Tuesday, 8 November 2005
5

Managing Poultry Litter Application to Control Sub-Surface Losses of Phosphorus from a Coastal Plain Soil.

Arthur Allen, UNiversity of Maryland Eastern Shore, 30921 Martin Court/crop & Aquacultu, Princess Anne, MD 21853, Rory Maguire, NC State University, Box 7619, Raleigh, NC 27695, Peter J. Kleinman, ARS-USDA University Park, PA, Curtin Rd., University Park, PA 16802-3702, Andrew Sharpley, USDA-ARS, University Park, PA 16802-3702, and J. T. Sims, University of Delaware, Dept. Plt. & Soil Sciences, Newark, DE 19717-1303.

Large surpluses of phosphorus (P) are common in areas of intensive animal production, and are often associated with the accumulation of P to excessive levels in soils and subsequent P losses to surface waters by erosion and surface or subsurface runoff. Recently, sub-surface transport of P from agricultural soils to ground water is of particular concern in coastal plain agro-ecosystems due to high accumulations of dissolved reactive P in surface and sub-surface soil horizons due to long term poultry litter use. This project evaluated the effect of manure management strategies on P leaching from field plots. Plots were amended with poultry litter at three rates: N-based; P-based; no litter. Leachate P concentrations obtained from piezometers at 30 and 60 cm depths ranged widely, with maximum concentrations greater than 10 mg/L in plots receiving N-based litter applications. Results highlight the critical role of manure management in controlling sub-surface P transport.


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