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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180699
Title: IMPACT OF WINTER POULTRY LITTER MANURE APPLICATION BAN ON REDUCING NUTRIENT LOSSES IN ALABAMA

Author
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item GERIK, THOMAS - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item HARMAN, W - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item WILLIAMS, J - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2005
Publication Date: 11/10/2005
Citation: Torbert III, H.A., Gerik, T.J., Harman, W.L., Williams, J.R. 2005. Impact of winter poultry litter manure application ban on reducing nutrient losses in alabama [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts, ASA. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To address the potential of non-point nutrient enrichment of surface waters from land application of manure, the Alabama Natural Soil Conservation Service (NRCS) has adopted new nutrient management standards (NRCS Code 590) which effectively bans the application of animal manures in North Alabama during the period of November 15 to February 15. The objective of this study was examine the impact of this ban on nutrient movement important to water quality. WinEPIC was used to simulate poultry litter application during the winter months (before, during, and after the manure application ban) and chemical fertilizer application with both cool season and warm season grass pastures on the major soil regions of the state. With the warm season grass, soluble N losses could be reduced if the application of the litter is made after December 30. With the cool season grasses, there was no significant difference in application dates for poultry litter in soluble N losses for any soil region, and no improvement could be noted for limiting applications in the ban area. No significant difference was observed for soluble P losses for application date for either warm season or cool season grass pastures. This indicates that factors other than plant P uptake during the growing season were the dominate regulators of the amount of soluble P lost in runoff. This would indicate that best management practices such as are administered with the P index is more important than the P application timing in determining P losses to the environment.