Broiler Litter vs. Ammonium Nitrate as Nitrogen Source for Bermudagrass Hay Production: Yield, Nutritive Value, and Nitrate Leaching

Abstract

The Lower Suwannee River Basin (LSRB) in northern Florida is environmentally sensitive. This study evaluated two surface‐applied N sources for ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) hay production and associated risk of nitrate contamination of groundwater. The study was conducted at two locations in the LSRB where soils are deep, sandy Entisols. During a 2.5‐yr period, bermudagrass received sole N source ammonium nitrate (AN), applied at 42, 84, 126, and 168 kg N ha−1 per growth interval, or sole N source broiler (chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus) litter (BL), applied at 84 and 126 kg N ha−1 Plots were arranged using a randomized block design with three or four replications depending on the location. Suction‐cup lysimeters were installed at a 1.4‐m soil depth to monitor nitrate movement from the primary rooting zone. For AN, dry matter yield and crude protein (CP) concentration increased with an increase in N level, while forage P declined and in vitro digestible organic matter increased. Forage yield with BL was 64, 48, and 67% of yield with AN applied at common levels in 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. Forage CP was mostly less for BL than for AN, but forage P was greater for BL. A potential risk to groundwater quality due to nitrate leaching below the primary rooting zone was observed only with AN applied at 168 kg N ha−1 Probable ammonia emissions from surface‐applied BL, however, likely resulted in poorer bermudagrass production and could impact nearby surface waters.

In Situ Measurement of Nitrate Flux and Attenuation Using a Soil Passive Flux Meter

“…However, this site had relatively high soil organic matter (4%), and it is likely that soil N mineralization contributed additional N to the system. Previous studies of forage systems in coarse‐textured soils found low N uptake efficiencies (13–30%), low N accumulation in the surface soil, and high soil nitrate concentrations below the root zone when fertilized at high annual rates such as at our field site (Woodard and Sollenberger, 2011; Agyin‐Birikorang et al, 2012b). …”

The Effect of Poultry Litter Application on Agricultural Production: A Meta-Analysis of Crop Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility

“…Watts and Torbert (2011) also reported that soybean yields were increased 8 out of 9 years when PL was used as a nutrient source. In contrast, a 2.5-year bermudagrass field study showed that forage yield with broiler litter was 64, 48, and 67 % of yield with ammonium nitrate applied at the same N level in these three years, respectively (Woodard and Sollenberger, 2011). Another pasture study indicated that land application of PL provided essential nutrients for hybrid bermudagrass production with no differences in dry matter yield and N uptake compared to that of ammonium nitrate, whereas greater P and K uptake were observed with PL application (Read et al, 2006).…”

Escarificação e adubação orgânica: efeito na recuperação estrutural de solo produzindo Tifton 85

“…Em relação aos tratamentos com adubação, a resposta da Tifton 85 no primeiro corte (Tabela 2) foi maior com a aplicação da fonte mineral, AM+N e AM, não diferindo do tratamento T+N, pois os teores de P e K no solo eram altos no início do experimento. Esses resultados evidenciam uma resposta apenas ao N mineral aplicado, uma vez que o N, frequentemente, apresenta maior impacto sobre a produção da Tifton 85 (WOODARD & SOLLENBERGER, 2011). O N aumenta a efi ciência fotossintética da folha por estimular a síntese de rubisco, enzima chave nas reações bioquímicas de assimilação do carbono (PEREIRA et al, 2012), favorecendo o perfi lhamento inicial após o corte, com aumento da interceptação luminosa, e reduzindo o tempo de balanço energético negativo, devido a cortes drásticos da parte aérea, acelerando a formação e crescimento de folhas (REIS et al, 2005).…”

“…Devido à contínua exportação de nutrientes, neste sistema, a adubação orgânica pode ser uma estratégia interessante, tendo em vista a liberação gradual dos nutrientes e a adição de matéria orgânica, podendo auxiliar na melhoria das propriedades do solo e no estabelecimento de microrganismos benéfi cos. No Brasil, o aumento da produção de aves gera grandes quantidades de resíduos orgânicos, os quais, desde que racionalmente utilizados, podem substituir ao menos em parte os adubos industrializados (WOODARD & SOLLENBERGER, 2011), além de atender a legislação ambiental. O uso da cama de aviário nos solos agricultáveis do Sudoeste do Paraná tem ocorrido em larga escala, porém com pouca base científi ca, ou seja, os produtores utilizam, de forma geral, as doses que lhes convierem sem acompanhamento do resultado desta prática sobre a fertilidade do solo, além das estratégias de manejo, utilizadas por eles em pastagens perenes, não estarem bem defi nidas (HELTON et al, 2008).…”