Poultry Litter and Inorganic Fertilization: Effects on Biomass Yield, Metal and Nutrient Concentration of Three Mixed-Season Perennial Forages

Abstract

Poultry litter and fertilizers are normally added as soil amendments. The effects of poultry litter and inorganic fertilizers on three mixed-season perennial forages were studied for two years in the field to understand growth dynamics, metals, and nutrient uptake. The primary objective was to investigate the heavy metal and nutrient concentrations, biomass yield and forage potential of a cool-season forage, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), relative to warm-season forages, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Forage cuttings and soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals and nutrients using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Total biomass yield was higher by 66% and 50% in switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively, compared with stinging nettle for the first year. While the warm-season forages yielded more biomass over the cool-season forage, metal concentrations were significantly higher for all elements in the cool-season forage. Stinging nettle showed greater macro-nutrient uptake with 103.20 kg ha−1, 0.87 kg ha−1, 27.49 kg ha−1 and 32.08 kg ha−1 for Ca, Fe, Mg, and P, except for K with 223.51 kg ha−1 compared with 267.29 kg ha−1 and 283.96 kg ha−1 for switchgrass and bermudagrass, respectively. Heavy metals were also higher in stinging nettle but were within the allowable limits for forages, indicating its potential as a resource for forages and nutrient cycling, particularly when double-cropped with warm-season forages.

PHYSIOCHEMICAL STANDARDIZATION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF Urtica dioica L. LEAVES GROWING IN ZAKHO, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ

“…Our results are consistent with the findings published by Đurović et al, 2017;Jaja et al, 2022;Kara, 2009;Rafajlovska et al, 2013) showing that calcium is the major macro-elements in the U. dioica L. followed by magnesium while other elements copper, zinc, and manganese were within the physiological levels. Iron is considered the most significant trace element in U. dioica L. a higher concentration of both zinc and iron makes it suitable for use in diets for people who are in the risk for osteoporosis or cardiovascular disorders.…”

Nettle, a Long-Known Fiber Plant with New Perspectives

“…Literature reports of biomass concentrations of Ca, Mg, and K in Urtica dioica are variable (Supplementary Material Table S1). In [112], K resulted in being the major bulk element in leaves (33.9 g kg −1 ), followed by Ca (28.6 g kg −1 ) and Mg (8.69 g kg −1 ), within the same order of magnitude as those published in a recent paper [113]. In Kara [114], Ca resulted in being the major macro-nutrient in nettle herbal infusion (seemingly leaves, 38.4 g Ca kg −1 , 17.5 g K kg −1 , 7.32 g Mg kg −1 ), while [115] reported higher Mg concentrations in leaves of Urtica dioica, in the range of 25.1-35.6 g kg −1 .…”

Effect of fertilization on the accumulation and health risk for heavy metals in native Andean potatoes in the highlands of Perú

“…The contribution of metals according to the type of amendment was as follows: IF > PM > IG > AM > Control, and the heavy metal contribution to the soil followed the trend: Cd > Pb > Cu > Zn > Fe > Cr. Therefore, the application of poultry manure, cattle manure, fertilizers, and pesticides contributes to soil contamination with elements like Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn [6] , [99] . Hence, it is suggested to conduct studies on the content of potentially toxic elements based on the source, type of manure, degree of decomposition, composition, quantity, and frequency of application of organic and inorganic fertilizers used by native potato producers in the high Andean regions.…”

“…The higher the BCF, the greater the transfer of heavy metals from the soil to plant tissues [66] . Therefore, metal absorption is influenced by soil characteristics (texture, pH, organic matter content), crop type, metal properties, and interactions of elements in the soil solution [90] , [99] .…”