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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #298690

Title: Broiler litter ash and flue gas desulfurization gypsum effects on peanut yield and uptake of nutrients

Author
item Codling, Eton
item LEWIS, JESSICA - University Of Maryland
item Watts, Dexter

Submitted to: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2014
Publication Date: 10/29/2015
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63234
Citation: Codling, E.E., Lewis, J.M., Watts, D.B. 2015. Broiler litter ash and flue gas desulfurization gypsum effects on peanut yield and uptake of nutrients. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 46:2553-2575. DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2015.1085553.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop that requires large amounts of soluble calcium and phosphorus. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) and super phosphate (SP) have been effective sources of calcium and phosphorus for peanut production. Broiler litter ash (BLA), a high phosphorus byproduct produced during incineration of broiler litter, has not been used as fertilizer for peanut. Our objective was to determine the effect of BLA, SP and FGDG on peanut yield and calcium, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese, zinc and sulfur uptake. A pot study was conducted in which BLA or SP and FGDG were applied at 168 and 1680 kg ha-1 respectively to a low phosphorus soil adjusted to pH 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. Inoculated peanut seeds were planted and allowed to grow for 90 days. At maturity, both pods and shoots were harvested, washed with deionized water and then freeze dried. Yield of kernel, hull and shoots were 13.5, 12.3 and 12.5 percent higher for the BLA treatments compared to SP. Phosphorus concentrations in kernel and hull were lower for the BLA treatments compared to SP, but P concentrations in the kernel and hull for the BLA treatments were within levels found in peanut kernel and hull. The calcium carbonate used for soil pH adjustment provided enough Ca in the soil for peanut hull and kernel development. Therefore, the effects of the FGDG was compromised resulting in the smaller differences in peanut yield and Ca uptake. Copper, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in peanut kernel, hull and shoots for the plants grown on the BLA were equal to those grown on the SP. With the small difference in peanut yield and nutrients, metal content between BLA and SP fertilizer demonstrated that BLA could be used as a phosphorus fertilizer for peanut production by farmers.

Technical Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop that requires large amounts of soluble calcium and phosphorus. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) and super phosphate (SP) have been used for calcium and phosphorus fertilizer for peanut. Broiler litter ash (BLA), a high phosphorus byproduct produced during incineration of broiler litter, has not been used as a fertilizer for peanut. Our objective was to determine the effect of BLA, SP and FGDG on peanut yield and calcium, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese and zinc uptake. BLA or SP was applied at the rate of 168 kg P ha-1 and FGDG at the rate of 1680 kg ha-1 to a soil adjusted to pH 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. FGDG was applied at three different times to three different sets of pots: at seeding, early bloom and at pegging. At maturity, pods and shoots were harvested, washed and freeze dried. Peanut kernel, hull and shoots yield were 13.5, 12.3 and 12.5 percent higher for the BLA treatments compared to SP. Phosphorus concentrations in kernel and hull were lower for the BLA treatments compared to SP, but P concentrations in the kernel and hull for the BLA treatments were within levels found in peanut kernel and hull. The calcium carbonate used for soil pH adjustment provided enough Ca in the soil for peanut hull and kernel development. Therefore, the effects of the FGDG was compromised resulting in the smaller differences in peanut yield and Ca uptake. Copper, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in peanut kernel, hull and shoots for the plants grown on the BLA were equal to those grown on the SP. With the small difference in peanut yield and nutrients, metal content between BLA and SP fertilizer demonstrated that BLA could be used as a phosphorus fertilizer for peanut production by farmers.