Abstract
Poultry litter (PL) is traditionally surface broadcast to no-till maize (Zea mays L.). PL is nutrient-dense, and surface-applied PL nitrogen (N) is vulnerable to losses to the atmosphere and water systems. An application method was developed by USDA-ARS scientists for shallow subsurface banding PL to reduce ammonia (NH3) volatilization and surface runoff. There is limited information on how this application method will affect conservation and nutrient accessibility in no-till maize. The objectives were to determine if adjusting PL lateral subsurface band placement in relation to maize rows affects nutrient use and maize yields. Treatments were a nontreated control (NTC), urea ammonium nitrate surface banded (Fert), poultry litter surface broadcast (PLBr), and three subsurface banded PL treatments. The subsurface PL treatments were one (PLSub1), two (PLSub2), or three (PLSub3) bands between maize rows. Treatments receiving N were applied at 180 kg total N ha−1. Nitrogen concentration in V4 aboveground dry matter was higher in PLSub1 than PLSub2. Aboveground dry matter yields for all PLSub treatments were greater than PLBr and comparable to Fert. The PLSub1 and PLSub2 treatments resulted in maize grain yields equivalent to Fert and greater than PLBr and NTC when averaged across years. Few differences were observed in postharvest soil sample nutrient concentrations between PLSub treatments. These results suggest that subsurface banding PL can conserve N and increase no-till maize yield over traditional surface broadcast PL; however, increasing the frequency of subsurface PL bands did not clearly affect nutrient conservation or accessibility to the maize.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1513-1527 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Agronomy Journal |
| Volume | 116 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Authors. Agronomy Journal © 2024 American Society of Agronomy. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Funding
Fertilizer placement can influence the efficiency of a crop's nutrient recovery. It is a basic aspect of the \u201C4R\u201D concept of nutrient stewardship that includes using the right rate, right source, right timing, and right placement of nutrients. The poultry industry generated $1.2 billion in revenue and nearly 300 million head of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Kentucky during 2021 (NASS, 2022). Poultry production at this level would generate \u223C339,000 Mg of poultry litter (PL) based on an average of 1.13 kg litter produced per bird (Ritz & Merka, 2013). PL is a mixture of chicken manure, bedding material, water, unconsumed feed, and feathers that can be land-applied as a fertilizer. Bedding materials include (but are not limited to) wood shavings, sawdust, rice hulls, peanut hulls, or cereal straws used to absorb the liquid portion of the poultry manure. The addition of carbon-based bedding material increases the C:N ratio of the PL, which has been shown to reduce N mineralization rates in soil when C:N ratio exceeds 15 (Fitzgerald, 2019; Kirchmann, 1990; Watts et\u00A0al., 2012). Leconte et\u00A0al. (2011) reported that the type of bedding material and size of aggregates regulated the release of nutrients from poultry manure composts. The authors noted that manure stability increased and nutrient release reduced with decreasing aggregate size of the poultry manure. The use of PL as an alternative nutrient source to inorganic fertilizers has gained attention by row-crop producers in areas where poultry production is prevalent to offset the increased costs of inorganic fertilizers over the past decade. It is traditionally surface broadcast in no-till cropping systems, which can reduce the litter's effectiveness as a nutrient source due to the potential nutrient loss through volatilization and surface runoff (Kleinman & Sharpley, 2003; Pote et\u00A0al., 2011; Pote & Meisinger, 2014; Sharpley, 1997; Sistani et\u00A0al., 2009). Ammonia volatilization from surface-applied PL decreases the nutrient value of the manure from N loss to the atmosphere and may cause an economic burden for the producer due to potential crop yield reductions. Ammonia emitted to the atmosphere has also been linked to acidification and eutrophication from atmospheric N fallout, formation of aerosols/particulate matter adding to climate warming, and potential human health hazards (Behera et\u00A0al., 2013). Eutrophication can also be enhanced from surface PL runoff by P loss to water bodies leading to increased aquatic vegetative growth, increased biological oxygen demand, fish kills, and potential loss of biodiversity (Carpenter et\u00A0al., 1998; Sistani et\u00A0al., 2009). To reduce environmental issues associated with surface broadcast PL applications in no-till, USDA-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) researchers developed a prototype