Wednesday, November 7, 2007
307-3

Influence of Binding Agents on Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release from a Nitrogen Fortified Poultry Litter and Biosolids Granulated Fertilizer during Rainfall Simulations.

Mark Reiter1, Tommy Daniel1, Michael Richardson1, Robert Hinkle2, Nathan Slaton1, and Richard Norman1. (1) University of Arkansas, 115 Plant Sciences Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, (2) Mars Mineral, Incorporated, P.O. Box 719, Mars, PA 16046

Transformation of poultry litter (PL) and biosolid (BS) waste products into organic granulated fertilizers allows fortification with additives, reduced application and transportation costs, and end-user acceptance. Although relocation of these organic granular fertilizers from nutrient surplus watersheds may resolve the nutrient imbalance equation, improper or over-application of organic fertilizers may still cause water quality concerns and expose waterways to excessive nutrients that speed eutrophication. Poultry litter, BS, urea, and dicyandiamide (DCD) were used to develop four granulated-fertilizers which contained 150 g N and 15 g P kg-1; including PL + urea (PLU), PLU + DCD (PLUDCD), PLU + BS (PLUB), and PLUB + DCD (PLUBDCD)] through agglomeration using a pin mixer. Each product was bound with lignosulphonate (LS), urea formaldehyde (UF), or water (WR) producing 12 different fertilizers. We fertilized 1.5 m × 2 m plots of manicured bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) with 180 kg total-N and 20 kg total-P ha-1 prior to a simulated rainfall event that produced 30 min of runoff. The 12 formulations were compared to urea, milorganite, biosolids, and a control. Data were analyzed as a one way ANOVA at p=0.10 using SAS. Neither binding agent significantly reduced N nor P in runoff over another; however, granulated fertilizers had half the total-N and P in runoff than urea or triple super phosphate (TSP), respectively. Fortified granular fertilizers may be an environmentally friendly way to assimilate PL and BS nutrients.