Using Inorganic Fertilizer to Assist In Removal of Excess Soil Nutrients From Broiler Litter Application In Orchardgrass Soils.

Broiler litter is often disposed of on lands at rates in excess of forage crop needs.  This often results in an accumulation of some nutrients.  A remediation study was used to determine if inorganic fertilizer use after broiler litter applicaiton would reduce excess soil nutrients by growing orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.).  There were a total of seven treatments with three be remediation based.  Remediation treatments were previous broiler litter applied at the N rate (R-PLN), P rate (R-PLP) P rate with inorganic N (R-PLP+N), and inorganic fertilizer  (INORG).  These were compared to continued broiler litter at the N rate (PLN), P rate (PLP) and P rate with inorgniac N (PLP+N).  Continued application of broiler litter at the N rate led to accumulations of soil P, Cu, and Zn in comparison to initial levels.  By using inorgniac fertilizer application as a remediation, soils can be reduced in P, Cu and Zn levels by 32 mg P kg ^-1 yr ^-1, 1.9 mg Cu kg ^-1 yr^-1, and 2.4 mg Zn kg ^-1 yr ^-1.  Indications are that removal of these nutrients may require in excess of five years, but will allow for excellent forage production during the remediation process.