Soil Properties and Macro Cations Status impacted by Long‐Term Applied Poultry Litter

Abstract

Most ethnic populations worldwide consume poultry products. Whereas poultry litter (PL) is a traditionally inexpensive and effective fertilizer to improve soil quality and agricultural productivity, overapplication to soils has raised concerns because excess nutrients in runoff could accelerate the eutrophication of fresh bodies of water. A long-term field experiment of land application of PL to soils used for pasture growth has been maintained for nearly two decades in the Sand Mountain region of north Alabama, USA. In this work, several soil parameters impacted by the long-term applied litter were characterized. The findings clearly support previous general observations that long-term applied litter on pasture soils altered soil properties and macrocation levels. Unlike other studies, however, the effects of applied litter at multiple rates and years were examined, thus revealing the dynamic impacts on soil properties. Hay yields increased with the increase of years of PL application, regardless of the applied rate. This observation was consistent with previous observations that the labile phosphorus (P) portion in these soils increases with application years whereas

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

“…Various studies found that greater CEC is associated with greater soil organic matter (SOM) contents, due to a higher degree of oxidation of SOM and a higher surface area for cation adsorption sites (Liang et al, 2006;Sombroek et al, 1993). Electrical conductivity was slightly higher (P = 0.0752) in litterapplied soils compared to IF applications, which was consistent with previous long-term studies (He et al, 2008;Kingery et al, 1994). Poultry litter added to the soil mineralizes and release the nutrients and salts to the soil leading to an increase of soil EC and salt content.…”

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Accumulation in Pasture Soil from Repeated Poultry Litter Application

“…The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of PL application history (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years) on accumulation and distribution of total P, Mehlich 3 extracted P, total N, ammonium (NH 4 )-N, and nitrate (NO 3 )-N through soil profiles (0-60 cm). The impacts on trace elements and macro cations have been reported elsewhere (He et al 2008, Tazisong et al 2005.…”

“…For example, most of the 1.5 million Mg of broiler litter generated in Alabama during 1999 was used for fertilizing pastures (Kpomblekou et al 2002). But overapplication of PL to soil may lead to detrimental environmental effects, such as pollution of ground and surface waters due to leaching and runoff of nutrients and soil accumulation of heavy metals (Franzluebbers et al 2002, He et al 2008, Kingery et al 1994, Tazisong et al 2005.…”

“…Soils in the Sand Mountain region of Alabama are sloping, permeable to water and dissolved constituents, and shallow to bedrock, thus constituting a system with a high potential for escape of nutrients to ground and surface (Kingery et al 1994). For evaluating the long-term impact of PL application, a field experiment of land applied litter to pasture soils has been maintained for two decades at the Sand Mountain region of north Alabama, USA (He et al 2008, Tazisong et al 2005. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of PL application history (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years) on accumulation and distribution of total P, Mehlich 3 extracted P, total N, ammonium (NH 4 )-N, and nitrate (NO 3 )-N through soil profiles (0-60 cm).…”

Amending Subsoil with Composted Poultry Litter-I: Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties

“…Cattle feedlot litter increased soil organic carbon and water stable aggregates, and decreased bulk density and hydraulic conductivity of disturbed soils [18]. Application of poultry litter on pasture soils over a 20-yr period altered soil properties (pH, electric conductivity, and bulk density) macrocation levels (Ca, K, Mg and Na levels), and increased hay yields [19]. In this study, the authors also noted that the labile form of phosphorus increased following long-term sequential application of poultry litter.…”