implement to apply PL in shallow subsurface bands with minimal surface disturbance (Way et\u00A0al., 2013). The implement uses a distributor and conveyor system to deliver PL from a large hopper to adjustable row trenchers that place PL into narrow bands below the soil surface while simultaneously covering the band with nearly 6 cm of soil. Research shows it is effective in reducing ammonia volatilization and nutrient losses in runoff. Numerous rainfall simulation studies show up to 90% reduction in P and other nutrient losses when PL is subsurface banded rather than surface broadcast in no-till maize, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and permanent pastures (Adeli et\u00A0al., 2013; Sistani et\u00A0al., 2009; Watts et\u00A0al., 2011, 2015; Watts & Way, 2019). Ammonia volatilization losses were lowered by 95% (statistically similar to nontreated control [NTC] plots) in no-till maize when PL was subsurface banded compared to surface application (Pote et\u00A0al., 2011). Likewise, Pote and Meisinger (2014) noted that NH3 volatilization was mitigated by an average of 88% when PL was subsurface banded rather than conventional surface broadcast in maize. Poultry litter subsurface band spacing did not affect no-till maize yields and nutrient utilization. Subsurface banding poultry litter increased maize grain yield over surface broadcast poultry litter. Nitrogen recovery efficiency was improved by subsurface banding poultry litter compared to surface broadcast poultry litter. Poultry litter subsurface band spacing did not affect no-till maize yields and nutrient utilization. Subsurface banding poultry litter increased maize grain yield over surface broadcast poultry litter. Nitrogen recovery efficiency was improved by subsurface banding poultry litter compared to surface broadcast poultry litter. Management strategies that minimize potential environmental losses should be agronomically favorable for producers. Past research shows PL subsurface banding conserves applied N and improves crop yields. Tewolde et\u00A0al. (2022) compared the fertilizer value of PL applied by subsurface band and surface broadcast in maize. Subsurface banding PL had greater available N compared to surface broadcast PL (>40% vs.\u00A0<37%). Additionally, in 1 year, the authors noted nearly 17% more maize grain for the 1 Mg ha\u22121 profit-maximizing PL rate with subsurface banded compared to surface broadcast PL. Maize grain yields (GYs) were increased by 45% on average in a study by Ashworth and Nieman (2022) when PL at the same N rate was subsurface banded rather than surface broadcast, and maize silage yields were also improved by 30%. In a cotton study by Tewolde et\u00A0al. (2009), lint yield increased from 984\u00A0kg\u00A0ha\u22121 for PL surface broadcast to 1052 kg ha\u22121 for PL subsurface banded at an application rate of 6.7\u00A0Mg\u00A0ha\u22121. The authors suggested that PL surface broadcast application rates can be reduced by 30% when subsurface banded to produce equivalent cotton lint yields. Tewolde, Shankle, Way, Pote, and Sistani (2018) compared 30-cm and 102-cm subsurface PL band spacing in cotton and found the 30-cm spacing had greater cotton aboveground biomass and lint yield in the second year of a 3-year study. The authors attributed this finding to more early-season nutrient accessibility in the 30-cm spaced PL subsurface bands. Tewolde, Way et\u00A0al. (2013) also investigated nutrient distribution between 102-cm spaced subsurface PL bands 29 days following the second year of application and found P distribution to be concentrated near PL bands. Tewolde, Shankle, Way, Pote, and Sistani (2018) reported that subsurface banding PL had greater soil P and K concentrations compared to surface-applied PL; no consistent differences in soil nutrient accumulation were observed between 30- and 102-cm spacing of subsurface PL bands in cotton. Poffenbarger et\u00A0al. (2015) showed that mineral-N remained within 10 cm of subsurface banded pelletized PL throughout the growing season of maize following winter cover crops. Past research has demonstrated that subsurface banding of PL can improve nutrient utilization compared to traditional surface broadcast PL application in no-till systems such as maize, cotton, and forages. However, at the onset of this project, there was no information about the effect that increasing the number of subsurface PL bands between maize rows could have on no-till maize performance and nutrient use. The objective of this research was to determine if decreasing the PL subsurface band lateral spacing could increase the ability of the no-till maize to recover nutrients for improved growth and yield during the growing season.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| potential loss of biodiversity | |
| USDA-Agricultural Research Service |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science