Nutrient Availability from Poultry Litter ASH CO-Products.

NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY FROM POULTRY LITTER ASH CO-PRODUCTS Amanda J. Middleton1 and Mark S. Reiter1 1Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Painter, VA 23420 ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) is a nutrient of concern in the Chesapeake Bay watershed due to nutrient imbalances in areas with confined animal feeding operations. By converting poultry litter to an ash via combustion, nutrients are concentrated and are economical to ship out of nutrient surplus watersheds to nutrient deficient regions, such as the corn-belt. We initiated a study on Bojac sandy loam soils to test P and potassium (K) availability from poultry litter ash (PLA) on corn and soybeans, respectively. Four PLA products, derived from different sources using different combustion techniques, and 2 biochar products were surface broadcast applied at 3 P rates (20, 40, and 80 lbs. P2O5 acre-1). Poultry litter co-products were compared to a no-fertilizer control and inorganic P (triple super phosphate; TSP) and K (Muriate of Potash; KCl) fertilizers at similar rates. Yield, Mehlich-1 extractable soil nutrients, and plant tissue samples were used to compare the treatments. No significant interaction between corn yield and P rate nor was P source significant; therefore, all P sources equally supplied P to the corn crop. Yield increased in a linear relationship with P rate (yield = 9.3P + 4137; R2 = 0.98). In conclusion, PLA and biochar sources derived from PL are suitable and comparable P fertilizer sources on sandy loam soils in the Mid-Atlantic; however, this project should be repeated in future years with a goal of higher yielding corn.