Phosphorus Losses in Runoff after Application of Litter from Broilers Fed High-Available Phosphorus Corn Feed

• Published in: Communications in soil science and plant analysis Vol. 38; no. 13-14; pp. 1805 - 1814
• Main Authors: Tarkalson, D.D, Mikkelsen, R.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: agricultural runoff; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Algal-available phosphorus; application rate; Biological and medical sciences; broiler chickens; broiler feeding; broiler litter; corn; environmental impact; eutrophication; feed grains; food animals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; groundwater contamination; HAP corn; low-phytic-acid corn; nutrient availability; organic fertilizers; particle size; phosphorus; phytic acid; poultry manure; reactive phosphorus; runoff; Soil science; total phosphorus; North Carolina; USA, Southeast; Farming animal; Litter; Poultry manure; Poultry; Algae; Available nutrient; Total phosphorus; runoff; Runoff water; HAP corn; reactive phosphorus; Soils; Algal-available phosphorus; broiler litter; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416
• DOI: 10.1080/00103620701435571

Recent efforts to reduce phosphorus (P) content of corn grain fed to poultry have led to the development of low-phytic-acid corn. Research is needed to evaluate the environmental impact of the application to cropland of manure from animals fed low-phytic-acid corn. The purpose of this research was to determine P losses in runoff from a bare Piedmont soil (cecil clay loam; clayey, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kanhapludult) in the southeastern United States receiving surface applications of broiler litter from birds fed a low-phytic-acid corn (HAP broiler litter). The HAP litter was applied at rates of 0, 8, 16, 33, 49, 66, and 82 kg P ha(-1). Simulated rainfall was applied at a rate of 7.6 cm hr(-1) on the same day the litter sources were applied to the plots. Runoff volumes were measured, and samples were collected at 5-min intervals for 30 min and analyzed for reactive P (RP), algal-available P (AAP), and total P (TP). Flow-weighted concentrations and mass losses of P increased linearly with litter application rate (r(2) values=0.99). Flow-weighted concentrations of RP in runoff increased from 2.2 to 15.4 mg RP L(-1), and mass loss of TP in runoff ranged from 1.3 to 7.3 kg P ha(-1) over all application rates based on linear regression. Runoff volume losses were 47% greater after litter applications compare to the 0 application rate treatment. Reduced infiltration resulting from litter particles blocking pores in the soil surface is likely the reason for the increased runoff volumes.