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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396131
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Effects of flue gas desulfurization gypsum-amended poultry litter on nutrient release and crop yield

Author
item POWELL, ANNA - Auburn University
item PRASAD, RISHI - Auburn University
item Watts, Dexter
item CHAKRABORTY, DEBOLINA - Auburn University
item Torbert, Henry - Allen

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2022
Publication Date: 11/7/2022
Citation: Powell, A., Prasad, R., Watts, D.B., Chakraborty, D., Torbert III, H.A. 2022. Effects of flue gas desulfurization gypsum-amended poultry litter on nutrient release and crop yield [ABSTRACT]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, November 6-9, Baltimore, Maryland.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Poultry litter (PL) is an excellent source of nutrients for crops, but overapplication of litter can result in nutrient losses and eutrophication. Gypsum is an effective tool in agriculture to reduce phosphorus losses from land treated with PL and as an alternative litter bedding for reducing ammonia loss from poultry houses. The objective of this study is to determine the corn yield and nutrient uptake effect when applying gypsum-amended litter. Gypsum amended litter will have similar or improved corn yield and nutrient uptake to PL with conventional bedding and commercial fertilizer. The seven litter treatments received an initial bedding (decaked litter, litter + gypsum, or litter + shavings) and bedding management treatment (no gypsum or 1600lbs/1000ft2 gypsum). An industry-standard bedding for ammonia reduction, Poultry Litter Treatment® (decaked initial bedding and 100lbs PLT /1000ft2 for flocks 1-5), was also included for comparison. Treatments were applied prior to planting at a rate of 200 N lbs/acre in random complete block design with four replications. The control was fertilized with granular urea at an equivalent nitrogen rate. Yield was determined using a combine for each plot (15.5% moisture); corn biomass and tissue samples were used to determine nutrient uptake. Trial location had a significant effect; yield was significantly higher at the North Alabama location. In 2021, was significantly higher for PL that received gypsum as an initial bedding (173-180 bushels/acre) than litter that received PLT (140 bushels/acre) at the North Alabama location. Control was the highest yielding treatment (203 bushels/acre) in North Alabama, however, the litter treatment with the highest rate of gypsum (180 bushels/acre) was not significantly different. No treatment yields at the Central Alabama location were significantly different. The first-year trial in North Alabama showed gypsum litter bedding can improve corn yields compared to PLT and comparable yields to commercial fertilizer.