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Nutrient Source and Tillage Impacts on Tall Fescue Production and Soil Properties
Author(s) -
Netthisinghe Annesly M. P.,
Woosley Paul B.,
Gilfillen Becky,
Cook Kimberly L.,
Sistani Karamat R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj13.0564
Subject(s) - agronomy , forage , poultry litter , manure , tillage , fertilizer , nutrient , environmental science , litter , zoology , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry
Tall fescue [ Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] provides a major forage base for livestock production in the southeastern United States. Forage production using manure helps recycle nutrients with fewer environmental impacts. This study examined tall fescue forage production and soil chemical properties when using broiler litter (BL), dairy manure (DMN), commercial fertilizer (CF), and a control (UTC) treatment in no‐till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. Forage nutritive values and majority of soil properties were not different in DMN, BL, and CF treatments. Herbage harvested was similar in BL and CF (9.3 and 8.1 Mg ha −1 ); DMN and UTC (6.6 and 5.6 Mg ha −1 ). Forage nutritive values in DMN and UTC were similar. Greater forage Cu and Zn contents were observed in BL and CF when compared to DMN and UTC. The soil pH of DMN treatment was 0.3 to 0.4 units higher than BL and CF. Soil organic matter (SOM) levels in all fertilizer treatments were similar (30.0–32.0 g kg −1 ). Broiler litter addition increased soil test P by 87%, NO 3 –N by 33%, and Cu by 30%, and Zn by 76%. The soil properties in DMN treatment did not change significantly. Tillage did not impact soil properties except for Fe; NDF (2012), Cu (2011), and Zn (2011). The results indicated that both broiler litter and dairy manure application can produce just as much herbage mass as commercial fertilizers with similar nutritive value. When manure is applied to meet crop N requirement, BL caused more intense soil nutrient loading than DMN.