Ammonia Volatilization From Surface Applied Poultry Manure and Synthetic Fertilizers On Selected Mid-Atlantic Soils.

Nitrogen (N) mineralization rates vary among sources and soil types, affecting ammonia loss following surface fertilizer application. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of N source and soil type on ammonia volatilization from soil and N mineralization in the soil. The five N sources were urea, UAN, pelletized poultry litter, shredded litter, and fresh poultry litter all applied at 179 kg-N ha^-1. The soils used were Mattapex Variant silty loam (Fine-silty, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludults), Bukeystown loam (Fine- loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Paleudalfs), Galestown loamy sand (Siliceous, mesic, Psammentic Hapludults), and Matapeake silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, Typic Hapludults). Rainfall (2.5 cm) events were simulated for d 5, 13, and 16. Soil type and N source both had significant effects on N cycling and therefore N management decisions.