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Seasonal Surface Runoff Losses of Nutrients and Metals from Soils Fertilized with Broiler Litter and Commercial Fertilizer
Author(s) -
Wood B. H.,
Wood C. W.,
Yoo K. H.,
Yoon K. S.,
Delaney D. P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1999.00472425002800040023x
Subject(s) - poultry litter , nutrient , surface runoff , broiler , fertilizer , zoology , litter , agronomy , phosphorus , environmental science , chemistry , soil water , surface water , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , biology , environmental engineering , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
While elevated concentrations of N and P have been observed in surface runoff from broiler litter‐amended fields, impacts of other nutrients in broiler litter such as Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn have not been identified. A study was conducted on a 4% slope during 1991 to 1993 at Belle Mina, AL, on a Decatur silty clay (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Paleudult) to determine effects of broiler litter (BL) on seasonal transport losses of nutrients and heavy metals in surface water. A corn ( Zea mays L.)‐winter rye ( Secale cereale L.) cropping system was fertilized with either: (i) 9 Mg BL ha −1 (BL9), (ii) 18 Mg BL ha −1 (BL18), or (iii) commercial fertilizer at the recommended rate (CF). Runoff water samples were collected after each runoff producing rainfall event. Litter treatments decreased sediment flow‐weighted concentrations during the second corn growing season owing to residual broiler litter. Flow‐weighted concentrations of NO 3 ‐N and NH 4 ‐N were highest under BL18 during the second corn season. Total P and dissolved P flow‐weighted concentrations and seasonal transport losses were highest under BL18 during the second corn season. Sediment nutrient flow‐weighted concentrations of K, Mg, and Mn were highest under CF during the second corn season. Dissolved nutrient flow‐weighted concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg were highest under BL18 during the second corn season. Nutrient flow‐weighted concentrations, except Ca, from all treatments provide adequate levels to support algae growth.