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Bermudagrass Management in the Southern Piedmont USA. II. Soil Phosphorus
Author(s) -
Franzluebbers A. J.,
Stuedemann J. A.,
Wilkinson S. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2002.2910
Subject(s) - cynodon dactylon , agronomy , human fertilization , litter , phosphorus , manure , broiler , zoology , soil water , nutrient , biology , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
Plant production can be limited by low levels of available P due to high P‐fixation capacity in soils of the southeastern USA. On the other hand, there is increasing concern about excessive application of P to soil, especially when manure application is based upon N content. We evaluated changes in Mehlich‐I extractable soil P during 5 yr of bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] management varying in fertilization [inorganic and broiler chicken ( Gallus gallus ) litter] and harvest strategy (unharvested, low and high cattle ( Bos taurus ) grazing pressure, and haying). Broiler litter supplied eight times more P than inorganic fertilization to meet the N requirement. At a depth of 0 to 6 cm, Mehlich‐I extractable soil P increased 0.8 ± 1.6 mg kg −1 yr −1 (4 ± 8% of total P added) with inorganic‐only fertilization, 2.4 ± 3.0 mg kg −1 yr −1 (9 ± 11% of total P added) with clover ( Trifolium incarnatum L.) cover crop plus inorganic fertilization, and 8.7 ± 9.8 mg kg −1 yr −1 (6 ± 7% of total P added) with broiler litter. Haying kept Mehlich‐I extractable soil P constant with time due to removal of P with harvest of biomass. At the end of 5 yr of broiler litter application to grazed land, Mehlich‐I extractable soil P was 135, 50, 22, and 4 mg kg −1 higher than with inorganic fertilization at depths of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 20 cm, respectively. Broiler litter fertilization was effective at increasing Mehlich‐I extractable soil P to an agronomically productive level (50 to 60 mg kg −1 15 cm −1 ), but continued application could lead to excessive P accumulation that could threaten water quality from surface runoff unless appreciable soil fixation or removal of forage biomass were to occur.