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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #259793
Title: Agronomic effectiveness of phosphorus materials recovered from manure

Author
item Szogi, Ariel
item Bauer, Philip
item Vanotti, Matias

Submitted to: Bulgarian Journal of Ecological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2009
Publication Date: 12/1/2009
Citation: Szogi, A.A., Bauer, P.J., Vanotti, M.B. 2009. Agronomic effectiveness of phosphorus materials recovered from manure. Bulgarian Journal of Ecological Science. 8(4):9-12.

Interpretive Summary: Land application of large amounts of manure from confined livestock facilities is an environmental concern often associated to excess phosphorus (P) in soils and potential pollution of water resources. Recovery of P from livestock manure is an attractive approach when on-farm application of manure is limited by strict nutrient management plans. New treatment processes have been developed to recover P from manure in concentrated solid form. We have recovered P from liquid pig manure and poultry litter. The high P concentration of these recovered P materials suggests that they have utility as a fertilizer source. A study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate these materials as fertilizer sources using annual ryegrass as the test crop. The two recovered P materials from pig manure and broiler litter were compared to commercial triple superphosphate. Thus, treatments were three fertilizer sources at five fertilizer rates (0, 22, 44, 88, and 176 mg P/kg soil). Plants fertilized with recovered P from pig manure or broiler litter had plant uptake almost as good as triple superphosphate. Although further research is needed under field conditions and on various soil types for fertilizer application recommendation, both recovered P materials appear to have potential as fertilizer source.

Technical Abstract: Land application of large amounts of manure from confined livestock facilities is an environmental concern often associated to excess phosphorus (P) in soils and potential pollution of water resources. Recovery of P from livestock manure is an attractive approach when on-farm application of manure is limited by strict nutrient management plans. New treatment processes have been developed to recover P from manure in concentrated solid form. We have recovered P from liquid pig manure and poultry litter. The high P concentration of these recovered P materials suggests that they likely have utility as a fertilizer source. A study was conducted to evaluate these materials as fertilizer sources. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Annual ryegrass was the test crop. The two recovered P materials from pig manure (26% P2O5) and broiler litter (11% P2O5) were compared to commercial triple superphosphate (TSP). Treatments were three fertilizer sources and five fertilizer rates (0, 22, 44, 88, and 176 mg P/kg soil). Three harvests of plant tissues were made in each trial. Plant tissues were oven-dried and acid digested. Phosphorus from soil collected at the end of each trial was extracted using the Mehlich 3 procedure. Both plant tissue digest and soil extracts were analyzed for P using colorimetric analysis. Plants fertilized with recovered P from pig manure or broiler litter had P uptake responses almost as good as TSP. Although further research is needed under field conditions and on various soil types for fertilizer application recommendation, both recovered P materials appear to have potential as fertilizer source.