Response of kentucky-31 tall fescue to broiler litter and composts made from broiler litter
Titel:
Response of kentucky-31 tall fescue to broiler litter and composts made from broiler litter
Auteur:
Wilkinson, S. R.
Verschenen in:
Communications in soil science and plant analysis
Paginering:
Jaargang 28 (1997) nr. 3-5 pagina's 281-299
Jaar:
1997-02
Inhoud:
Recycled paper treated with boric acid (BA) is gaining acceptance as bedding in broiler houses. Applying this litter to Kentucky 31 (K-31) tall fescue, Festuca Arundinacea Shreb, pastures raises the issue of potential boron (B) toxicity. There is also the question of nitrogen (N) availability from composts made with borated paper and broiler manure. The effect of five N sources at 224, 448, and 896 kg N/ha in a factorial arrangement plus an unfertilized control and high nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) + additional boron at 45 kg B/ha on growth and NPKB uptake of K-31 tall fescue was determined in a greenhouse during the spring of 1992. The five N sources were (1) inorganic salts, (2) compost made from hen manure, broiler manure, fescue hay and bark (M1), (3) fresh broiler litter (M2), (4) compost made from broiler manure and borated paper bedding (M3), (5) compost from hen manure, oak leaves, broiler litter (M4). The soil was Cecil sandy clay loam subsoil. Six harvests were made at 4-cm cutting heights for determination of dry matter, N, P, K, and B uptake in tops, stubble, roots, and residue. Relative yield response of M2 was 65% of that from inorganic NPK, whereas the yield of the three composts was 22-30% of that from inorganic NPK. Over 50% of the N applied in compost residue remained at the soil surface. Boron toxicity to K-31 as estimated from yield reduction or from visual symptoms did not occur from 20 kg B/ha in compost made with borated paper (M3). However, a 12% yield reduction did occur at the 45 kg B/ha rate from inorganic B. Industry efforts to reduce the amount of boric acid used in the treatment of recycled paper, the high mobility of B in humid areas, the apparent ability of K-31 tall fescue to tolerate massive quantities of compost and high rates of B application suggest that the application of the broiler litter from houses where BA-treated recycled paper is used as bedding would be environmentally safe at application rates based on N requirements of K-31 tall fescue.
Tijdschrift beschrijving