subsurface poultry litter bands: Influence on maize performance and nitrogen use efficiency. Agronomy Journal. 116(3):1513-1527. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21541.