HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Warren, J. G. Articles by Pote, D. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Warren, J. G. Articles by Pote, D. H. Agricola Articles by Warren, J. G. Articles by Pote, D. H. Related Collections Agricultural Systems Nutrient Management Animal Waste

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT & SOIL & PLANT ANALYSIS

A New Method of Poultry Litter Application to Perennial Pasture: Subsurface Banding

^a USDA-ARS Animal Waste Management Research Unit, 230 Bennett Ln., Bowling Green, KY 42104
^b USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab., 411 S. Donahue Dr., Auburn, AL 36832
^c Dep. of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Alabama A&M Univ., P.O. Box 1208, Normal, AL 35762
^d USDA-ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, 6883 S. State Hwy. 23, Booneville, AR 72927

^* Corresponding author (Jason.warren{at}okstate.edu).

Recently, incorporation of poultry litter by subsurface band application into pasture has been shown to reduce surface runoff transport of nutrients; however, data to evaluate the impact of this potential management strategy on forage production, forage nutrient concentrations, or the accumulation of soil nutrients after multiyear applications is limited. Therefore, two experiments, one in bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and one in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were initiated in which treatments included (i) a standard commercial fertilizer application, (ii) a surface broadcast litter application, (iii) poultry litter applied in subsurface bands placed 25 cm apart, and (iv) poultry litter applied in subsurface bands placed 38 cm apart. The experiments were conducted for 3 yr on a Hartsells (fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludult) soil at Crossville, AL, and showed that subsurface band applications resulted in forage yields equivalent to those achieved by conventional broadcast litter applications. Subsurface band applications also did not generally impact forage N, P, and K concentrations compared with surface litter applications. Three years of subsurface band applications to a depth of approximately 4 cm did not significantly alter the Mehlich 3 extractable nutrient content of soils collected at a depth of 0 to 15 cm. Data suggest, however, that subsurface band application would allow increases in subsurface movement of nutrients, as was evidenced by increased Cu concentrations at the 15- to 30-cm depth. The data suggest that the environmental benefits of subsurface band application of poultry litter into grass production systems are achieved without detrimental impacts on forage productivity or nutrient concentrations.