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Inorganic Fertilizers after Broiler Litter Amendment Reduce Surplus Nutrients in Orchardgrass Soils
Author(s) -
Netthisinghe Annesly M.P.,
Gilfillen Becky,
Willian Todd W.,
Rowland Naomi S.,
Sistani Karamat R.
Publication year - 2011
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/agronj2010.0419
Subject(s) - fertilizer , amendment , broiler , poultry litter , agronomy , nutrient , phosphorus , litter , environmental remediation , soil water , zoology , chemistry , environmental science , biology , ecology , contamination , soil science , organic chemistry , political science , law
The common producer practice to dispose of broiler litter at high rates to forage crops allow excessive accumulation of soil nutrients. A remediation study was developed to examine if inorganic fertilizer application over the residual fertility of broiler litter would reduce surplus soil nutrients in orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) soils and to study the resulting biomass production. Three remediation treatments; inorganic fertilizer on antecedent broiler litter at the nitrogen rate (R‐PLN), phosphorus rate (R‐PLP), phosphorus rate with inorganic nitrogen (R‐PLP+N), and inorganic fertilizer (INORG) were tested and results were compared with broiler litter at nitrogen rate (PLN) phosphorus rate (PLP), and phosphorus rate with inorganic nitrogen (PLP+N). Repeated broiler litter application at N rate led to elevate soil P, Cu, and Zn contents >200% from the initial levels. Implementing an alternative inorganic fertilizer application cycle in such soils can reduce P, Cu, and Zn levels respectively by 32 mg P kg −1 yr −1 , 1.9 mg Cu kg −1 yr −1 , and 2.4 mg Zn kg −1 yr −1 Remediation by inorganic fertilizer application may take at least 5 yr to reduce P, Cu, and Zn levels back to the normal range. In addition, inorganic fertilizer application over broiler litter at N rate can offer similar forage production as inorganic fertilizer and N rate broiler litter amendment. An alternative cycle of inorganic fertilizer application after broiler litter amendment can be recommended as a best management practice to remediate surplus soil nutrients in highly broiler litter impacted soils while assuring high forage production benefits.