Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum Effects On Forage Production On a Southern Piedmont Soil.

Agricultural productivity is constrained by unfavorable soil, climate and management factors in the Southeastern USA. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) has the potential for alleviating some of these problems but its effectiveness in southeastern environments needs to be established by additional field studies. We evaluated the effects of  FGDG on Costal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) hay production on a Cecil (Typic kanhapludult) soil at the ARS research center in Watkinsville, GA from 2009 through 2011. Treatments were four rates of FGDG (0, 2.2, 4.5, 9.0 Mg ha^-1) and four rates of broiler litter (0, 4.5. 9, 13.5 Mg ha^-1) as a factorial combination with four replications. Forage was harvested three times each summer for determination of yield and forage quality.  Rainfall limited forge production in two years and there was no indication of effects of the FGD-gypsum treatments. Results will be presented for effects of broiler litter and FGDG on forage quality.