Distribution of Nitrogenous Compounds in a Rhodic Paleudult Following Heavy Manure Application

Abstract

Agriculture faces the problem of animal manure disposal while maintaining crop yields and soil water quality. There is an economic advantage of manure disposal at elevated rates close to the source. This in turn increases the potential for groundwater contamination. This study was conducted to determine the effect of high rates of cattle and poultry manure application on the N balance and on the distribution of NH4+, NO3−, NO2−, and total N to a depth of 6 m in a Davidson clay loam soil (Rhodic Paleudult, clayey, kaolinitic, thermic). Average dry weights of manure added per year (from 1972 to 1976) were 32, 61, and 121 Mg ha−1 for cattle and 94 and 184 Mg ha−1 for poultry waste. In addition to manure treatments, a fertilizer treatment and a control were also present. A N balance showed that while 36% of the inorganic fertilizer N applied was removed by the crop, with manure application < 10% of the total was crop recovered. The percentage of the total N in the upper 6 m of the soil profile generally decreased with increased manure N application, although N present increased with increased N applications. The unrecovered N, attributed primarily to denitrification losses, increased with increased N application and ranged from 6% for the fertilizer check to 58% for the highest rate of poultry manure. The primary inorganic N component in the soil profile was NO3−‐N and the zone of maximum accumulation is between 2 and 2.5 m. The organic N fractions remaining in the soil profile could be adequately estimated using existing decay constants. The present study shows that the most feasible means of determining the quantity of manure to apply for crop growth and simultaneously reduced N leaching would be the use of decay series for manure decomposition combined with an estimate of atmospheric loss.

Soil Properties and Macro Cations Status impacted by Long‐Term Applied Poultry Litter

“…The increase indicated a great potential benefit for increasing soil C by PL application. The accumulation of C contents in littered soil was consistent with some previous results (Kingery et al 1994;Gascho and Hubbard 2006) but in contrast to others (Cooper et al 1984;Jackson, Leonard, and Wilkinson 1975). The control soil had C/N ratios of 12.1, 9.1, and 7.0 in depths of 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm, respectively (Figure 2).…”

Regular applications of poultry litter to a sandy arable soil: effects on nitrate leaching and nitrogen balance

“…This has been reported, for example, in USA (Cooper et al 1984), The Netherlands (Uunk 1991), and has also been observed in the UK (Lord 1992). Poultry manures are a problem because, compared to other organic manures such as pig or cattle slurries and farmyard manures, they have a high dry matter content (c 60%) and a concomitant large N concentration.…”

Variation of Soil Dielectric Constant, Moisture Holding Capacity, and Nitrate-Nitrogen as Influenced by Application of Fresh and Compost Poultry Litter on a Decatur Silt Loam Soil

“…Ϫ -N concentrations as high as 350 and 450 mg kg Ϫ1 , respectively, at a 2.1 m depth after 4 years (Cooper et al, 1984). Jackson et al (1977) reported that NO 3 Ϫ -N concentrations at the 1.07-m depth in the profile were ≈ 15 mg L Ϫ1 for the 22.4 Mg ha Ϫ1 surface applied litter treatment and 100 mg L Ϫ1 for the 134.4 Mg ha Ϫ1 rate.…”