Wednesday, November 7, 2007 - 10:15 AM
304-4

Utilizing Conservation Tillage to Minimize Nutrient Losses from Poultry Litter Applied in Grain Production Systems.

Kreshnik Bejleri, Joshua McGrath, and Frank Coale. 0214 H.J. Patterson Hall, Bldg. 073, University of Maryland, University of Maryland, Dept. of Environmental Science & Technology, College Park, MD 20742-5825

Incorporation of broiler litter after application in corn production systems can greatly reduce nutrient losses relative to no-till systems. However, the benefits of no-till to soil quality and crop production are well known. This study was conducted on Maryland's coastal plain to demonstrate that currently existing conservation-tillage can be successfully used to partially incorporate poultry litter, preserving surface residue and soil conservation conditions, while reducing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus losses compared to no-till. Broiler litter was applied at a N-based rate and immediately incorporated into the soil using commercially available conservation-tillage implements to achieve four tillage treatments: 1) no- tillage; 2) vertical tillage (Great Plains Turbo-Till); 3) chisel-disc; and 4) strip-tillage. Runoff plots (32.5 m2) were isolated in three replications of each treatment and natural runoff was collected over two growing seasons. Results from the runoff study will be presented.