ARS | Publication request: NITROGEN MINERLIZATION AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY OF COMPOSTED AND UNCOMPOSTED POULTRY LITTER

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 18, 1999
Publication Date: November 28, 1999
Citation: Tworkoski, T., Preusch, P.L., Adler, P.R., Sikora, L.J., Takeda, F., Ferrier, D. 1999. Nitrogen minerlization and phosphorus availability of composted and uncomposted poultry litter. Agronomy Abstracts. p. 37.

Technical Abstract: Improper management of poultry litter and subsequent nutrient runoff can cause hypoxia and other undesirable changes in aquatic communities. This experiment was designed to determine nitrogen and phosphate release from fresh and composted poultry litter mixed with sand, silt, and clay loam. Ammonium release was greater from fresh than composted litter and decreased dquickly within four weeks of application. Nitrate releases increased during the first eight weeks after application and then did not change. Phosphate in water extracts declined near zero by eight weeks after application. Acid-soluble phosphate declined only slightly with time. Results indicated that nitrogen and phosphate release were similar from poultry litter from two sources and that composting reduced initial mineral flush, but stabilized mineral release over time.