Effect of Broiler Litter Ash and Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum On Yield, Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc Uptake By Peanut.

ABSTRACT

Effect of Broiler Litter Ash and Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum on Yield, Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc Uptake by Peanut 

Peanut (Arachis hyogaea) is an important oil seed crop that is grown as a principle source of edible oil and vegetable protein.  Over 1.6 million acres of peanuts were planted in the United States during 2012.  Peanuts require large amounts of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P).  In 2010, over 10 million tons of high soluble Ca in the form of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum (FGD-gypsum) was produced in the U.S.   Broiler litter ash (BLA) is produced during the combustion of broiler litter for electricity.  Broiler litter ash contains high levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc and manganese.  No literature has been reported on the use of BLA as a P source and FGD-gypsum as a Ca source for peanut production.  Objectives of this study was to determine the effects of BLA and FGD-gypsum on peanut yield, Ca, P, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) uptake when grown at different soil pH.  Calcium carbonate was added to a low phosphorus sandy soil to attain pH 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 and incubated for three weeks.  Three kilograms of the pH adjusted soil was mixed with 168 kg ha^-1 of P₂O₅ as BLA or superphosphate (SP) and placed into 20 x 15 cm plastic pots and incubated moist for three additional weeks in a growth chamber.  Six inoculated peanut seeds were planted in each pot and 1680 kg ha^-1 FGD-gypsum was surface applied to 18 of the 72 pots.   Two additional applications of FGD-gypsum were added at early bloom and pegging stage of growth to 2 additional sets of 18 pots and allowed to grow for 123 days.  Peanut yield was significantly higher for plants grown with BLA compared to the SP.  Time of FGD-gypsum application did not significantly influence peanut yield or macro and micro nutrient uptake.   Even though, P, Ca, Cu and Mn concentrations were higher in plants grown on SP macro and micro nutrients from both phosphorus source were within levels found in peanuts.